Anyone dealt successfully with night sweats?

Hi all. I'm new to this forum. Just stumbled across it while searching for some information on diabetes. Happy to meet you all! I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes around 4 years ago, and on the whole, my GP is happy with my management of it - I am on Metformin and Glicazide.
For some months now, I have been having horrible night sweats several times throughout the night. I can't remember when I last had a full unbroken night's sleep. And they don't only affect me, but also my husband, who has to be up bright and early, but is often tired, as a result of my constantly throwing sheets/duvets on and off in my efforts to cool down/get warm again. I really don't know what to do about them. I went to my GP who suggested it might be caused by Glicazide - I take 40mg twice a day, morning and night . He has given me a machine to test my Glucose levels each time I wake and I will start doing that tonight - I have to collect prescription today. I wanted to ask if anyone else gets these sweats and how you have dealt with them? Am I doomed to night sweats forever? I'm thinking of taking the full dose of Glicazide in the morning to see if that helps.
Hoping someone can offer some advice.
Happy 2014 to you all!

loliver1 said:

don't want to be rude but how old are you? It could be a sign of menopause but may also be low blood sugar so testing during night will help decide- hope things get sorted

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Oh, I'm not bothered about being asked my age - I'm in my early 50s - though can and do pass for a decade younger...! I have wondered if it is menopausal, but I had a hysterectomy 10 years ago, and went through the menopause a few years ago, so I am only too familiar with hot flushes and night sweats. This sweatiness feels different, no flushes, but very clammy. Unlike menopausal sweats, its not so bad that I have to change my nightwear or sheets several times...

I'm definitely going to start testing tonight and see if I can identify what is going on.
Thanks for taking the time to read and reply! Happy New Year to you!

brett said:

Sounds like hypos. Trouble is if you wake from one in sweat and test on your machine may not show a hypo reading. Sweating occurs as the bodies defensive mechanism to raise levels when too low. would suggest to set an alarm every 2 hours through the night to test rather than waiting for one to happen. Again, will depend on what you've eaten for tea,supper, reading before bed. On the nights in question have you eaten less of an evening or consumed alcohol.
If they are very regular occurence would discuss with gp about reducing evening dose, but would not off your own back take whole dose am.
Maybe, as you got a meter now, you should do a few days readings containing before meal and two hours after as well as before bed and am.
If you drive, remember to test before driving also.

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Hi Brett, many thanks for taking the time to read and respond...my GP did suggest it might be hypos, and hence he's prescribed (yesterday) the meter and test kit which I'll be collecting from the pharmacy as soon as this horrible rain stops and will start to use tonight. I had the same thoughts as you did getting an accurate reading - but setting an alarm to do random tests seems a good idea, though I'll need to find a 'quiet' alarm that won't further disrupt husband's sleep. I do tend to eat quite late in the evening, and we usually always have some carbs. I've cut down on alcohol near bedtime and have reduced overall alcohol intake (funnily enough, the only time I sleep soundly is on those rare occasions when I over-indulge). I'm going to try reducing carbs in the evening to see if that will help . And yes,I'll try taking readings at the times you suggest. Hopefully, I'll get it under control so that I can get a good night's sleep again...as I said, this happens every night, and sometimes, as has happened for the past couple of nights, and can happen just about every hour throughout the night!
Really appreciate your advice. Thanks and happy 2014.

2christine said:

there are so many things that give you night sweats, age, gender, carbs,illness, medication, nudge, nudge, lol even the bed.
the best thing I would do is to work out each thing that might be causing it, and in the meantime have a pure cotton sheet that you can thow over yourself, dont go upping your medication unless you know what it will do to you. you don't want a hypo .best wishes

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Thanks 2Christine! It's definitely not 'nudge, nudge' - chance would be a fine thing - but I am thinking about investing in a new bed - though ours is relatively new. I purchased some Egyptian cotton sheets in the sales last month - not sure they have made much difference, though. I use a very light duvet, the lowest tog that I can find (a summer weight 3.5) but when the sweats start even that's too hot! But I suspect that - with the exception of nudge nudge - all the factors you mention about contribute so I'm probably not going to be able to win this battle. Oh well. at least I'm alive and relatively healthy and that's a lot to be thankful for!
Happy 2014 to you!

Alanp35 said:

For many years now I have had had sweats during the night and the duvet is discarded then then I have a cold period and the duvet is retrieved. Been like it for years and there seems to be no reason for it. I am on considerable medication so some of that may be the culprit.
And loads of laundry.

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Alan, please tell me this is NOT going to be a permanent state! Will share with you f I find anything that helps.
Happy sweat-free nights in 2014!

Alanp35 said:

Hi Cess,
Sad to say for any years now. I don't mind being too warm so much it's the repeated break in my sleep each and every night which leaves me so, so tired. That what I find so upsetting.

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I got used to and over menopausal sweats a few years ago and was just starting to really enjoy luxuriating in a good nights sleep. About a year prior to diagnosis, I developed severe depression and other illnesses that really interfered with my sleep so I was heartened when I finally fell back into my normal 6-8 hours a night sleeping pattern. But for around 6 months now, since being prescribed Glicazide, the night sweats have returned. Fortunately, it doesn't impact my daily life too much but poor husband is affected and I feel so sorry for him when his alarm goes off at 6.00 and I know that he's had very little sleep because of me. Yes, I am tired throughout the day, but I'm fortunate that I work at home and so can manage the tiredness with rest periods throughout the day. I know just how awful it is though trying to manage being tired with employment outside of the home...