Hypoglycemic coma, anyone?

alex_dgarcia · Jul 4, 2013

On June 18 this year, my boyfriend and sister had to rush me to the hospital because I was crying in my sleep at around 7. They tried waking me up, but nothing happened. They told me my eyes were open and I was looking at them and following their movement when they were asking me questions. But I wouldn't reply. I just kept crying. When we arrived in the emergency room, my blood sugar was apparently too low. It was 35 mg/dL. So my doctor had to decrease my insulin requirement. He also mentioned that I was on the verge of a diabetic coma. Good thing my bf and sister were quick to respond. And again, it happened today. I set my alarm for 8:30 but I didn't wake up. It woke my boyfriend up. So he tried waking me up, but he said I wasn't responding. Thinking that I was at it again, he rushed me to the hospital. My blood sugar was very low at 37 mg/dL. This has been bothering me because I never felt the symptoms of hypoglycemia and I ate before I went to bed. It was very unexpected. I asked my doctor why this has happened twice now, and he said he's also puzzled, because this was the first time he's heard of such episode. Has anyone of you guys have the same experience? I'm worried. I'm scared going to bed every night now because it might happen again.

Squire Fulwood · Jul 4, 2013

I'm T2 so nothing like this has happened to me but the reason I am replying is because I can remember someone else writing on this forum about a similar problem.

The other poster ended up in an ambulance. She had an alcoholic drink the night before and did not appreciate the effect this could have on blood sugar levels.

I have no idea whether or not you had a drink or not but if you did then it could be an answer.

alex_dgarcia · Jul 4, 2013

Squire Fulwood said:
I'm T2 so nothing like this has happened to me but the reason I am replying is because I can remember someone else writing on this forum about a similar problem.

The other poster ended up in an ambulance. She had an alcoholic drink the night before and did not appreciate the effect this could have on blood sugar levels.

I have no idea whether or not you had a drink or not but if you did then it could be an answer.

I didn't have any drink. The last bottle of light beer I had was a month ago. I understand alcohol may lower blood sugar drastically. But I didn't have any. And I ate a lot of rice and meat before I went to bed last night. I appreciate the reply. I hope I can find some answer.

Robinredbreast · Jul 4, 2013

Hello Alex

I fully understand what you are going through. Even at the time, we don't know what's going on, it's afterwards when it really hits home.

I had my daughter 12 years ago, she was 7 weeks premature, so tiny and helpless. I will never forget this night when it happened. My baby was crying for a feed, my partner was there ( thank god he was, as we didn't live together) and she was crying and crying. Normally I would of got up straight away as I fed her myself, but he noticed there was no response from me. I had my eyes open and apparently I looked like I had died in my sleep. He called 999,and I woke up to two paramedics in my bedroom, . I remember being very frightened of these people in my room and people talking and kept saying , "Is the baby alright, my baby, my baby" and she was fast asleep :angel:

I still have the big plastic hypodermic syringe that they used, I didn't go to hospital as I didn't want to be parted from my baby. I cried so much, because I realized how very lucky I was. Breast feeding lowers the blood sugar and I always kept snacks with me. So during those few short hours, during feeds, it plummeted. Next day I rested, but I didn't want to go to bed that night because of what happened.

After a while the feeling does go away, but writing this now, it feels as though it only happened last week.

It may take a little time to come to terms with what happened, but try not to let it dominate. It was a blip, a serious blip, but you came through it and fingers crossed it won't happen again.

Take care and I am sending you lots of good wishes

RRB x

phoenix · Jul 4, 2013

Hi,
It hasn't happened to me but I think that you will find a several of other type 1s that have had hypos resulting in unconsciousness.
People often find it a good idea to have a glucagon kit at home so that a relative can help them if they lose consciousness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucagon_rescue

Your doctor is right to look at reducing the level of insulin you take, it could be that you are exercising a bit more, eating a few less carbs or even the weather!
(I notice that you are using both apidra and a mixed insulin, that's an unsual combination here. The mixed insulin does have a peak and some people when using it find it necessary to have a small snack before bed)

One thing that struck me though is that you have recently been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. If you are started taking medication to normalise your thyroid levels one result could be a need for less insulin.

