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Hypo

D

deffers

Newbie
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1
Hope you can help. My husband has had diabetes for over 25 years, and I have always been able to cope when he is about to hypo. Sometimes it has resulted in fits, which we have dealt with, other times the paramedics have given him a glucose injection.
These fits haven't been regular, and he has probably had only 5 or 6 in the 18 years I have been with him, until recently.

His blood sugar is dropping quickly, without any warning and he is getting aggresive. He is such a gentle person, that this is really out of character and is quite frightening for my daughter and myself.

He went to the doctors earlier today and was told aggression is a side effect, and they cant believe this has never happened before. They suggested he speaks to the diabetic nurse, but they are constantly engaged.

Am I worrying over nothing?

Also any advise on the warning signs would be appreciated as he isnt sweating or appearing vacant.
 
Hi

I have had type 1 D for over 40 years. Its not at all uncommon for those of us who have had D for 20 years or more to start to exhibit the hypo symptoms that you describe.

I no longer go very pale anymore. I just seem to go in a semi trance and appear to stand very stiffly. Its only when I start to lose my concentration and then feel nervous that I know that Ive got to eat something sugary.

If your husband can start to test his bg mid morning and mid afternoon, he should be able to use the readings to decide whether he should eat or not eat some carb. This should help him a fair bit in preventing hypos and also to keep his bg within target range.
 
I have simular problems with mood swings. but its more than just a mood swing. I can bocome completely manic and unable to see reason or any kind of sense. Everytime I've mentioned this to a doc, consultant or nurse they have just looked at me with an expression of "well what do you expect".
What I find really annoying is the lack of research to what is happening in the brain during these episodes.
I can be very upsetting for those around us and embarrising for me when I lose my temper with these low or high numbers. but then again I'm not actually losing my temper am I.
When I get back to my normal self I just think "what have I done, why have I done this and why can't something be done about it." Its possible the hardest part of diabetes for me. Undergoing a short change of temperament and personality really makes me upset.

doctors, doctors, doctors hmmmmm I would rather go it alone.

The only thing I can suggest is more testing so your husband can catch the hypos as the blood glucose starts to drop. Its a solution but can limit these episodes. I test every hour or so. not really had any warning signs since I moved from porcine insulin 17 years ago.
 
Hello deffers,

If your husband's severe hypos have suddenly become more regular, then it may be worth
getting his thyroid checked. There is a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism amongst
diabetics, and any drop in the levels of thyroid hormone will potentiate the action of insulin.

Good luck,
timo.
 
One of Dr Bernstein's best tips on this sort of situation is to come to an agreement with him that he will check his blood sugar whenever you ask him to. This avoids the "I think you are going hypo." "Oh no I'm not." sort of thing.
 
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