[friendofT1]

Hello-
I am new to this forum/site. I got engaged on 12/30 . My bf/fiance stayed over that night, and the next morning he was giving me mixed and bizarre answers to questions I was asking him. He didn't get up until about 11. I asked him if he wanted something to eat. I got it for him and he didn't want it anymore. Then he got out of bed and went into the next room, gave the same mixed responses to my questions and (out of nowhere) punched me in the nose and laughed. The morning after our engagement and he just punched me. Needless to say I freaked out because I thought he had a stroke or something- there was something wrong but it never occurred to me it could be his sugar because he had never reacted that way before. He ate a cinnamon roll like he was a zombie with it dripping all over his shirt and a short while later he 'came to'. I am so excited about our engagement but I can't help but think about how much I don't know about his health and how to respond to it. He didn't remember a thing since the night before once his sugar came back up. My dad had Type 1 diabetes too, but I don't ever recall him having a reaction like that. It just makes me nervous and want to find out what I can do to help him or not be an idiot about the signs. I guess the signs really hit me dead on (literally), but any suggestions or advice you might have about handling insulin reactions would be helpful. I haven't told anyone about this incident. When I told my fiance what he did he broke down and I've never seen him cry before. I felt really bad. I just want to help but not be smothering about it. Advice? THANK YOU!!

[gettingby]

Hi friendofT1 and welcome. Congrats on the engagement.
I've had reactions like your fiance had and don't remember what I said or did. Then, when I am told about what happened, I get embarassed.
The best you can do is to read all you can on diabetes, especially insulin reactions. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions of the members here. The only stupid question is a question not asked.
Again, congrats and welcome to the group. I think it's wonderful that you are showing a willingness to learn all you can to help him.
PS. Forgot to ask, how long as he been a diabetic?

[mark_in_toronto]

Wow. Too many things to pack into a short response, but here goes. Your fiance needs to start testing a LOT more to prevent lows like that. I'm not preaching, just know from experience - I passed out shortly after getting out of bed while visiting my parents. At the time, I was testing maybe 3 times a day. Maybe. Testing a lot makes sure you don't go too high OR too low.

You CAN do things when you're low that you would otherwise NEVER do. You're essentially NOT in control of your own body...I'm not familiar with hitting somebody while low, but I've embarassed myself with my conduct a few times, for sure.

"It just makes me nervous and want to find out what I can do to help him or not be an idiot about the signs."[color="Black"] Again, testing more (and I know about not having the money sometimes) is the answer. You can't prevent a bad low if you don't regularly test your sugar levels....when you can catch an impending low and take in some sugar. Obviously also, is that the insulin dose can be adjusted if you know you've had a low with a certain dosage for certain foods...

One final piece of advice...keep a bottle of regular pop accessible by the bed, and in the fridge. I learned the hard way after actually waking up paralyzed due to an extreme low I had overnight. Lows are really dangerous - keep sugar tablets or juice, or pop within reach at all times! It's a pain, but you don't wanna be caught with no sugar during a reaction.

[Olidus]

Welcome friendofT1,

Did he check his BGs? How is your fiance control? A1Cs ect?
It all comes down to control, testing and more control.
Your on the right track wanting to learn more about this - cause this is very much so going to be apart of your life.

On this site you will learn lots- don't be scared to ask your questions- You will get your answers.

[Cyborg]

I always have glucose tabs within arms reach whereever I go to sleep. Glucose gel would be better in case the person can't chew...

Sorry to hear about how you ended up joining us, but congrats on the engagement and welcome aboard.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by friendofT1

I haven't told anyone about this incident. When I told my fiance what he did he broke down and I've never seen him cry before. I felt really bad. I just want to help but not be smothering about it. Advice? THANK YOU!!

I agree with not telling anyone. Keep it between the two of you.

