hi my partner is 20yrs old and a type 1 brittle diabetic for 9 years now. she currently is in hospital since christmas day after a seizure because of a sudden withdrawel off a drug called gabupentum. this was given because of apparent neurophapy. she normally takes 3 times 12 units of novorapid a day and 28 units of lantus. now the last 5 to 6 weeks she as been experiencing a number of lows down to 1.2 1.7 2.1 3.6 4.2 etc etc. to combat this her novorapid as been reduced to 3 times 4 units a day. now the interesting bit. shes had 1 unit of novorapid in 3 days now and still taking the lantus as normal yet she as had 3 lows tonight being 1.2 she is in hospital on fluids because she is sick 10 times a day not through a bug but through the medication so the doctors have said. shes on gabupentum diazapam tramadol fluexotine and cyclizene. the doctors are not back in until tuesday either so the situation is not helped. as anyone else had any similar experiences or any knowledge to this thanks
hypos
- Thread starter stevensanders
- Start Date
Dustydazzler
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 70
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Pump
- Dislikes
- Sore feet, spiders, feeling hungry, night time hypos
Sounds like a nightmare. It's quite possible she is on too much Lantus. Lantus only needs to cover the glucose made by the liver. The novorapid if to cover sugar in food. She needs to reduce the lantus until these hypos become less frequent. The advice is normally to reduce by 2 units at a time. Just as an example - I know everyone is different but 14 units of lantus would mean I had night time and daily hypos. When it was reduced to 12 units everything became much better.
28 units might have been the right amount previously but needs change. Has she become more active? Has she become less stressed? These things would also mean she would benefit from a reduction in lantus. I hope you both get some help soon and get this sorted.
28 units might have been the right amount previously but needs change. Has she become more active? Has she become less stressed? These things would also mean she would benefit from a reduction in lantus. I hope you both get some help soon and get this sorted.
Hi, I must agree with dustydazzler if taking high dose of glargine then the effects will be low sugars dependant on the time glargine is taken and again at 03.00 when the body starts it's processes to wake up. If in hospital they can introduce glugose to bring up the levels but without a time line it would be guess work. My night hypo's always come at around 12.00 - 12.30 and again at 03.00 due to the 21.30 injection of glargine or my BS is below 10mmol at 21.30. Hope this helps.
Hiya
Heres a thought. I used to suffer major night hypos which invariably mean my wife trying to put sugar water down my throat while I was having a seizure. As you probably know your partner will probably feel like shes having a hangover from Satan himself the whole day after and probably have a badly chewed tongue to boot.
I'm on exactly the same insulin and I was told to start taking my Glargine in the morning as opposed to the evening. I'm currently on 30 units of the stuff which I take before I head off to work. As long as I do blood test regularly I don't really have many hypos during the day. Ok I still have some but not bad ones and the night hypos have completely gone!. Almost a year now (touch wood).
The only thing about this is that I set my alarm to go off about 3-4 hours after I go to bed as my blood sugar tends to creep up now during the night so I tend to check it and if need be take 3-4 units of the novo rapid. Come morning my sugar levels are almost always around the 6-7 mark.
Have a word with your GP and see if he or she agrees, Its really worked for me.
Heres a thought. I used to suffer major night hypos which invariably mean my wife trying to put sugar water down my throat while I was having a seizure. As you probably know your partner will probably feel like shes having a hangover from Satan himself the whole day after and probably have a badly chewed tongue to boot.
I'm on exactly the same insulin and I was told to start taking my Glargine in the morning as opposed to the evening. I'm currently on 30 units of the stuff which I take before I head off to work. As long as I do blood test regularly I don't really have many hypos during the day. Ok I still have some but not bad ones and the night hypos have completely gone!. Almost a year now (touch wood).
The only thing about this is that I set my alarm to go off about 3-4 hours after I go to bed as my blood sugar tends to creep up now during the night so I tend to check it and if need be take 3-4 units of the novo rapid. Come morning my sugar levels are almost always around the 6-7 mark.
Have a word with your GP and see if he or she agrees, Its really worked for me.
I only just noticed the date on the first post on this thread, so of course it must be all sorted ages ago. I do hope so anyway. I was led to the post by looking at the 'new posts' bit and this was highlighted by that really weird and creepy little nugget above. But I'll leave this info on here anyway. You never know, it might be useful. (edited to add this line after posting)
How long has she been on the tramadol? It can cause extreme nausea. The nausea in itself can lead to hypos, obviously.
