3am hypo!!!!

[Ruth Goode]

Carly's diabetes specialist did tell me there was no need to keep checking her at 3ams. And guess what she was 2.8 this morning, I'm so glad I still do it!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Carly's diabetes specialist did tell me there was no need to keep checking her at 3ams. And guess what she was 2.8 this morning, I'm so glad I still do it!

Is Carly playing snap with me then? I was hypo at 3 am as well

 

[Ruth Goode]

Ha ha Sue!! Do anyone know why the specialists don't advice these 3am check??

 

[trophywench]

Well I've no idea Ruth, seems utterly potty really, I spose you're sposed to get it sorted so she doesn't have em. But who can tell with little children, how much energy they've used etc etc etc.

Anyway if you run out of babies to test, I'm sure you could hire yourself out as a freelance expert, to come and do night-time tests for the adults who hate doing em, eg moi!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I wonder whether it's rather along the same lines as the 't2s should not test' suggestions - that it will cause the parents and/or children stress, that they are better assuming everything is fine and following the instructions they are given. Rather like that charming 1 year old 'hiding' technique of covering you own eyes. If I can't see you, you can't see me. If you dont test, it'll be fine.

Crazy!

 

[Hanmillmum]

Hi, I know when my dtr was first diagnosed there was no suggestion from the team or consultant to do overnight testing. It wasn't until 3 months down the line and pumping that I felt it was imperative. The consultant doesn't challenge what I do but has not encouraged it other than when tweaking basals. However, I would have strong evidence that nights in little ones are not guarenteed stable!

 

[Twitchy]

Funny how things change...I remember our DSN encouraging mum & dad to do night tests! 🙄 I wonder if they are working on an assumption about the liver dump saving the day, or whether this is some awfully cynical bid to reduce the amount of test strips used / the chances of people successfully claiming carer's allowance?! Me, cynical...these days yes...

 

[DeusXM]

I think it's more to do with maintaining the kid's sanity.

I can understand in the initial stages why it's important to do these 3am tests, as everyone needs to get a handle on what's going on. But once you've got regular, good control, I think it's fine to start scaling back.

Otherwise, you have a child who is constant being woken up and being told they're different and just minutes away from death. I don't think this is a good thing. It's also not good for the parent either, if you're having to get up at 3am every single day to test your kid, this is going to have an impact on your mood and sanity too.

Yes, if control is unstable, then nighttime tests are a good idea. But that should be even more of an imperative to aim for stable control.

 

[Hanmillmum]

Otherwise, you have a child who is constant being woken up and being told they're different and just minutes away from death. I don't think this is a good thing. It's also not good for the parent either, if you're having to get up at 3am every single day to test your kid, this is going to have an impact on your mood and sanity too.

Blimey - it's not that dramatic in our house! We only test when not sure and the day has been iffy, I don't wake her up testing (she sleeps through and if hypo is semi awake to gulp done some gel) nor do I declare to her she is on the verge of slipping into a coma -lol

 

[Twitchy]

Otherwise, you have a child who is constant being woken up and being told they're different and just minutes away from death. I don't think this is a good thing. It's also not good for the parent either, if you're having to get up at 3am every single day to test your kid, this is going to have an impact on your mood and sanity too.

Blimey - it's not that dramatic in our house! We only test when not sure and the day has been iffy, I don't wake her up testing (she sleeps through and if hypo is semi awake to gulp done some gel) nor do I declare to her she is on the verge of slipping into a coma -lol

Lol- agreed, I can barely remember an instance of waking whilst mum or dad tested, & they were generally good at not being melodramatic about things...but with growth spurts, hormone changes, erratic behaviour patterns, etc etc I find it understandable that most parents would want to check fairly often either very last thing at night before they (parent) turned in or at 3 if worried about hypos. When hcp's can't guarantee there will be no problem I think it's highly irresponsible to issue a directive 'NOT' to test, as some will take it as meaning theres never a need...which sometimes there clearly is. Roll on the closed loop system! 🙄

 

[Amanda102]

These posts got me a bit worried! I always test Hannah about 11 pm before bed and only do others at 2 hour intervals after correcting if she is abnormally high or I am worried she may go low. Generally she sleeps through these tests. I have never been advised to do night time tests as a rule. What worries me is your posts re night time hypos. My sister who has been diabetic for about 40 years said that if she went hypo during the night in her sleep, her liver would produce glucose in response and although she may feel lousy the next day and test high first thing, she would basically be ok. Is that not the case???

 

[Twitchy]

Well...personnally, as far as I know I *normally* wake up if I go hypo BUT have had some mornings pre pump where my am bg has been sky high & ot looks like the liver's been at work. However I would never consiously decide to allow myself to bounce out of a hypo as you are depriving the brain of fuel - and some people when low enough can have dangerous fits. Not wanting to scare you but there's a reason hypos are treated after all.

For all I know the body of thought now is with modern insulins / pumps night time hypos may be less likely but the only way to be sure is to wear a cgm or do the odd 3am check if things indicate it might be needed...I don't check my levels every ignt for example ut would check if had exercised a lot as that's not normal for me. If you're worried I'd have a chat with thd Children With Diabetes parents (think it's an email list but not sure where address is?!) worth asking the 'real' experts I think.... 🙂

(Ps waking up the morming after a hypo (treated or not is like havinv a huge hangover withou the fun of the beer first... Drat!!)

