Thursday night, I decided to stay up a little too late (or early, we shall say). My mother always warned me when I was younger to monitor my blood sugars closely when I threw my sleep cycle off. I never figured out why, because I always seemed to be fine. What does me being a night owl have to do with blood sugars?
But Thursday night was an extreme. I didn't get to bed until just before the sun was rising. I made sure to sleep in as long as possible (and managed 6 hours of sleep) just to make it through the day ahead of me.
I had checked my blood sugar several hours before going to bed, clocking in at 141. No bolus (I like my pre-sleep numbers to be between 120 and 150). But I hadn't checked just prior to falling asleep (in my defense, I felt fine and was very busy).
So when I woke up the next morning, I wasn't really expecting a crazy number. Somehow, diabetes had thrown a curve ball though that left me at 434. When I saw the number, I nearly fell over. Why in the world? I texted a friend to share my shock. The only explanation we could come up with was that the cheesecake I had eaten the night before spiked sometime after 2am. Add in not getting normal rest and you had a beautiful (excruciating) high blood sugar.
I bolused with my pump the full 8.0 recommended units. I decided to test in an hour to verify I was on the decline and it wasn't a pump malfunction. I hoped I'd see a prettier number and could carry on with a normal day.
I went through my normal morning routine. I checked emails, paid bills, laid out my clothes, and fed the cat. Because of the high, I drank two bottles of water to insure potential ketones would be on their way out by mid morning. I wasn't nauseous. Not very foggy either.
An hour later, I went into the kitchen to grab a low carb breakfast and check my blood sugar again. Before I could even make it to the fridge, my head started reeling. My hearing was going in and out. The earth was spinning out of control. I figured I was dropping too fast, but I grabbed a juice anyway.
I felt a blackout coming full force, so I layed in the middle of my kitchen floor. I checked my blood sugar and was shocked by the 49 that peered back at me. What? How? The symptoms weren't lying though.
I struggled with the juice box, fighting to get the straw past the foil protection. Even then, I could barely get the juice to my mouth. I layed there, hoping that I wouldn't pass out. I pulled another juice from the fridge and quickly gulped it down.
The world kept spinning as I texted two friends to tell them what was going on. Thoughts raced through my head. "What if I seized? What if I pass out and don't wake up? Someone needs to know. Someone should come help. The door is locked, how will they get in?"
After about ten minutes of mapping out what might happen to me, I checked my blood sugar again to find 83 on the screen. I gathered the strength to get off the floor and microwaved some rice.
Luckily, this time I didn't need to know what would happen if I passed out. But what will happen next time makes me wonder. When will my luck run out?
Ive been thre Its a scary feeling, because your alone and your thinking is this the one thats going to get me. But were still here,and that blood sugar is a tricky thing .Just when you think you have your body figured out, it throws a curve ball at you . Glad your okay. karen wilson
Lindsey - I'm glad you had the presence of mind to text your friends but why not give one of them a key to your place and do away with that particular worry? And if you haven't already, maybe make sure you all have a quick code you can text them so you don't have to think about what you're texting? I suppose the question is what can you set up so that no matter how you are feeling, you can get the help you need? That's got to be scary. I was scared for you just reading it.
Thanks for the ideas! I actually have a friend (one of which I texted) that has a key. The problem is that I keep a deadbolt locked at all times that cannot be unlocked from the outside. I do have several windows that could be broken if necessary though.
I really like the code idea! I think I'll figure out something and let everyone know.
Wow, that's scary! I've had my numbers as low as 29, and I honestly did not pass out, and I'm not sure I even knew I might. I wake up almost every morning with my number below 70, and we have tried rearranging when I take my shot, and eating before bed, and it just doesn't seem to make much of a difference. This disease is a tough one to live with, but it beats the alternative!
I also had a terrible low on Tuesday evening. It is just undescribable to a non-diabetic how you feel. I felt like a dead fish out of water, flopping around on the floor. My biggest fear is that it is going to happen at work. Where will I go, who will I tell I am low? It is scarey.
When BG gets that high (434) meters aren't as accurate. I bet that's why you crashed. You were probably 300 or maybe even in the 200s.
Anyway, that reminds me of the time I injected Lantus into a vein by mistake. Eight units all at once with a bg of 95. It was lights out for me!