The amount of Lantus she is on seems extremely high, so if she is not having any short acting insulin at present, I would suggest she cut down the Lantus also.
I know what tramadol can do and it isn't nice, and that is the understatement of the century. You can't keep anything down, not even sips of water. The nausea could, of course, be something else, but I would seriously suggest stopping the tramadol in case that is the cause. If the nausea goes away, you will know that was the cause. Has no health professional suggested such a thing? It is a common and well known side effect of Tramadol and usually is warned about when it is prescribed. Unless her pain is unbearable, then other painkillers should work. Tramadol is a very efficient pain killer, but it's not worth the vomiting if you are affected by it. Try that first and see if things settle down, and also look at her insulin/carbs ratios and try to work out an approach to her diabetes that incorporates that instead of a flat rate dose that takes no account of variations in carbohydrate intake. There is loads of information about how to do it somewhere on here, I'm not sure where, but there are plenty of people who can tell you.
Most important of all, cut down that insulin. Better that the blood sugars are a little high until it gets sorted, (That doesn't mean in the 20s!!) than hypo as you describe. To be that low, and for so long, is scary and extremely traumatic.
Do you know the actions of the drugs she is taking?
Gabapentum you know about,is a anti-convulsant and nerve pain medication. It would make sense that a seizure could have followed withdrawal.
Fluoxetine is the chemical name for Prozac, an anti-depressant which can have many and varied side effects. Including anxiety...
Diazepam is the chemical name for Valium: an anti-anxiety drug. Very effective, I do not know of any adverse side effects except the risk of addiction.
Cyclizene is an anti-hystamine and anti-nausea drug. Kind of logical in the circumstances.
It's a pretty potent concoction and I think you should find whichever duty doctor is available and talk it over with him/her. It is quite possible that the cyclizene is not dealing with the tramadol nausea.
Having said all that, I am NOT a doctor, but I do have experience with most of these medications, both personally and within my family. I am not saying that the nausea is caused by the Tramadol, simply that it is very, very likely and, subject to a doctor's approval, or at least, a doctor assuring you it would not be dangerous even if they don't want her to stop the drug, then get her off it and see what happens. Please do NOT do any of these things without talking to a doctor, because I could be so wrong. I do not have enough information or knowledge to make any medical decision, this is only my own experience.
I'm terrified of tramadol. Last time I took it, I had to get an ambulance out in the end (after about 24 hours) because I was so sick, going hypo and stupidly, had no Glucagon to deal with it without needing to swallow anything. I'll put up with a lot of pain, but not that kind of nausea.
How long has she been on the tramadol? It can cause extreme nausea. The nausea in itself can lead to hypos, obviously.
The amount of Lantus she is on seems extremely high, so if she is not having any short acting insulin at present, I would suggest she cut down the Lantus also.
I know what tramadol can do and it isn't nice, and that is the understatement of the century. You can't keep anything down, not even sips of water. The nausea could, of course, be something else, but I would seriously suggest stopping the tramadol in case that is the cause. If the nausea goes away, you will know that was the cause. Has no health professional suggested such a thing? It is a common and well known side effect of Tramadol and usually is warned about when it is prescribed. Unless her pain is unbearable, then other painkillers should work. Tramadol is a very efficient pain killer, but it's not worth the vomiting if you are affected by it. Try that first and see if things settle down, and also look at her insulin/carbs ratios and try to work out an approach to her diabetes that incorporates that instead of a flat rate dose that takes no account of variations in carbohydrate intake. There is loads of information about how to do it somewhere on here, I'm not sure where, but there are plenty of people who can tell you.
Most important of all, cut down that insulin. Better that the blood sugars are a little high until it gets sorted, (That doesn't mean in the 20s!!) than hypo as you describe. To be that low, and for so long, is scary and extremely traumatic.
Do you know the actions of the drugs she is taking?
Gabapentum you know about,is a anti-convulsant and nerve pain medication. It would make sense that a seizure could have followed withdrawal.
Fluoxetine is the chemical name for Prozac, an anti-depressant which can have many and varied side effects. Including anxiety...
Diazepam is the chemical name for Valium: an anti-anxiety drug. Very effective, I do not know of any adverse side effects except the risk of addiction.
Cyclizene is an anti-hystamine and anti-nausea drug. Kind of logical in the circumstances.
It's a pretty potent concoction and I think you should find whichever duty doctor is available and talk it over with him/her. It is quite possible that the cyclizene is not dealing with the tramadol nausea.