Others have spoken about testing, which is good.
However, in this situation your T1 would not have tested. He was gone. Now, if I were to guess, he was waaay low on his lantus long range basal insulin. The lows from lantus are quite wicked, and lantus is the stuff he takes at night before bed. He may also do lantus in the morning which is split dose lantus for better coverage. However, when the lantus low - which comes on slow, as it is a slow acting long term insulin action - when the lantus low comes at night, there is little to tell a low is arriving. So, he woke up zoned. And, he got emotional after eating - natural reaction - been there, done that. The thing I have not done is hit someone, but it is perfectly reasonable because there is little to no awareness of what is happening - literally. He was fully functional, but not there at all - again, been there done that.

Advice - let him handle the incident his way. If he is like me, I take little advice, since this is my diabetes. I ask little advice, since this is my diabetes. I learn what I can do and what works for given situation - that's just me. Others like to kibbutz with doctors and specialists about things and listen to their counsel - not me - dunno why...

What I might suggest to him, however - how you tell him? - dunno - but he might try lowering the PM lantus and raising the AM lantus dose. Or, do all the lantus in the AM. A year ago, I switched lantus to AM only, because I did not like the lows lantus delivered during the night. You were lucky that he woke up. You may need to call paramedics next time, as just a bit lower and he may have become completely unmanageable - again, been there done that - well, my wife has been there and done that. So, my rationale in taking the lantus AM only is that when low comes on, I can see it coming and do something about it. About a month ago at work, however, this great plan backfired, I went low in late afternoon, became confused and obnoxious and then got a soda and was back to myself. Granted, AM lantus leaves me a few hours - probably 2AM to 7AM where no basal insulin is assisting my body to function. What body function - I'm sleeping. So, that works for me. Others won't/can't do that.

Enjoy your engagement. Get married asap and enjoy each other as long as you can. I've been married and diabetic 34 years.

[Maddogg]

Originally Posted by friendofT1

Hello-
Then he got out of bed and went into the next room, gave the same mixed responses to my questions and (out of nowhere) punched me in the nose and laughed. The morning after our engagement and he just punched me. Needless to say I freaked out because I thought he had a stroke or something- there was something wrong but it never occurred to me it could be his sugar because he had never reacted that way before. He ate a cinnamon roll like he was a zombie with it dripping all over his shirt and a short while later he 'came to'. I am so excited about our engagement but I can't help but think about how much I don't know about his health and how to respond to it. He didn't remember a thing since the night before once his sugar came back up.

LOL hahaha, i'm so sorry but I laughed when I read the part where he punched you in the face... Not that I find that acceptable in any way, punching a woman (especially your fiance) is wrong no matter what the situation, but I can see where your beau is coming from.

I and many other T1s have been in that situation before where we're dangerously low and from this, a messed up situation develops, somebody ends up getting hurt, and the suspect doesn't remember anything or even realize what they did. Its happened to me more than once actually.
One time I woke up in a random room with 2 paramedics trying to restrain me, my girl watching helplessly; the room looked like it had been struck by lightning, and there was also some urine on the floor (yes it was mine ) near the door. Once I "came to" I had no idea what had happened, how I ended up where I was, and why these 2 paramedics were holding me down. I didn't remember anything at all, no matter how hard I tried, my mind was blank. The first thing I said after I saw my girlfriend was "what happened?". It was a pretty bad experience but I did learn from it. There have been other situations, but i can't remember them right now, go figure lol.

Advice? Just make sure your hubby has some glucose tablets next to his bed, he's much safer sleeping in the same bed with you as oppose to sleeping or living alone. If something happens and he can't help himself, than at least you can be there to save him. Theres been at least 2 or 3 seperate occasions where I would have certainly died (or been in a coma) if other people (including strangers) hadn't stepped in to save my ***! My gf would always give me orange juice or apple juice (don't get the stuff with reduced sugar by the way) if i woke up low, it acts super fast and its easier to feed to someone than solid foods. And remember, depending on many factors, its safer for him to go to bed with higher blood sugars than with lower blood sugars, maybe tell him that. If he takes insulin before bed he needs to make sure his blood sugars isn't low enough that he'll become hypoglycemic when he sleeps. If he wakes up with high blood sugars he can just take some fast acting insulin to bring it back down quickly. Its safer than waking up hypoglycemic (low) and confused and puching somebody in the face for no reason...