Oh how I know what you are feeling. I had been a diabetic for over 42 years and had completely lost my independence because of hypoglycemic episodes. I have since had a kidney and a pancreas transplant and what a blessing!!! It's been a rough road getting to where I am now, but I'm still hoping for a cure for the millions of people affected. Continue to hang in there!!!! Sharon
In a scary, heart pounding (or not pounding)out of it low, my husband suggested I call 911 and just have the EMT's wait with me until I'm OK; they won't transport me to the hospital unless they deem it necessary.
Let them decide since we can't think clearly with a glucose starved brain. We need to remember that this is serious stuff and we're not bothering them or wasting their time, that is their job and why we pay taxes.
Also, change your deadbolt to one that's keyed and I prefer having all my locks keyed alike so only one key is needed and give a key to more that one friend just in case one is out of town. We use the garage as access for friends and I can give the code to the EMT's when I call. 22 years of type 1 & pumping now for 2 years.
i've been there too! i did have a seizure once in a store, very scary! somtimes my bs drops so low at nite that i cant hardly get out of bed. i dont think people realix=ze how awful it feels. it all you can do to get food or drink. i ussually check my bs too just to make sure thats the problem and i fumble around trying to do that.
thank you for your insight to have someone to call just in case you do pass out or hve siezure. i am alone at home a lot and live in the country. so i think i'll talk to my sister and have her be the person i call.
i take lantus and humalog.
i didnt know that about staying up late affects your bs either. i do that a lot on weekends. celest
I have to say, I am sitting here in tears. I am a mom of 5 beautiful kids ages 14, 14, 12, 8 and 4. One of my 14 year old daughters was diagnosed at age 4 with diabetes. We have been fortunate in the past 10 years to have only had a handful of emergencies. I think one of the scariest was afew weeks ago, the night before the first day of high school. Cara went to bed with bs of 141 but felt like she was dropping so she had a few cookies and asked if i would please check her before i went to bed. Exhausted i stayed awake until midnite to check her. as i walked up the stairs she came out of the bathroom and looked dazed. i asked if she was ok and she replied "dont know what my number is yet" and started to walk down the stairs. i grabbed her sat her on her bed as she was telling me "im fine, im fine" just then the eyes started to roll. I yelled for my husband who has never be fortunate to witness a severe low, her bs was 34. i pumped 2 juice boxes into her and forced her to take some tabs that i had crushed a bit. i kept clappig in her face saying "focus cara, cara focus". 10 minutes later we were 55, another juice box later and 10 minutes, we were 98. Gave her some carnation instant breakfast. she and dad went to sleep and i cried. the next morning, i was expecting a high of about 400, but when she woke at 6am for school, she was 91!!!!! THAT SCARES ME!! I have never seen her drop from stress, anticipation, anxiety, she usually goes high.
The thought of her going to college in 4 years scares the hell out of me. any comforting words to settle a moms heart and head?
oh and she then dropped to 35 the next day on the bus to her jv volleyball game!
Unfortunately, I don't think there are any truly comforting words to say. I've been out of the house for almost 2 years now and my mom still stresses about me. We are in constant communication and there are multiple responsibilities that I'm in charge of to prevent emergencies. I'm definitely willing to give my suggestions that your daughter can put in place NOW to become habit BEFORE the time comes to move out.
A disrupted sleep pattern does not seem to be as important issue as the decision we have to make when faced with a high,unusual blood sugar value. Myself,my meter and my pump factor in every time and I am not inclined to rely 100% on any one on them. A suggested bolus when you realize you have missed a meal bolus is one thing and quite another if you aren't too sure where the high is coming from. I inch down a few units at a time,over a few hours, checking periodically...especially when there isn't anyone nearby or I trust enough to realize I am not myself and know what to do about it. Hang in there. It is a challenge.
How come everyone resorts to juice boxes etc...just pop Gluecose tablets when you are low ...they are measured & more accurate. I know..I have been below 20 & is horrible
Glucose tabs, sadly, don't work quick enough for everyone. And some people just hate the taste. I keep glucose tabs in my bag just to have SOMETHING. But when I'm home, I use the quickest form of glucose I have (liquid). Glucose tabs are also very hard to chew if you're too low. Cake icing is a good idea for those instances.
Hi Lindsey
Next time that happens, make SURE you check your blood sugar 2 more times if necessary! That exact same thing happened to me about 5 years ago, but, my blood sugar was not high - it was actually normal! I only realized that after I bolused.
However, I have also "crashed" like that. It sounds to me that you treated it exactly like I would have. I have had the same thing happen to me before (and this year, year 27 of being diabetic - they are getting worse). I am actually in the process of getting the continouse glucose monitor (the minimed one that "talks" to my insulin pump) exactly for this reason. I have one too many lows that my husband has found me trying to walk downstairs or completely not able to move. I have also had one too many highs caused by kinked tubing that have left me extremely close to full blown out DKA (the last one being just this last July, on my daughter's birthday).
Good luck honey. Being diabetic, and having other medical issues is a big headache. As positive as I always am, there are some days that I get tired, negative and cranky. I allow myself about 10 minutes of self pity - then I move on! :) I guess we're allowed that every once in a while right?
We're CERTAINLY allowed self pity! I think limiting is a good idea, of course. Getting caught up in the "woe is me" attitude just backfires. But having a healthy sense of reality is important.
I'm not sure what you mean by checking 2 more times. Before I bolused for the high? I checked my blood sugar multiple times after the low until I achieved a normal number and then once an hour for several hours after to make sure I wasn't going to rebound. When I'm high, I usually check every half hour to hour until I come down. I don't like any of those numbers lingering.
Yes, I meant to check it again after the inital high reading. I have had my meter give me a random false number, so if what I feel doesn't match the number, then I check again just to make sure. Once, I had check 4 times because I got 4 completely different numbers!
Self pity time is over! LOL.
I suggest getting a Life Line necklace, so you can get help with just the push of a button. They will need for you to have a person with a key to your home so they can get in to help you.
I am glad you are OK now, and wish you the best.
i've been there. I have a lifeline button that i wear and it's saved me many times.my sugar nhas dropped to 18 and i've ended up in an ambulance.i've also fallen in my apartment and broken my pelvis, hip and leg. i'm thinking about getting the pump with the constant glucose monitor - have any of you heard of it yet?my friends tell me G-d must have something in mind for me because i am not dead yet but i am scared to take enough insulin because i'm scared dof dying of a low blood sugar and my A1c has gone from 6 to 8.
I have had Type 1 Diabetes for 35 years. I have been on an Insulin Pump for about 18 years. I have had several instances recently where I have had severe Hypoglycemia. I have been unconcious several times. In July my 9 year old Granddaughter was visiting me when I had one of these episodes. My BS was 13. She tried to wake me and give me juice and I was not responding. I was having a hard time talking and I kept going in and out. She had just been with me the day before when the paramedics had to come out to take care of me and take me to the hospital. She had to get a glucagon shot and give it to me to revive me. What a terrifing experence for both of us. I am so proud of her as she was so brave to experence this with me. I recently changed over to the Continous Blood Glucose Monitoring system to try to regulate and control these bouts of severe Hypoglycemia. I am not positive but due to the amount of time I have had the diabetes I could be experiencing Hypoglycemina unawareness. I have worked continuously with my Doctor and a Nurse with Medtronic Mini-Med and we have had great success in getting me back into much better control with all of this information with the Continous Blood Glucose Monitoring. I have not had any severe Hypoglycemic experences in the last 3 months. What a blessing! I am an absolute believer in Insulin Pump Therapy! It has been the biggest blessing in my life for the care of my Diabetes. I know that Diabetes is hard and that it is frustrating and sometimes we just want to give up the battle, as I have been there recently. It is very scary to go through the Hypoglycemic episodes and it is very frustrating to have everyone responding to it by hovering over you and checking up on you all of the time. However there are lots of things we can do to improve our lives if we talk to our Doctors and do all the research for ourselves to know what is available. Sometimes it is just updating our care and the way we are living with our disease. For those around us who are hovering and sometimes driving us crazy with their checking up on us, well they just care and love us very much! It has been a real strugle and I am just beginning to start to feel better again. Sometimes all of this trouble with BS makes us loose our confidence and feel insecure. It takes time to regain the trust and confidence you have in yourself to keep your Diabetes in control and not want to give up the fight. Be good to yourself and find out everything you can do to help yourself and don't give up! :)
Thank you for answering. I am going to ask my doc about the new pum,p monday. I hope she says yea
Your blog interested me, because I had some problems this week. Usually I get readings around 90 - 100, but this weel I had a reading of 73 and all day at work I felt lightheaded and washed out. Another day I gat a reading of 79 and some lightheadedness. This morning I got a reading of 86, which is still a bit low, but acceptable.
