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Going hypo and beyond

adrian29459

adrian29459

Well-Known Member
Messages
77
Location
Newcastle, England
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hi,

In the past two years diabetes has been more of a problem for me than in the 12 years I've had it. I've had multiple fitting hypos/seizure hypos and its been difficult to avoid. Right now its been two month since my last fitting hypo and I continually try to avoid these as much as possible by means of extra blood checking, always carrying tablets, better longer lasting food, less corrections doses on insulin and so on.

My question is what would happen if nobody was around when I have these fits/seizures? For every fit I've had I've usually had food prior when I've felt myself getting low and people are around and they look after me I suppose. Maybe rub glucose gell in my gum or give me drink when I come round. But if I were alone would I come round? What are the long term and even short term problems resulting from hypoglaciemic fits? Can I die or go in coma?

I ask these questions as I wonder can I ever get a house alone or should I try my best to share a home, and also make sure my housemates know my condition and how to treat it (as first aiders).

Thanks,
Adrian
 
Adrian.
As a Type 1 you run a serious risk of lapsing into unconciousness and going into a Diabetic coma.......after that........well, it's anybody's guess. 'Diabetes Does Kill' is a thread on here about someone who did just that.......it is quite poignant. You should read it.

The link:
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=12551#p115288

Ken
 
I think you should also be discussing these questions with your diabetes care team - are they aware you're suffering this much over the last couple of years?
 
It is possible for the body to pull itself out of trouble eventually but their is a very big but and I wouldn't particular take my chances with it...

If you've eaten and you hypo'ed before the body has time to adsorb all the carbs in the food, and depending you haven't got too much excees insulin, the carbs will catch up and start to bring you around..

Most diabetics still maintain enough beta cells to signal the liver to dump it's store, (hence our ability to sleep through night-time hypo, waking to feel total poo with rocking BG's) but this again is very slow and may take hours to kick in... And the longer you are out, the worse you feel coming around... And it's success again is very depentant on the amount of active insulin, as if the liver dumps it's store and this is not enough to counteract the active insulin the not good news at all... And if you've still got alcohol still being processed by the liver, this wouldn't work as there would be no stores to dump...

By what you are saying, it sounds as some of your problems could be stacking your insulin with correction doses.. You make a serries of small corrections determined by your bg but forget to calculate how much active insulin is still left from either your last main jab or correction jab, so spare insulin builds and combins and hits at one go sending your BG plummenting easy done with injections..

For what you are saying, it sounds if insulin pump therapy would be a good direction for you, it would enable you a lot better control over your diabetes, pumps now have many wizards that enable better control/ correction as they can work out the amount required and carry 'Insulin on Board' (IOB, how much active insulin is still in your system) which will help to avoid insulin stacking...

As will this prevent you living on your own, that is your desision and something that you have to weigh up and decide if you comfortable with... I have lived on my own with diabetes in the past and I do know diabetics that do live on their own now, just depends on whether you are comfortable doing so..
 
Hi Adrian, I have come round on my own after a fitting hypo, it was hideous, I was drenched in sweat and I had vomited everywhere. My body was desperately, desperately trying to wake me up and I was lucky, eventually I came around and treated myself. Not a nice experience and not one I want to repeat. At the time, I was hypo unaware so it did take me by surprise a little bit.....

so, to answer your question, it is possible for the body to recover. But not worth the risk!! I know it's hard to stay in control and keep your numbers stable but you are absolutely right, whomever it is you live with must be aware of the potential issue you could face so they must be equipped to 'tend' to you should you need it. Hypogel, glucoses tablets, jelly babies, whatever your poison is, keep stocks of them and if possible, get a Glucogen kit (your GP should prescribe one) but make sure your friends get trained in how to administer that.

Best course of action is prevention as everyone as already said! Speak to your DN and try and keep the hypo's at bay by altering your dosage if needs be.

All the best,

Deb :)
 
Thanks for all the replies people. My diabetes team at the clinic know about the problems I've had with fits and over the past 6months, I've changed from two needles to five needles a day. Since then I've only had one fit in february and I specifically know the reasons for that and learned from it (early morning exercise and delaying breakfast for too long after insulin).

I will book an appointment with my clinic, its been a while so I think I may have missed one. I'm a bit unsure about insulin pumps. I'll chat with the doctor and see whats available but for now if I continue hypo free then I may not need to go through that route.

As for getting my own place I think I'll only do this alone if its been many months since my last hypo fit. Say 12-16 months since a fit then I will consider a flat alone. For now sharing a flat will be the best option, I'd hate to fit alone and have to try and come round myself.

I do find it amazing how much a little exercise (walk at lunchtime) can affect blood sugars. When I do proper exercise I make sure to plan my insulin around it, either taking insulin with meal very early before exercise (2hrs) or after exercise after I've ate the meal.
 
Hello Adrian

In my time as a diabetic I have had numerous mild type hypos and also a few needing a bit of assistance in my attempt to keep my bg levels all ok.

With your problems with hypos you should have a chat with a dsn or consultant and discuss pump therapy as you would qualify re anxiety causing you to worry all the time about hypos. Many people are worried sick about keeping their bg levels lower in the hope that they dont develop complications like retinopathy and neuropathy but the biggest complication is hypoglycemia and I guess at the moment this is affecting you quite a few times every week. You must be having quite a few bg levels of 4 and below so not good really.
 
