I'm worried about my Mum and would be grateful for advice. She's had type 2 for years. She's on Metformin and Glympiride. She has neuropathy in both legs up to the knee and higher on one leg. She checks her blood sugar several times a day. I've been looking through the forum postings and see that hypos are pretty common. However, she doesn't get them in the day but most nights at 2am she's sweating profusely and finds she's down to 2.3 or so. She keeps snacks by the bed. Last week she got out of bed and her legs collapsed. Fortunately my brother was here at the time. The doctor is concerned and suggested supper and not taking metformin too late in the day. Yesterday she took it at lunchtime and had a fruit scone at 10:30 before bed. She still had a hypo at 2am. At 06:30 this morning it was still very low. I saw chronic hypo mentioned on the diabetes UK website, but it didn't provide any further info about it. I'm staying at the moment and visit a lot but live a long way away. She's recovering from an infection at the moment, but even when well has lots of hypos. Is this serious or pretty normal?
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89 and hypo most nights type 2
- Thread starter Miriam
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Hi Miriam,
I am not an expert on type 2 as my son is type 1 - but from what you have said I would agree with the GP that the metformin needs to be taken at an earlier time and perhaps reduce the dose as it seems that there is a pattern to the hypos' and your mum will feel very tired and drained if she is having them constantly. Eating before bed is a good idea to try to stop them - but long term it would be better to alter the medication. Someone more experienced than me will be along soon I am sure to give you some more advice. I hope you can get to the bottom of this and get levels in range and that your mum feels better soon.🙂Bev
I am not an expert on type 2 as my son is type 1 - but from what you have said I would agree with the GP that the metformin needs to be taken at an earlier time and perhaps reduce the dose as it seems that there is a pattern to the hypos' and your mum will feel very tired and drained if she is having them constantly. Eating before bed is a good idea to try to stop them - but long term it would be better to alter the medication. Someone more experienced than me will be along soon I am sure to give you some more advice. I hope you can get to the bottom of this and get levels in range and that your mum feels better soon.🙂Bev
margie
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
It sounds like your Mother's Dr needs to review her medication.
If she has lost weight recently she may be more sensitive to the insulin she is naturally producing, and the effects of the drug are pushing her into a hypo by increasing the sensitivity more.
Whilst staying with her have a look at her diet and what she is eating carb wise, basically what is happening is that the carbs in her system are insufficient in the early hours of the morning. She either need to increase her carbs or decrease the meds. A dietician or your Mother's GP or a DSN (Diabetes Specialist Nurse) need to help you sort out the balance.
If she has lost weight recently she may be more sensitive to the insulin she is naturally producing, and the effects of the drug are pushing her into a hypo by increasing the sensitivity more.
Whilst staying with her have a look at her diet and what she is eating carb wise, basically what is happening is that the carbs in her system are insufficient in the early hours of the morning. She either need to increase her carbs or decrease the meds. A dietician or your Mother's GP or a DSN (Diabetes Specialist Nurse) need to help you sort out the balance.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Miriam, welcome to the forum 🙂 I'm sorry to hear that your mum is having problems with night hypos - they are probably the worst kind as hypos are easier to recognise and treat when you are up and about during the day. It is good news that she is being woken by the hypos, but not good that she is having them. I see that glimepiride is a type of medication that can cause low blood sugars. What are her levels like during the day? Are they below double figures most of the time? Does she test before going to bed? If so, you need to make sure that her levels are not too low at this time.
I'd suggest something a bit more substantial before bed. Nighttime, and particularly around 3 am, is the time when our own body's production of glucose is low (it is normally released steadily by the liver, but reaches a low point in the night), so she needs something that will last a while and provide some back up to the liver. I normally have a slice of seeded/granary bread spread with peanut butter. The bread will digest slowly, and the fat in the peanut butter will slow this digestion even more, so should provide longer 'cover'.
I wonder if changing the dosing time of the glimepiride would make a difference? Hope this helps a little, please do ask if there is anything else we may be able to help you with. 🙂
I'd suggest something a bit more substantial before bed. Nighttime, and particularly around 3 am, is the time when our own body's production of glucose is low (it is normally released steadily by the liver, but reaches a low point in the night), so she needs something that will last a while and provide some back up to the liver. I normally have a slice of seeded/granary bread spread with peanut butter. The bread will digest slowly, and the fat in the peanut butter will slow this digestion even more, so should provide longer 'cover'.
I wonder if changing the dosing time of the glimepiride would make a difference? Hope this helps a little, please do ask if there is anything else we may be able to help you with. 🙂
Caroline Wilson
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hello and welcome Miriam.
I'd suggest you went and had a chat with your mums GP and see if he can change her medication. I think maybe she also needs a snack before going to bed or a milky drink or something before bed to help her get through the night.
I'd suggest you went and had a chat with your mums GP and see if he can change her medication. I think maybe she also needs a snack before going to bed or a milky drink or something before bed to help her get through the night.
Thanks
Many thanks for your advice. I'll go through it all with Mum and I'm sure it will help her to improve. I'm glad to find out more about how careful she needs to be from reading the forum posts. She's been managing her diabetes a long time so I suppose as a family we've left her to get on with it. I hope we can provide better support from now on.
Many thanks for your advice. I'll go through it all with Mum and I'm sure it will help her to improve. I'm glad to find out more about how careful she needs to be from reading the forum posts. She's been managing her diabetes a long time so I suppose as a family we've left her to get on with it. I hope we can provide better support from now on.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
If you think of anything else, there's usually someone around to offer help and support! 🙂 Hope that your mum can find a way round the problem.
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