Advise on low irrational behaviour

[Razel]

Hi, I’m looking for advice. my husband is type 1diabetic and has been since the age of 17. He’s now 66 and has been having random hypo’s for a few years but over the past 18 months these hypos have gotten a bit physical. The hypos usually happen at around 2:30am and are without warning, my husband is totally unaware of what he is doing but will do the following:
Try to get out of the house by any means, doors or windows
Scream and shout
And will attempt to drive if he can get car keys

If I try to help or stop him he bends my fingers back or squeezes my arms to pin me back.
When I talk to him about it he just shrugs it of because he can’t remember. It’s actually leaving me at the end of my tether because I’m looking into the eyes of the man I’ve married but also at someone who hurts and behaves really irrational when low. He is well managed on three jabs per day with a 24 hour slow acting and has the arm monitor fitted.

 

[Antje77]

He is well managed on three jabs per day with a 24 hour slow acting and has the arm monitor fitted.

Does he use the alarm function so he'll get an alarm before he goes hypo?
I'm assuming he uses the Libre. Libre 1 doesn't have alarms, but Libre 2 does. He could set the alarm a bit higher so he can prevent a hypo before he goes too low.

When I talk to him about it he just shrugs it of because he can’t remember.

This is just wrong, I'm so sorry for you. I'd try to make it very clear to him that for you it is a serious problem, and he'll need to work with you and his diabetes nurse or endo to see if something can be changed.

 

[Antje77]

The hypos usually happen at around 2:30am

At what time does he take his long acting insulin, and which type does he use?

 

[Dr Snoddy]

I am so sorry that you are experiencing this. No-one has the right to hurt anyone else whether they can remember their actions or not. Whereas his behaviour may be due to hypos there could be other causes and these should be medically investigated. As anyone else witnessed your husband's behaviour? Could someone film this to show him how he is behaving? Are you able to get professional support both for him and yourself? Your worry and concern for your husband is very obvious but you will not be able to help and support him without support yourself. Your GP should be your first port of call.

 

[EllieM]

When I talk to him about it he just shrugs it of because he can’t remember.

I am struggling to understand this denial. While his behaviour while hypo isn't his fault, his refusal to admit there is an issue is, and it is both very dangerous as well as unfair to you.

After 52 years of T1 my hypo awareness is not as good as it once was, but my cgm (continuous glucose monitor) has an alarm that goes off loudly at 4.4mmol/L. It's impossible to sleep through, and means I don't go low at night. I personally lose hypo awareness when I have too many hypos, so this has also helped to improve my hypo awareness.

Left untreated, (because he's knocked you out?) he could either successfully escape and kill himself and/or others in the car, or possibly go into a coma. This is a preventable medical emergency.

Lots of virtual hugs. If your husband continues to refuse to admit there is an issue, I second @Dr Snoddy 's suggestion of talking to your GP.

 

[NicoleC1971]

Your love and concern are understandable but you need to put your foot down with your husband who is dismissing the hypo irrational behaviour and physical violence and aggressiveness.
On a practical note type 1s do lose hypo awareness and his libre 2 should alarm when things are heading in the wrong direction particularly when its an acute drop. If you can get him to show you his blood sugar record to demonstrate the pattern to him. Also do you have glucose gel or honey that you can squeeze into him once you see the signs and before he gets too volatile?
However he needs help to prevent the hypos which could be caused by a few things e.g.
He has become more sensitive to his insulin and needs both his bsal dose and carb to insulin ratio s reduced. Perhaps he's lost weight ?
He is overcorrecting his insulin bolus bearing in mind that the dose lasts for 4 hours\? I'd advise him to go to not go to sleep until his last dose has cleared his system and his bgs are on an even keel?
The timing of his basal dose is peaking at the same time as a previous bolus dose?
I've had diabetes for ages too and I know it will be easy to get in a rut with fixed doses even though as we age our bodies change and need different handling!
I know this will be difficult because you are not the patient but is he willing to take you in to the consultation with the diabetes team who should take his lack of hypo warnings very seriously with you as chief witness along with is own Libre sensor reader (or phone app called Libre Link).
You can also chat to Diabetes UK.org Careline btw and see if they can further support you BOTH (your own health is just as important as his).
Our helpline number is 0345 123 2399. It is a dedicated diabetes helpline for all people with diabetes, their family or friends, and people who are worried ...

 

[david4503]

I am so sorry that you are experiencing this. No-one has the right to hurt anyone else whether they can remember their actions or not. Whereas his behaviour may be due to hypos there could be other causes and these should be medically investigated. As anyone else witnessed your husband's behaviour? Could someone film this to show him how he is behaving? Are you able to get professional support both for him and yourself? Your worry and concern for your husband is very obvious but you will not be able to help and support him without support yourself. Your GP should be your first port of call.

I agree that there may be other causes in addition to the hypos. The behavior described reminds me of a number of well-reported episodes caused by Ambien. Various drugs and conditions can combine with hypoglycemia to cause very extreme behavior. Best advice here is to see your GP ASAP.

 

[valann]

Hi, I’m looking for advice. my husband is type 1diabetic and has been since the age of 17. He’s now 66 and has been having random hypo’s for a few years but over the past 18 months these hypos have gotten a bit physical. The hypos usually happen at around 2:30am and are without warning, my husband is totally unaware of what he is doing but will do the following:
Try to get out of the house by any means, doors or windows
Scream and shout
And will attempt to drive if he can get car keys

If I try to help or stop him he bends my fingers back or squeezes my arms to pin me back.
When I talk to him about it he just shrugs it of because he can’t remember. It’s actually leaving me at the end of my tether because I’m looking into the eyes of the man I’ve married but also at someone who hurts and behaves really irrational when low. He is well managed on three jabs per day with a 24 hour slow acting and has the arm monitor fitted.

Hello Razel, Welcome to the forum and I see you have been given lots of good advice already.
Your post took me back a few years to my dad, he too was diabetic and was having similar events, mum got to the very end of her tether and I urged her to talk to their GP. I don't intend to frighten you and as already mentioned something else could be underlying so please get it checked out. In dads case it was early dementia along with the diabetes, once diagnosed and treated things did change for the better. I wish you and hubby well and do hope you get sorted. Sending big hugs ((((hugs))))