 

[Pumper_Sue]

These posts got me a bit worried! I always test Hannah about 11 pm before bed and only do others at 2 hour intervals after correcting if she is abnormally high or I am worried she may go low. Generally she sleeps through these tests. I have never been advised to do night time tests as a rule. What worries me is your posts re night time hypos. My sister who has been diabetic for about 40 years said that if she went hypo during the night in her sleep, her liver would produce glucose in response and although she may feel lousy the next day and test high first thing, she would basically be ok. Is that not the case???

Hi Amanada,
does your daughter not wake up when hypo during the night? I've been type 1 for 47 years and always wake up for a hypo always have done since a very early age.
As a child I was put to bed at what ever hour (8pm) Mum checked me when she went to bed and not a peep out of me until the following morning unless I was hypo.
Back in those days there were no testing gear anyway so when Mum checked me at her bedtime then it was a visual check only.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hi Amanda

The only thing any of us can say for sure is that Your Diabetes May Vary.

DUK provoked a bit of an outcry from parents of children with diabetes last year with a balance article saying that children *would* have their overnight BGs restored by emergency liver action.

This is a response the liver makes - some times, but some parents pointed out that for their children it was by no means certain. Neither was waking from a hypo and that tragically a few children are lost every year who slip into a coma overnight.

The subject of overnight testing of children seems to provoke some very deep feelings. Some parents seem to test every night without fail. Others (as DeusXM suggests) feel that this gives the impression that D is something to be feared and see little value in tests overnight that are always 'fine' choosing instead to only test at certain times (unusual foods... activity during the day... illness... more than usual insulin active at bedtime...).

I guess you will have to work out where you sit on that spectrum and use your own judgement, based on your experience of managing your daughter's D and her particular circumstances/character.

 

[Ruth Goode]

Carly is very young and sometimes don't show any signs of hypo so few children have tragically slipped into coma is enough to make me test her regularly. It's my choice and I don't feel its right for specialists to go telling everyone not to test at 3am because Carly do get hypo in the night. I'm sure each of you know your diabetes but I'm responsible for Carly's.

 

[AJLang]

Hi Amanada,
does your daughter not wake up when hypo during the night? I've been type 1 for 47 years and always wake up for a hypo always have done since a very early age.
As a child I was put to bed at what ever hour (8pm) Mum checked me when she went to bed and not a peep out of me until the following morning unless I was hypo.
Back in those days there were no testing gear anyway so when Mum checked me at her bedtime then it was a visual check only.

I've been diabetic for 41 years and it was the same for me. Mum would wake me up at 10pm for a small snack (no MDI then) and then leave me for the night. I've only ever tested during the night for high BGS and that has only been since I've had gastroparesis.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Carly is very young and sometimes don't show any signs of hypo so few children have tragically slipped into coma is enough to make me test her regularly. It's my choice and I don't feel its right for specialists to go telling everyone not to test at 3am because Carly do get hypo in the night. I'm sure each of you know your diabetes but I'm responsible for Carly's.

Very much so Ruth.
What I was trying to say was as we had no testing equipment back in those days and the insulin's had a different action in those days as well. So it supper and bed and not a peep heard.
Also we were not as aware of what could happen. Thankfully what could happen is very rare. But as a parent you are aware and due to Carly's age you take the apropriate action.
I consider myself lucky that's it's me with the diabetes and not the Mum or Dad of a child with diabetes. Parents worry kids don't if diagnosed at a young age as know no different.
It's also all very well for some Dr in a hospital to say no need to night test, when he packs his bag and b*ggers off home for the night parents have to live with the childs condition 24/7 365 days of the year. Basicly they have no concept of the constant worry parents have.

 

[Amanda102]

Hmmmm! Hannah has never yet had a hypo during the night so I am not really sure what to expect or what to do for the best. I will carry on testing at about 11 before bed for now, but am even more worried about her going away with the school for two nights next week as I won't be there to do it. I am having one of those 'why did it have to happen to my daughter' days.

 

[Twitchy]

I know it's easy for me to say, but try not to stress - it's really important that she can feel 'normal' & going on trips is a big deal - I was never allowed to go away on camps etc & it made me feel very 'odd one out'. Will they be in dormitories? Maybe you could have a chat with a good friend of hers / teacher & reassure yourself that they know what to do if she does happen to go hypo? Maybe have a chat to your dsn in case she can advise on any sensible precautions to ensure hypos are unlikely? ((((hug)))) Well done for giving her the freedom to go - I'm sure it will boost her confidence! 🙂

 

[Amanda102]

Thank you! She is in a room with 5 others including her twin sister, who is quite switched on and often looks out for her at school. She sometimes notices Hannah is hypo before Hannah herself does (just like I used to with my sister many years ago!). I have also been in and spoken to her head of year who has been my point of contact at the school since diagnosis. She is leading the trip and is going to be in the same lodge as Hannah. I wouldn't say she is knowledgeable about the condition, but she knows it is important for Hannah to test regularly and I am confident she will make that easy for her. She has volunteered to look after Hannah's bumbag and contents during the activities if necessary! She has also said she will liaise with the kitchen if there are any queries. As it happens the catering manager from Dalguise phoned me last night and he was very helpful. He is going to check the carb content of regular items before she arrives and provide her with a point of contact at mealtimes if she needs it. I don't think there is much else I can do. I know it is really important for her to go and enjoy herself and I am sure she will. She is a sensible girl. Fingers crossed. Thank you all for your reassurance!!