Having said all that, I am NOT a doctor, but I do have experience with most of these medications, both personally and within my family. I am not saying that the nausea is caused by the Tramadol, simply that it is very, very likely and, subject to a doctor's approval, or at least, a doctor assuring you it would not be dangerous even if they don't want her to stop the drug, then get her off it and see what happens. Please do NOT do any of these things without talking to a doctor, because I could be so wrong. I do not have enough information or knowledge to make any medical decision, this is only my own experience.
I'm terrified of tramadol. Last time I took it, I had to get an ambulance out in the end (after about 24 hours) because I was so sick, going hypo and stupidly, had no Glucagon to deal with it without needing to swallow anything. I'll put up with a lot of pain, but not that kind of nausea.
Hi
I am a type 1 and i would agree with dustydazzler and reduce her lantus by 2 units, and if tests still low reduce again, otherwise contact the diabetic nurse if you have one at the hospital she is under.
Just remember we are all different, but please wish her well.
We are here if you need any help or just a chat.
Take care
Tracey
I am a type 1 and i would agree with dustydazzler and reduce her lantus by 2 units, and if tests still low reduce again, otherwise contact the diabetic nurse if you have one at the hospital she is under.
Just remember we are all different, but please wish her well.
We are here if you need any help or just a chat.
Take care
Tracey
Hello,
Im a Type 1 Diabetic with same problems as stevensanders wife, but i feel i must stress that i was tken off Fluoxetine when i was put on Tramadol. It was the pain Clinic Specialist that did this. Tramadol and Fluoxitine are NOT a good combination at all.Also Gabapentin cannot be withdrawn suddenly as doing so would definatly cause seizures. I changed from Gabapentin to Pregabalin due to the Gabapentin stopping working, but it took me a long time to get off this medication as i had to be weaned of them. Any one suffering from Diabetic Pain issues should be most careful with these drugs. I must stress that certainly in my case they do help a little. Take care, !!!!
Katy1
Im a Type 1 Diabetic with same problems as stevensanders wife, but i feel i must stress that i was tken off Fluoxetine when i was put on Tramadol. It was the pain Clinic Specialist that did this. Tramadol and Fluoxitine are NOT a good combination at all.Also Gabapentin cannot be withdrawn suddenly as doing so would definatly cause seizures. I changed from Gabapentin to Pregabalin due to the Gabapentin stopping working, but it took me a long time to get off this medication as i had to be weaned of them. Any one suffering from Diabetic Pain issues should be most careful with these drugs. I must stress that certainly in my case they do help a little. Take care, !!!!
Katy1
- Messages
- 4,789
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Insulin
- Dislikes
-
Cruelty to Animals/Children
Liars/Manipulators/Bullying
Hi Katy, After reading your post noticed you take pregabalin , wondered if it affects you memory ?
As I take this and its affecting my memory dreadfully, I have to ask what day is it , where is hubby travelling to with his job every 2-3 hours all the time when have taken this drug and wondered if you have experienced the same?
Apart from this pregabalin is successful in treating my nerve damage and neuropathy in my feet.
If I stop taking this drug my memory improves immensely so I do know it is this, causing me short memory storage. Also if I take a tramadol [only use when pain is so severe at night - it keeps me awake in tears]
I cant remember things well at all... Till its out of my system.
So the combo of pregabalin plus tramadol definetely worsens my short memory storage as I feel muggy/groggy and so lathargic on these taken together. [the reason i wont take tramadol often]
With the colder weather kicking in , it does make my neuropathy much worse.
Anna.x
As I take this and its affecting my memory dreadfully, I have to ask what day is it , where is hubby travelling to with his job every 2-3 hours all the time when have taken this drug and wondered if you have experienced the same?
Apart from this pregabalin is successful in treating my nerve damage and neuropathy in my feet.
If I stop taking this drug my memory improves immensely so I do know it is this, causing me short memory storage. Also if I take a tramadol [only use when pain is so severe at night - it keeps me awake in tears]
I cant remember things well at all... Till its out of my system.
So the combo of pregabalin plus tramadol definetely worsens my short memory storage as I feel muggy/groggy and so lathargic on these taken together. [the reason i wont take tramadol often]
With the colder weather kicking in , it does make my neuropathy much worse.
