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Type 1 Night time hypo

E

exitlander

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hello my husband has had diabetes for 18 years he has had a couple of hypos in that time, but just lately he has had four hypos in the last four nights, I have joined slimming world and changed our Diet, could this have something to do with it. We have spoken to the doctor and she recommended dropping his insulin from 90 to 80 but it is still happening, can't get bloods done until February as nurse is away till then. Any advice in what we can do to stop the hypos at night would be very much appreciated.
 
Hi,

What insulin is your husband using..?
& yes. If he's cut his carbohydrate intake & hasn't reduced his insulin dosage. Hypoglycemia will happen..
Is your husband testing regularly on a home meter?
 
Is he counting carbs and adjusting his insulin? Has he lost weight recently due to your change of diet?

My advice is for him to do extra tests, including during the night, and keep something like Lucozade by the bed.
 
Jaylee said:
Hi,

What insulin is your husband using..?
& yes. If he's cut his carbohydrate intake & hasn't reduced his insulin dosage. Hypoglycemia will happen..
Is your husband testing regularly on a home meter?
Click to expand...
He takes 850 metformin and Lantus 100units/ml he only has to inject once a day, he his still having carbs it is a different way of cooking with less fat. Took blood last night and it was 4.5 so did him some toast and it picked up. So if we keep an eye on his blood glucose before he goes to bed we should be OK.
 
azure said:
Is he counting carbs and adjusting his insulin? Has he lost weight recently due to your change of diet?

My advice is for him to do extra tests, including during the night, and keep something like Lucozade by the bed.
Click to expand...
Hi yes he has lost some weight but only about 5lb in two weeks he still has his carbs it is fat that I have cut out and different way of cooking, but we are doing a lot more testing just to keep an eye on it. Thx for advice
 
exitlander said:
He takes 850 metformin and Lantus 100units/ml he only has to inject once a day, he his still having carbs it is a different way of cooking with less fat. Took blood last night and it was 4.5 so did him some toast and it picked up. So if we keep an eye on his blood glucose before he goes to bed we should be OK.
Click to expand...

Your profile suggests he's Type 1 - is that correct? Or is he a Type 2 on insulin?

To answer your question - yes, watch his blood sugar before bed, and also set an alarm to check in the night if you're worried about him going low. You could set the alarm for 2/3am or go by the time he had the hypos before and set it slightly ahead of that time to catch any drop.
 
He was t2 when he was just on tablet then about 17 years ago they gave him insulin in less than a year from him being diagnosed so have always believed if you were on insulin that you are t1 you have made me question that now so will have to check it out, has my husband said that he was told that he his t1 now because of injecting, will keep some Luczade by bed from now on
 
exitlander said:
He was t2 when he was just on tablet then about 17 years ago they gave him insulin in less than a year from him being diagnosed so have always believed if you were on insulin that you are t1 you have made me question that now so will have to check it out, has my husband said that he was told that he his t1 now because of injecting, will keep some Luczade by bed from now on
Click to expand...

That's incorrect. If he is a type 2 diabetic treated with insulin, that doesn't make him a type 1 diabetic. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition. Taking insulin is just how the diabetes is treated, how it is treated doesn't change what type of diabetes it is.

If he is eating differently or loosing weight he may need less insulin. You should discuss the hypos with your diabetic nurse and consider dose adjustments.
 
Thx he has appointment in Feb so will discuss it with them then , it could mean if we get the Diet right he could do with out it
 
exitlander said:
Hi yes he has lost some weight but only about 5lb in two weeks he still has his carbs it is fat that I have cut out and different way of cooking, but we are doing a lot more testing just to keep an eye on it. Thx for advice
Click to expand...
Hmm. To be fair the lack of fat could be causing a spike then sharp drop with some of the carbs in the new diet?
The "danger zones" for hypos on lantus if taken before bed. Is around 3am & 5am'sh.. Regarding its general working profile..?
I'll stick my neck out boldly & suggest your husband is an insulin dependant T2.
The metformin he also takes acts to increase insulin sensitivity & stop glycogen dumps by the liver into the blood, compounding a possible hypo...

To be honest? I got no idea what a "Slimming world" diet consists of.. But I feel your husband may need a different aproach to loose weight & cut the amounts of Lantus in this respect... With close consultation with his doctor.
This is all just supposition..

I'm gonna tag in some T2s (though not all are insulin users.) @Daibell @Brunneria @Bluetit1802 @bulkbiker @AndBreathe
 
exitlander said:
He was t2 when he was just on tablet then about 17 years ago they gave him insulin in less than a year from him being diagnosed so have always believed if you were on insulin that you are t1 you have made me question that now so will have to check it out, has my husband said that he was told that he his t1 now because of injecting, will keep some Luczade by bed from now on
Click to expand...

Then it's most likely he's a Type 2 on Insulin. Some Type 2s do go on to insulin, but they're still Type 2, just on different meds (insulin).

Type 1 is a different condition and is an auto immune disease.

I second the advice to speak to his diabetes nurse. In the meantime, make sure he tests lots and keeps hypo treatments nearby and with him when he's out of the house.

Edited to add - you say he's still having carbs, but if the amount of carbs has decreased then that might be enough to make a difference. Less fat could also be having an effect.

Tagging @Mep as she's Type 2 on insulin
 
Thankyou for that I find it unbelievable that for 18 years we have no idea about diabetes, it's only now that he is having these hypos that we have looked into it and found this website which has been so informative, we feel quite thick lol
 
You're not thick at all :) Welcome to the forum and feel free to invite your husband to join too :)
 
@Jaylee tagged me but I know nothing about insulin. I do know that fats help keep post meal rises (spikes) a bit flatter with a more gentle drop, so you still rise but it is a smaller rise. You stay up a bit longer, coming down more slowly on a gentle curve rather than a sharp rise and steep fall. Fats are good for diabetics, carbs are not so good. If this new diet and new way of cooking is when your husband started these frequent hypos, then I suggest it is this way of eating that is causing it.

It is perfectly possible for Type 2's to reduce the amount of medication they take, and even eliminate it completely if the pancreas isn't too damaged, but the diet has to be spot on suitable, and of course, sustainable because it is a diet for life.
 
exitlander said:
Thankyou for that I find it unbelievable that for 18 years we have no idea about diabetes, it's only now that he is having these hypos that we have looked into it and found this website which has been so informative, we feel quite thick lol
Click to expand...

Hey! Don't worry about it..
There are plenty of stories like this. We know how it is, diagnosis, prescribed fix, then sent on your way..?!
Your husband may just need to look at his diet/insulin in a different way to aid weight loss...
Hence why I tagged in some low carbing T2s. More with decent diet options.
Insulin wise? Your husband needs to test frequently to control blood sugars on the daily basis. Ideally on waking, before a meal & 2 hours after. Then just before bed..
In reality. One can't just wait for the next appointment in 3,6 months or yearly for an A1c from the nurse..

I suggest your husband signs up here? He'll soon pick it up! ;)
 
exitlander said:
Thankyou all who have given such good advice it has been very informative and helpful and now that I have found this site I will be checking in and learning more.
Click to expand...

We look forward to hearing about you & your husband's progress...

Just be mindful of the insulin & keep a close eye on the bloods with the meter. Blood sugar levels are paramount to prevent possible complications. Then take the weight loss from there.. ;)
 
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