Death from Hypoglycemia

Oradev · #1 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 05:28 PM

Does anyone know if any scientific evidence exists that supports the "death by hypoglycemia" theory? (Insulin shock)

Also, on average, how many hypoglycemic episodes do you have per month?

Thanks,

Adam

Oradev · #2 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 05:47 PM

In the last 30 days, I've had 52 hypo's ( < 70 ). I think this is too many.

Kim_in_TN · #3 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 05:49 PM

I'm not a Type 1, but that does sound excessive and potentially dangerous to me. Hold tight, I'm sure more experienced Type 1's will have advice for you!

morrisma · #4 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 05:57 PM

Insulin shock can result in death. The number of hypos you report is way too many. You are taking too many or too much of whatever meds you have. Figure out what you can do to more accurately gauge your needs. If you are striving for tight control you have gone too far! Relax a bit. You'll live longer.
Mike

Jan B · #5 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 06:28 PM

Death can happen, but thankfully it is rare. Anyone who has seen numbers in the teens probably feels they were close to death and felt very scared, but we can survive some amazing things. The lowest number on a meter I've had was 19, and that was after a little OJ . . . but I almost lost consciousness, felt it slipping, but never did actually lose it. I kept talking and wasn't alone.

Several here have had emergency help when low. So far, my husband has been my only er help. Dewey just had a huge scare (15) but survived, thank God.

Keep looking for that balance -- you need to quit having so many lows; that probably isn't any better for you (maybe worse) than being a little high too much of the time. I know going low kills brain cells -- I think I read going under 40 especially is bad for those brain cells. I know I'm trying to keep as many of those as I can!!

xMenace · #6 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 06:47 PM

I've had one real bad one. I took my large breakfast bolus, sat down in a chair to watch some morning news, and fell asleep. I started coming out of it as they were hauling me out the front door. I'm still haunted by visions of my neighbor running up the street in something pink

Two tubes of gel and prolly a glucagon shot brought me around just before we got to ER some 20 klicks away.

The other 8 911s were roller-coaster bottoming outs, nothing too serious

God I love my pump!

I've been doing one sub 3 hypo a month and about 1 sub 4 a week for the last yearish.

owlyn · #7 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 06:48 PM

Remember this well: Low blood sugar will kill you now. High blood sugar will kill you later.

xMenace · #8 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owlyn

Remember this well: Low blood sugar will kill you now. High blood sugar will kill you later.

Death from low blood sugar is asymptomatic and death from high blood sugar happens after much and lengthy anxiety. I choose door #3!

SharpTail · #9 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 07:47 PM

52 hypos in 70 days is no doubt too many. All of those low BG levels are reflected in your exceptionally low A1C of 5.2. Low A1Cs are great if you can manage them without frequent risk of hypos. I have a suspicion that there is a point of "diminishing returns" with the A1c. In other words there may not be a great difference between an A1c of 5.2 and 6.2, although there is likely a significant difference between an A1c of 6.2 and 7.2. It probably wouldn't hurt to elevate the average level of your blood glucose to reduce the incidences of hypos.

BlueSky · #10 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oradev

Does anyone know if any scientific evidence exists that supports the "death by hypoglycemia" theory? (Insulin shock) ...

The short answer is that death is extremely unlikely. The often -quoted anecdotal reports of this happening are mostly urban myths.

The liver will always come to the rescue if blood glucose drops too low. It does this every night in normal people. When you haven't eaten for a while, glucose requirements are sourced from the liver. Death would only occur if the liver glycogen reserves of the person having the hypo were depleted. This wouldn't happen to a healthy person. Glycogen reserves are continually being topped up. You don't even need to eat carbohydrate for this to happen. The liver makes its own glucose if necessary through gluconeogenesis.

You really shouldn't get too tense about the consequences of a hypo. You liver will pull you out a hypo before it becomes life threatening. Unless of course if you Glycogen Storage Disease, in which case you could be in big trouble.

soso · #11 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 09:34 PM

I have an A1c of 5 and have hypo's below 4 about twice a month and below 3 once or twice a month..however the <3's are always exercise induced and I am very vigilant for them, so they are not as problematic as they could be.
So far I am lucky enough not to have needed help for a hypo.
PITA though...
if I was having hypo's twice a day I would be having a good hard look at things....

Dewey · #12 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 12:04 AM

I don't know exactly how many lows I've had in a month's time, but I do have some.

The 15 reading I had was pretty bad, but I'm with Jan in that death by a low is very rare - especially if help is not far away. That would be the biggest concern: being low & alone, having nobody nearby that could assist.

Like the others said, it may be good to lighten up some, so that you're not suffering so many lows. Another good option is a CGMS. I've found it to be extremely helpful in cutting lows (& highs) off at the pass.

UpNorth · #13 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 02:07 AM

I knew someone from another diabetes forum that died from a hypo in her sleep some years ago. But she was quite frequented by nighttime hypos and also had other health issues, so i guess her glucose storage in the liver was simply run out and her family didn't catch it in time that night...

I have maybe 5-7 little bit low readings, requiring a sip of juice or a glucose tab per week and maybe 1-2 real hypos per week. Have maybe 1-3 bad hypos per month... With bad hypos i mean hypos where i go down to 2 or lower or totally lose myself for a while

I tend to get those "little bit low" at work if it's very busy one day and i'm working as fast as i can forgetting to eat properly on the breaks

Sometimes i go from lunch until about 6pm without even having a snack

Oradev · #14 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 03:09 AM

Thanks guys. I will reevaluate my treatment and get back to you.

owlyn · #15 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueSky

You really shouldn't get too tense about the consequences of a hypo. You liver will pull you out a hypo before it becomes life threatening. Unless of course if you Glycogen Storage Disease, in which case you could be in big trouble.

Please be careful with that advice. While hypoglycemia itself may not kill you, the car accident (or other disaster) you get into because of it might.