Anna.x
Hello Anna,
Do you know....ive forgotten your question.......Just joking. But seriously, i never put the 2 together, (memory and Pregabalin). Its possible that you could have given me the answer to my problem. I am forgeting some very serious things like; have i already taken my insulin? It gets really scary sometimes Anna. I think i might do a little experimenting with that one. Thanks for the tip. As for the Tramadol, i dont have a problem with them but my son takes them and he does. He is 6ft 3in, takes one capsule for sciatica and... well... you have to see it to believe it. He walks round with the strangest smile on his face for hours. At one stage (and still if we dont watch him), he comes over all generous and starts giving all his money away. I had to tell him in the end as he could'nt understand why he was always broke. It is funny but only because we noticed it before all his savings went. Bless him. He really becomes one with Mother Earth, all filled with love for his fellow man. Im not crying laughing as im writing this.....honest. What im trying to say is that everyone no matter how big they are reacts differantly. Just be careful hun as these are very potent tablets. I also take Oxycodone and these are a bit on the strong side so usually take these when im laid up in bed with pain.The cold weather has bad effects on me as well. I think its because when we get cold all our joints and muscles tighten up and this just adds to an already painful condition. I really dont like that bit. Im even cold in the night lately as recently all my hair as fallen out due to Alopecia. Think i need a tea cozy.lol, Ihave found that if i try to move around on these very painful days, even though it hurts to even feel clothes against my skin, It can help. Ive done a course in pain management and they show you how this works. They definatly have a point, though it can be hard to get started some days. I cant find them funny face things here or you would see all kinds of painful expressions. lol.
Thanks again Anna.
Katy1 x
Do you know....ive forgotten your question.......Just joking. But seriously, i never put the 2 together, (memory and Pregabalin). Its possible that you could have given me the answer to my problem. I am forgeting some very serious things like; have i already taken my insulin? It gets really scary sometimes Anna. I think i might do a little experimenting with that one. Thanks for the tip. As for the Tramadol, i dont have a problem with them but my son takes them and he does. He is 6ft 3in, takes one capsule for sciatica and... well... you have to see it to believe it. He walks round with the strangest smile on his face for hours. At one stage (and still if we dont watch him), he comes over all generous and starts giving all his money away. I had to tell him in the end as he could'nt understand why he was always broke. It is funny but only because we noticed it before all his savings went. Bless him. He really becomes one with Mother Earth, all filled with love for his fellow man. Im not crying laughing as im writing this.....honest. What im trying to say is that everyone no matter how big they are reacts differantly. Just be careful hun as these are very potent tablets. I also take Oxycodone and these are a bit on the strong side so usually take these when im laid up in bed with pain.The cold weather has bad effects on me as well. I think its because when we get cold all our joints and muscles tighten up and this just adds to an already painful condition. I really dont like that bit. Im even cold in the night lately as recently all my hair as fallen out due to Alopecia. Think i need a tea cozy.lol, Ihave found that if i try to move around on these very painful days, even though it hurts to even feel clothes against my skin, It can help. Ive done a course in pain management and they show you how this works. They definatly have a point, though it can be hard to get started some days. I cant find them funny face things here or you would see all kinds of painful expressions. lol.
Thanks again Anna.
Katy1 x
Hi,
This may sound odd but I might be undiagnosed. I started to develop urine infections on certain types of psychiatric medication. I once collapsed for a whole day. It might have been a hypo. At late eveything I eat is like affecting me, pins needles, lips and pins, like glucose levels are fluctuating.
However I have at times never felt so faint. I had to stop taking the psychiatric medication. The urine infections went but the pins and needles and shaking did not.
I have an appointment with my GP in the morning.
This may sound odd but I might be undiagnosed. I started to develop urine infections on certain types of psychiatric medication. I once collapsed for a whole day. It might have been a hypo. At late eveything I eat is like affecting me, pins needles, lips and pins, like glucose levels are fluctuating.
However I have at times never felt so faint. I had to stop taking the psychiatric medication. The urine infections went but the pins and needles and shaking did not.
I have an appointment with my GP in the morning.
Katy1
I was on prozac fluoxetine and I just had to be taken off it. A year back I came off psychiatric medication. I am still getting pins and needles. I was allergic to a lot of psychiatric medication.
I was on prozac fluoxetine and I just had to be taken off it. A year back I came off psychiatric medication. I am still getting pins and needles. I was allergic to a lot of psychiatric medication.
Hiya Malcolm I know just what you mean my wife thinks I am like Jack Nicholson(Here's Johnny) when I go, but bless her she's saved me so many times in 39 years of marriage, try Glugagen if you go totally, it's to hard to swalllow liquid or try hypo gel just a small amount on the gums or lips repeatedly until you start to come round.Malcolm.Smith said:
