Can switching to insulin bring on a stroke?

Angeldove · #1 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 02:22 PM

This may sound like a strange question, but I'm tired of wondering about it. My Mom had been on oral diabetic medications, cholesterol medications, high blood pressure medications, etc., and was 81 years old when she was switched to insulin last year. In a couple of months they noticed that she had an irregular heartbeat and from that point it all went downhill and ended with stents for blockages in her heart and a few days later she had a stroke. From time to time my sister asks me if I think the switch to insulin brought on the stroke and I just have no idea. The fear in back of our minds is looming closer and closer as I know I should have been on insulin for quite awhile, but I've been afraid of it. I think my sister needs to be on it too, so it's time to face the facts and try to make some intelligent decisions.

Another fear that I've had about insulin is that I'm afraid that it might bring my sugar down too low during sleep. This happened to my 91 year old grandmother many years ago and I know that's in the back of my mind too. I don't know why, but I think I rationalized that as long as it was oral medication that I could more "know" if that might happen, but over the past few months with my oral medications dropping my sugar too low in the middle of the night, I have come to the conclusion that my thinking is wrong and that the oral medication does not keep me any safer from this happening.

I've been reading on the forum some very positive things about switching to the insulin and it does help! If anyone would care to share their thoughts, I'd appreciate it!

genie86333 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 06:19 PM

Hi.

I don't know about insulin causing a stroke...I don't see *why* it would, since it is a product our bodies are supposed to make naturally, but I don't have any science to back that up.

As or the night-time lows, you're right - insulin can cause lows, but as you've found, so can the meds. I think the insulin would actually be more benificial in this case because you can adjust the amount of insulin you bolus to the amount of carbs you've eaten, where you can't really do that with oral meds. Also, as you've said, the problems with your grandmother going too low was "many years ago." I don't know how long ago & what kind of testing was available then, but that may have been improved between then & now.

EeyoreButterfly · #3 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 06:22 PM

I've never heard of insulin causing a stroke. It sounds like your mother was pretty much already there when she started the insulin.

As for going low while you sleep, I suppose it can happen, but it is extraordinarily rare for you to die from it. The newer insulins are much better than what your 91 year old grandma would have used, and you will work hard to come up with a routine that works for your body. I would bring your concerns up with your doctor when/if they decide to start you on insulin.

CountYourselfIn · #4 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 06:47 PM

Never heard of such things...

I thought insulin therapy was used to prevent physical deterioration causing things like strokes?

Likely she was a time bomb waiting to go off...

Sorry dude.

CountYourselfIn · #5 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angeldove

Another fear that I've had about insulin is that I'm afraid that it might bring my sugar down too low during sleep. This happened to my 91 year old grandmother many years ago and I know that's in the back of my mind too. I don't know why, but I think I rationalized that as long as it was oral medication that I could more "know" if that might happen, but over the past few months with my oral medications dropping my sugar too low in the middle of the night, I have come to the conclusion that my thinking is wrong and that the oral medication does not keep me any safer from this happening.

That happens... night lows are fairly common. If it happens, just means you need to readjust your dose of meds or eat something before bed.

If it drops in your sleep, you'll wake up, know something's kinda off, and take a pee, eat something, go back to bed.

It's nothing crazy :P

xMenace · #6 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 06:52 PM

It's purely a coincidence. Diabetes certainly contributed. She's also 81.

There are risks of going low with insulin, but there's much greater risks of staying high without it.

Angeldove · #7 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 08:25 PM

Thank you all! You've voiced what I had finally convinced myself of - but, I needed some reassurance. I think I'm ready for the insulin, but I'm not sure if I have the right doctor. He's just a family physician, but I really don't know how to find the "right" kind of doctor.

EeyoreButterfly · #8 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 08:28 PM

So your doctor suggested insulin? What are your levels like?

When and if the time comes, I will be going to an endo for that. I just don't trust my GP to be knowledgeable enough about the complexities of insulin.

Hammer · #9 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 08:25 PM

Angeldove, when I started insulin (Lantus), I went to a new low for me, even though it wasn't low by normal standards, and it woke me from my sleep. I was twitching all over and I knew that I was lower than I had been for some time, so I stirred some sugar in a glass of water and drank it. A few minutes later I was okay and I went back to bed.

I won't say that you can't die in your sleep from going too low, but I think it's extremely rare. Taking insulin greatly lowers your BG numbers and gets you back into control very quickly....it did for me. No oral medication did this for me, so insulin is the best way to go, plus there are no stomach upset side effects when you take insulin.(all oral diabetes meds upset my stomach).