Hope this helps, and welcome to DF!

What is your name btw??

[friendofT1]

All of you rock. Thanks so much for the information. This is very helpful! My guy is on the pump - I am not sure which one, and I think on this particular day things were just a bit different so I would say that his reaction was somewhat of an exceptional case b/c we ate a late lunch and no dinner... then all the excitement of the engagement was probably related to his not checking his sugar that night. I don't always know when he tests but he has a few different glucose monitors. One he uses regularly and checks it at least twice a day (if not more - I don't see him at work so not sure if he has one there to test around lunchtime).

I will try to find the right time to ask him more about what he does and how. The pump seems to be quite a bit different from what my dad used. My dad took the long acting injections and followed a very strict diet. I understand that there are some freedoms with the pump but I am not entirely sure what that means. If it seems safe to ask about his sugar he says its fine. Only every once in a while does he have a headache and the sugar is usually off when that happens. I will keep investigating and try to make sure I have a stock of juice and glucose tabs or cake frosting or something on hand and come to you with my questions and confusions if that's okay!

[UpNorth]

I think it could be very useful if he could teach you to check his bloodsugar when he seems to be unable to do it himself. And also, ask him more about his signs of low bloodsugar and what he prefers to eat or drink to get the sugars back up.
It would be an extra security for both of you, so don't be afraid to ask him


My boyfriend, who i live with, knows how to check my bloodsugar and even how to give me glucagon if needed. Thankfully none of that has been needed yet, but it feels safe to know that he knows how to do it. But he has needed to go get the syrup bottle for me a couple of times

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by friendofT1

All of you rock. Thanks so much for the information. This is very helpful! My guy is on the pump - I am not sure which one, and I think on this particular day things were just a bit different so I would say that his reaction was somewhat of an exceptional case b/c we ate a late lunch and no dinner... then all the excitement of the engagement was probably related to his not checking his sugar that night. I don't always know when he tests but he has a few different glucose monitors. One he uses regularly and checks it at least twice a day (if not more - I don't see him at work so not sure if he has one there to test around lunchtime).

I will try to find the right time to ask him more about what he does and how. The pump seems to be quite a bit different from what my dad used. My dad took the long acting injections and followed a very strict diet. I understand that there are some freedoms with the pump but I am not entirely sure what that means. If it seems safe to ask about his sugar he says its fine. Only every once in a while does he have a headache and the sugar is usually off when that happens. I will keep investigating and try to make sure I have a stock of juice and glucose tabs or cake frosting or something on hand and come to you with my questions and confusions if that's okay!

Pumping is great, but changes in routine and problems with sets can really upset things. I've been in this state too often myself. I never punched my wife, but I've told her off and grabbed her by the hair and started shaking her

She takes a forceful approach whenever I act stunned. She assumes I'm low. For some reason she asks me a lot if I am¿ hmmm ... She immediately goes for the juice. A kids drinking bottle with a hard plastic straw works best. Shoves it in my mouth and demands I drink. Keep in mind our brains are pretty screwed up in this state. Don't try logic, don't ask questions, just focus on getting sugar into him. Arguing and questioning is pointless. He can deal with the highs on his own later.

Also when things are off schedule or there's a BG problem, demand that he set 2 hr alarms to test until he's stable. I use my cell phone as I can set 3 alarms and it wakes me. Make him do it and help him do it. You now have ammo to back your argument.

You should also make sure he revisits his basal rates. He should know that under normal circumstances, they'll keep him steady. You don't want any hidden dips or bumps that you are fighting against. Taking extra food before bed is a hack solution. It will fail. I'll post some helpful links from my other puter.

Integrated Diabetes Services - Diabetes Management

Getting Down to Basals :: Diabetes Self-Management

HOWTO profile your Basal Rates.

Fine tuning workbook.

Basal testing workbook

What a fast acting insulin profile looks ike - to help with estimating adjustments