loss of hypo awareness

Hi. I seem to remember reading that kids who have type1 and are reaching adolescence/teenage can often develop new symptoms of hypos that they haven't previously experienced or they can lose the symptoms altogether like your son seems to have done. I don't know any more than that though, sorry! I'm sure other members will be able to help you out.


The teenage years can be difficult for some type1s. Let's face it, the teenage years are hard for anyone, but they can cause all sorts of issues for a diabetic. It's a good idea to talk with your son's specialist doctor or the specialist nurse as they'll be able to advise you and they'll know all about the possible stumbling blocks for you & your son. They'll definitely be able to advise you on the loss of hypo symptoms! Good luck!

Hi mcr
This has no medical backing but could be down to hormones. When i was pregnant i lost all signs of hypos for a ehile then my symptoms changed.
After giving birth they went back to how they were previously.
May be wrong but hormones do have one hell of alot to answer for.

I've been T1 for 22 years, with not the best track record on control, but after 'getting a grip' of it about 5 years ago, I lost all warning signs, which still have not returned, 1st inkling I get is when my bloods get to 2.8, but am spark out and chewin custard, by 2.6, this resulted in my losing my job, my driving licence, and being told, that I am unfit for work in a manufacturing environment. Not the way I envisioned being in my early forties, but, there is some light @ the end of the tunnel, I'm on the list for bariatric surgery, with the aim to have islet cell transplant, which, so I've been told by the team, should minimise thr isks of the hypos.....so going forward, heres hoping.....the last 5-6 years have been not very good, but finally there seems to be a little bit of light at the end ofthe tunnel....

Bob

mcr said:

Just wondered if anyone else has experienced this. My son is 13 and been type 1 since the age of 4. He is on 2 injections a day and is well controlled until now.....he seems to have lost all awareness of being in a hypo????????has this gone forever or will it come back???????

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It should come back but he may need to run his bg a little higher than normal for a few weeks to restore his hypo awareness, do seek advise from his diabetes team on how best to approach this.

I've had bouts of hypo unaware. In my case it was because I was having frequent hypos. Try and avoid them by running his sugars slightly high and they should return within a couple of weeks - assuming its nothing to do with hormones.

Hi,

Hypo unawareness can unfortunately develop as a result of long term diabetes. But it seems a little too fast in your son's case. I have been type 1 for now 31yrs and only lost my hypo awareness just over 2 years ago.

It could also be an indicator that he is running low a lot of the time, if for example your readings are in the 3-4 range you might not feel your hypo until you high 2<. I would look into this, specially for teenage boys as when his testosterone levels increase during puberty he will become more insulin sensitive and be more likely to get hypos.

If the unawareness is due to low running sugars then this can be reversed by running them slightly higher for a week or so. If it is hypo unawareness (caused by nerve damage) then the only thing to do is to increase the amount of times he checks his levels (as far as I am aware).

A third possibility is the insulin, for instance diabetics on analog insulins usually have less (or less intense) hypo symptoms than those who are on animal ones.

Hope that helps,
Frankie

mcr said:

Just wondered if anyone else has experienced this. My son is 13 and been type 1 since the age of 4. He is on 2 injections a day and is well controlled until now.....he seems to have lost all awareness of being in a hypo????????has this gone forever or will it come back???????

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Hi mcr As people have said, it could possibly be his hormones that are causing the hypo unawareness. I am type 1 as well, and my hypo awareness has been bad, ( I have tested at 1.1 and that is dangerous) with lots of highs and lows. My DSN, at the hospital has now stabilised my BS between 6 and 10, for 3months, so that I can get hypo awarness back in the 3's and it has worked for me. It could be a good idea to make an appointment with his DSN or doctor to discuss his diabetes needs and medication. I hope all goes well. With best wishes RRB