Hyperthyroidism is typically associated with worsening glycemic control and increased insulin requirements...... Restoration of euthyroidism will lower blood glucose level.

http://journal.diabetes.org/clinicaldia ... 0/pg38.htm

( I though about that because I've just starting using medication for hypothyroid and that unfortunately works the other way )

alex_dgarcia · Jul 5, 2013

Robinredbreast said:
Hello Alex

I fully understand what you are going through. Even at the time, we don't know what's going on, it's afterwards when it really hits home.

I had my daughter 12 years ago, she was 7 weeks premature, so tiny and helpless. I will never forget this night when it happened. My baby was crying for a feed, my partner was there ( thank god he was, as we didn't live together) and she was crying and crying. Normally I would of got up straight away as I fed her myself, but he noticed there was no response from me. I had my eyes open and apparently I looked like I had died in my sleep. He called 999,and I woke up to two paramedics in my bedroom, . I remember being very frightened of these people in my room and people talking and kept saying , "Is the baby alright, my baby, my baby" and she was fast asleep :angel:

I still have the big plastic hypodermic syringe that they used, I didn't go to hospital as I didn't want to be parted from my baby. I cried so much, because I realized how very lucky I was. Breast feeding lowers the blood sugar and I always kept snacks with me. So during those few short hours, during feeds, it plummeted. Next day I rested, but I didn't want to go to bed that night because of what happened.

After a while the feeling does go away, but writing this now, it feels as though it only happened last week.

It may take a little time to come to terms with what happened, but try not to let it dominate. It was a blip, a serious blip, but you came through it and fingers crossed it won't happen again.

Take care and I am sending you lots of good wishes

RRB x

I'm glad it didn't happen again to you. And I'm glad you're baby was fine when that happened. It's really not good for us to be alone all the time. I wish I can forget about it soon. It still scares the hell out of me when I go to sleep.

Thank you for sharing your experience, Robin. I really appreciate it.

alex_dgarcia · Jul 5, 2013

phoenix said:
Hi,
It hasn't happened to me but I think that you will find a several of other type 1s that have had hypos resulting in unconsciousness.
People often find it a good idea to have a glucagon kit at home so that a relative can help them if they lose consciousness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucagon_rescue

Your doctor is right to look at reducing the level of insulin you take, it could be that you are exercising a bit more, eating a few less carbs or even the weather!
(I notice that you are using both apidra and a mixed insulin, that's an unsual combination here. The mixed insulin does have a peak and some people when using it find it necessary to have a small snack before bed)

One thing that struck me though is that you have recently been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. If you are started taking medication to normalise your thyroid levels one result could be a need for less insulin.

Hyperthyroidism is typically associated with worsening glycemic control and increased insulin requirements...... Restoration of euthyroidism will lower blood glucose level.

Click to expand...

http://journal.diabetes.org/clinicaldia ... 0/pg38.htm

( I though about that because I've just starting using medication for hypothyroid and that unfortunately works the other way )

It could be that I haven't been eating a lot of carbs lately. But I did not expect it to go so low that it left me unconscious. Anyway, I went to my doctor this morning and told him what happened yesterday. So he decreased my pre-dinner dose from 22 units to 10 units and then I'll go back next week for necessary adjustments. But yes, I inject intermediate acting insulin regulary and strictly, but I only use Apidra if my BS level goes up very high. I don't inject Apidra often.

When I read the excerpt from the article you posted, I was so confused. Hyperthyroidism is supposed to raise your BS level, not decrease it. And mine was decreased drastically even if I ate before I went to bed. But still, thank you for sharing a lot of necessary information, Phoenix.

Hypoglycemic coma, anyone?

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Hypoglycemic coma, anyone?

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