My Daughter is a Type 1 & I'm a Type 2.
My Daughter is the one with the most BS problems. Especially during her recent pregnancy, (Proud Nana of 2-month old Natalie!) During her fifth month, she experienced a low of 19, while she was driving! She passed out & awoke to Paramedics putting her into an ambulance. The car crossed two lanes of traffic, without hitting anything, then went straight into a utility pole. We count our blessings everyday that she & Baby Natalie were not harmed. Can't say that for the car though. And thank God for airbags! Her lows were very bad during her first trimester, until the Doc finally put her into the hospital for observation & got her under control. But besides the pregnancy, she has had bad BS lows often. Many times she became catatonic & could not take Glucose tabs or juice, etc. She is working with her Doc to battle this problem. Being a new 1st time Mom, she has to be very, very careful. It has caused her to really take her health more seriously now. Anyway, my point is, be careful & cautious always. It's very good to have your support system too, as my Daughter & I both have as well. Take Care & God Bless!
Lindsey, I'm coming in a little late on this discussion, but wanted to ask about that evil 434 you had when you woke up after your late, late bedtime. Could you possibly have slept through a close call with a low BG in which your liver kicked in to save you with a good dose of glycogen? When we find my daughter's BG too high for no good reason in the morning, we sometimes identify it as the Somogyi (sp?)effect from a missed low in the night that caused her body to send in emergency sugar resources. And when we correct a high that might have been caused by a secret low, she inevitably drops too far too fast. Sounds like it might have happened to you during your exhausted morning sleep. Especially if you keep your AM basals set fairly high to combat the dawn effect and this one time you slept through your normal breakfast period. Also, for us, one low is often followed by another, since the liver's emergency response supplies are temporarily depleted after a bad hypo. Just some things to consider, from a pump mom who's pondering the same mysteries after seeing BG's in the 20's and meter readings of HI more than once in the past week!
I had quite a scare back in May. Before I went to bed one night, I checked my sugar it was 134. I measured out my Starburst Jellybeans,ate them, bolused, and then went to bed. The next thing I remember was looking at my alarm clock. It said 8:23am. I thought to myself that Lucas, my 4 year old, was going to be late for preschool. I tried to get up, but for some reason I couldn't lift my arms or legs. I must have faded in and out for a few minutes. I could see my two kids standing at my window but I couldn't say anything. I looked at the alarm clock again and it said 8:53am, but I still couldn't lift my arms or legs to get out of bed. I had to lift one arm with the other but I couldn't get enough strength to stand up. At that point, I could smell cheddar bacon potato chips. I remember having those as an after dinner treat the night before. Again I looked over towards my bedroom window and I could see my kids standing there. All of a sudden I heard someone calling my name, it seemed so faint. I called out to my neighbor, Joannie. She asked me if I was okay and I told her I didn't think so. I found myself trying to pull myself off the floor at that point. I saw Joannie standing at the end of my bed. I heard her say something about how she had called 911. My BG was in the 30's. There were six or seven volunteer firemen around me, my in laws came over when they saw three men standing outside the front of my house. Well, it doesn't end there. During my episode, my 2 and 4 year old were sitting on the roof outside my bedroom window, eating cheddar bacon potato chips. Apparently, the neighbor across the street was getting his mail and heard kids talking. He looked up and saw my kids on the roof. He ran across the street and asked them where I was. Lucas said I was inside. At that point, my 2 year old began walking up to the roof peak. The kids climbed back inside for a brief moment, at which time Joannie came to my aid. The kids were not injured or hurt. Thank goodness they really didn't know how bad the situation could have been. I couldn't stop thinking about how different things could have turned out. What would I have done if one of them fell off the roof? What would I have done if they didn't go out on the roof? No one would have found me until 4:30pm, when my husband got home. I'm not a real religious person, but there was definitely someone looking out fo me and my kids that day. Just another side note about false readings, too. I randomly check my kids BGs. Neither of them are diabetic but they like to set everything up and check theirs. Last night, I checked Lucas' and the meter read LO, which means his BG would have been below 20. I got scared and quickly checked it again and it was 111. I couldn't understand why it registered LO. I've had diabetes for 20 years. I don't think I'll ever be able to fully understand it.