I was diagnosed a week or so after my 3rd birthday and have had plenty of “moments” during my life. There are the slow burners which give me plenty of opportunity to react and sort myself out. Times the effects of a hypo have been disguised due to me - being inebriated/getting -ahem- or doing something physical - or occasions when my levels (for whatever reason) have crashed and I feel fine one minute but can’t put two thoughts together the next.
Stage 1
The first signs for me are usually…
· feeling peckish (obviously)
· an increased heart rate
· Hot or cold sweats
· Trembling of the hand/fingers
Gravitating towards the snack machine/local shop/bakery and devouring food without it even touching the sides!
Stage 2
· Frustration
· Multi-tasking
· Decision Making
Moving on… I tend to get a little “ratty!” Usually, I’m quite laid back and considered and wouldn’t just “react” to someone saying something I didn’t like but I can definitely get, shall we say, curt, when I need some juice.
Thought processing starts deteriorating rapidly soon after. Even if I have come to the conclusion that I need to eat, I've often gone to the fridge, only to get fixated on deciding WHAT I’m going to eat. I go to the cupboard, then back to the fridge, cupboard, fridge, cupboard, fridge… 10 minutes later… Still there. Eventually, I do get into gear! “What am I doing? Oh yeah, I could fall and hit my head anytime soon” Cup, Sugar, Juice, Gulp!
Stage 3
· Seeing Colours
· Light Sensitivity
· Confusion
· Coordination & Dexterity
After this point I see rainbow blobs and shapes in my field of vision. Hypo progressing, these colours will often merge, especially when in direct sunlight, into a bright white light across my whole field of view. Utter confusion with the simplest of tasks or just gawping back at somebody when they ask me a straightforward question. “Lights are on, nobody’s home”. Stumbling and getting the “Wibbly Wobblies.” Motor skills compromised.
· Collapse imminent!
I once woke up after a heavy night of drinking to fall straight, back onto the sofa I had just been lying on. I then bounced straight back up to my feet for my cousin to ask me, with a concerned look and tone, if I was ok. "I’m alright, I’m alright" I proclaimed! Putting my hands out. Que blackout, seizure and me coming round with paramedics attending to me.
And beyond…
A few years back, I was given a new insulin. It was the same 70/30 mix I had been on since, well, forever. I kept my twice daily dosages pretty much the same and was having major issues during sleep. Hypo after hypo! Ambulances being called time after time. Having 3 seizures in 4 nights, I think another 5 in the same calendar month and plenty more than that.
Reducing my insulin levels more drastically than the 1 or 2 unit adjustment, every now and then, which would usually make a discernible difference, as well as me seriously carb loading right before I hit the pillow, wasn’t helping. I am still using the new 70/30 mix and my evening dose now is almost 25% of what I was injecting when I first moved on to it, so you can probably imagine what I was dealing with.
For me, it’s one thing coming round after a seizure when there is someone taking care of you but when you think you’re alone, it’s scary!
During my “changeover period”, I came round, on the floor of my bedroom and despite the confused stage you can get into during a hypo, I knew I was in trouble and in a critical situation. My tongue was a mess so I knew I’d already had a fit and I remember thinking about suffering brain damage if I was to fade to black. I felt like I was already halfway there to be honest! I dragged myself to my door but couldn’t get anywhere near the handle, I was all over the place. I had about as much control over my motor functions as somebody who doesn’t touch alcohol downing a litre bottle of overproof rum!
I tried, then paused for a moment. I needed to go green like the Hulk, summon all the strength I had. My life could effectively be on the line, right here, right now, I thought. I gave it everything to get my hand up to the handle but I had no strength, no balance and my coordination was gone! I couldn’t even get my knees underneath me.
My saving grace was that there WAS actually somebody in the house. I tried to call out but wasn’t able to say anything discernible. All I could do was let out long, haunting, panic-stricken groans to grab their attention.
I did make a swift recovery and feel fortunate to have had people around, when I’ve needed someone. One tip I would give to somebody treating hypoglycaemia is regarding getting some energy in quickly and efficiently. Liquids are obviously easier to get down the gullet than solids and do not need to dissolve in your stomach but don’t put 4 teaspoons of sugar in a pint of cordial. It may be extremely difficult to swallow. Get them sitting upright and support them, making sure they are not leaning back even slightly as this also makes swallowing more difficult. Don’t think you shouldn’t move a person in distress. Use your logic and judgement regarding if there are head, neck or back injuries. Any soft drink with around 10g of sugar per 100ml is sufficient. My “go to” is Lucozade because of the fast AND slower release carbs.
I try to always have an emergency stash on hand. If I deplete my reserves, I top them up pronto. When you go to sleep, make sure your stash is not above the height of your bed and is, more importantly, easily accessible from the floor. I leave my glucose and a bottle of Lucozade on the bottom of my TV stand, I break the seal on it and leave the lid slightly loose just in case.
