Hello,
I really hope somebody can advise me please. I have joined because I am worried for my type1 Son. Last night he came home from a long drinking session. Checked his bloods which were 16.9 and went off to sleep. Two hours later he was having what looked like a Grand Mal Seizure. I managed to inject glucagon and call ambulance. Again two hours later bloods back down to 2.4. I am terrified and he is blasé. Can anybody with any knowledge advise? He is 23 diabetic since 6 but highly resistant to accepting his diagnosis and limitations.
Hello BIGAnnie,
This was common place for me. I was a drinker of the "couldn't stop" category and I would have the most terrifying Hypos in the early hours of the morning 2,3,4am ish. I wouldn't be able to talk, would be semi paralyzed down one side, severe cold sweats and confusion that was completely off the scale.
It would take me an age to realise what was happening and then I would need to get off the bed, but couldn't due to the paralysis so I would have to try and throw myself off or slide off using my one leg that worked and crawl along on my back like a slug using the one leg to get to the kitchen. Then it all started again as I would need to open the fridge but couldn't get myself up to pull the handle. Awful and how I'm still here is beyond my comprehension.
Anyhow I don't know if your son has a drink issue like I did (mine was chronic) but if he drinks heavily before he hits the pillow this will happen over and over. I don't mean to frighten you but I am just talking from lived experience (36 years Type 1 and 20 of those alcohol dependent)
I agree with what someone else has said regarding him taking responsibility, also you will not be around all the time and it is not fair on you to have to worry about this if he is not taking his condition seriously or is in denial of his diabetes or even his drinking!
What will help is if he keeps lucozade by his bed and I am not being funny but have it in one of those baby cups that he can suck it through the nozzle because he will not be able to open a bottle of lucozade if he is even close to how it used to affect me!
If he drinks spirits it would be best if he mixes with fruit juice or regular coke, lemonade etc. His sugars will be very high by the time he goes to bed but as you already know the blood sugar will go from high double figures to zero in the space of a couple of hours and the sugar in the mixers might help keep him just above Hypo range.
I know how frightening this must be for you (and your son) and it is also frustrating because he is putting his life at risk for the sake of just not eating and drinking sensibly..
Bottom line is he needs to sort himself out whether it be his diabetes, his drinking or both. Heavy drinking and Type 1 do not work and will be life threatening.
Please feel free to PM (personal message) me if you would like to talk a little more.
With all sincerity I hope things work out..
Kev