Just thought it best I inform people of my progress. Following more fits, with my 5 injections a day regime and exercise on top, I had an appointment at clinic in August and from that it was agreed I would go onto insulin pump.

Since mid January I've been on insulin pump and its made a massive difference to my life and the number of hypos I've had. Sure there's been a couple of teething problems getting to grips with changing canula's and infusion sets but overall my blood glucose levels have kept really stable.

I'm really pleased with my bg levels overnight, in the past I'd have them a little high at supper time in order to wake up a decent level. Now I'm able to have supper, go to bed on a normal level (7-8) and wake up a good figure too (5-6). This also helps stop me doing any over-correcting with breakfast in morning as this was one cause of my hypos.

Sure its still early days and until I've had the pump for a few months I won't know the full extent of its good and bad points, but I'd definatly recommend it to anybody who closely monitors their diabetes but isn't achieving the levels they desire.
 
Excellent Adrian and so pleased you have turned a corner! :)

Nigel
 
Hi thought it best I add to this thread rather than create a new one. In the past two months I've had three fits. One in march, no injuries, just woke next day really achy and dizzy. I think it was caused by a little exercise lunchtime and some general lows throughout the day which would increase chances of lows later on.

I had another fit last week. At a strange time of 11.40pm. I usually have tea at 5.30pm with a bolus and also have a small bowl of cereal at 8.30pm with a small bolus. I did go jogging over lunch but blood sugars were fine throughout.

And then today, the day after my birthday I have my 3rd fit of the year. No jogging or exercise this time. I test before bed, 11pm with a reading of 3.4. I eat two glucotabs, two fruit shorties, a medley cereal bar and a digestive biscuit. I thought that would be more than enough to keep me going through night, usually is. I then end up fitting this morning at 12.30am. I don't particulary know why I've had the fit. I was feeling very odd in the head yesterday but my blood sugars throughout were fine (all 14 of them above 5). I was also feeling a little upset/emotional.
I've noticed I have an unusual rash-like red freckles across one side of my body and around my eyes. This has happened once before, I just wonder what this is.

Just looking for a little advice, I'm seeing doctor this afternoon but I'm getting sick of causing all this worry for people, I'm actually getting a house on my own in a few months time!
 
Hi Adrian,

Sorry to hear you've been suffering lately :? I wonder, what basal rate are you on? Do you split the dose? Also, what is your bolus ratio or do you use a fixed rate every time? Do you carb count? Reading your post, your 'fits' could have been caused by many things but it would be helpful to have a bit more insulin/dosage info before giving advise :)

Cheers, Deb
 
Hi Deb. I currently use the patterns feature and also have various basal rates throughout the day. 0.625 throughout the day - 0.575 over lunch since I normally go for a walk - then back to 0.625 until 10pm when have the basal at 0.375 overnight until 7am. I've amended the daytime bolus of 0.625 to finish at 9pm rather than 10. Also have changed the insulin carb ratio for my 8.30 supper to 1:15 rather than 1:10, so hopefully my sugars won't drop prior to bed.

I'm off to see doctor at 2pm so I'll see what he says, I just hope it doesn't happen again, I want be in control and be able to live alone. :(
 
Adrian, I know you're on an insulin pump now and that can be a very effective tool at controlling your BG levels. Have you had any further training like the DAFNE course? If not, it might be something to request just to make sure you're counting carbs correctly etc.

This might seem like a silly question but are you sure these fits are the result of a hypo? Is it possible that it's something unrelated to diabetes or has it been confirmed that they're resulting from low blood sugars?
 
Hi ya, sorry, didn't realise you are on a pump (me too!) so I would suggest fasting tests as it could be your basal but more than likely your ratio's or even your insulin sensitivity rates. I'm sure you will be able to live alone and you are doing the right thing by seeing your Doc, chin up! :D sometimes, you need to let any changes you make to ratio etc 'settle' for 3 or 4 days before seeing a result or changing again.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. I've been on the DAFNE course a couple years ago, but generally I either look or know by memory what the carbs are for my snacks & meals. I'm back from the doctors now and I've made a number of changes to the pump setup. I now have multiple carb ratios for different times of the day, 1-12 during the day, 1-15 before supper and then 1-10 overnight. I've upped my sensitivity from 2 to 2.5 and my active insulin time has stayed on 4. My basal I've quite drastically reduced to:
12am - 4am - 0.300
4am - 7am - 0.500
12pm - 2pm - 0.450 (I go for a walk)
2pm - 6pm - 0.600
9pm - 12am - 0.300
The doctor was able to make these changes following looking at my BG readings and my those from the ipro CBGM I had on last week. Hopefully all these reductions will have a positive effect on my blood sugars.

The doctor put down my late evening/nighttime hypos to my 'stacking' of insulin with my insulin from tea time (5.30pm) still working when I have my other bolus for supper at 8.30pm. My only other idea for the sudden increase in hypos I think could be the warm weather we've been happening causing the insulin to work more effectively.

Only time will tell.
 
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