My brothers death.

[alan james gilpin]

My brother Bill was a type two diabetes sufferer. Sometime earlier this year he was also diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and this appears to have interfered with his ability to control his diabetes. A couple of times he had found himself weak and confused and was able to get hold of chocolate or biscuits to give himself the sugar he needed to get himself back under control. To cut a long story short, on Friday the fifteenth of December Bill had a "Hypo", he collapsed, became unconscious and was rushed into hospital. He never recovered consciousness and the hospital told us that his brain had been irreparably damaged. On December eighteenth Bill died. This was a great shock to all his family, we had no idea that a person could actually die from the effects of diabetes, and we would all like to know if this is a rare occurrence or has there been other instances when a person has actually died as a result of hypo attack?

 

[scousebird]

Sorry for your loss Alan.
I don't know the answer to your query but I'm sure someone will be able to help.

 

[Vince_UK]

@alan james gilpin
Alan your post is heart rending. My sincerest condolences for what must be a terrible shock for you and your Family.
As @scousebird has stated unfortunately I cannot answer your question either however, there are many people on the forum with years of qualified experience and who possess valuable knowledge. I have every confidence someone will get back to you soon with useful information and help answer your question.
Please take care at this what must be a very distressing time for you.

 

[Northerner]

My brother Bill was a type two diabetes sufferer. Sometime earlier this year he was also diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and this appears to have interfered with his ability to control his diabetes. A couple of times he had found himself weak and confused and was able to get hold of chocolate or biscuits to give himself the sugar he needed to get himself back under control. To cut a long story short, on Friday the fifteenth of December Bill had a "Hypo", he collapsed, became unconscious and was rushed into hospital. He never recovered consciousness and the hospital told us that his brain had been irreparably damaged. On December eighteenth Bill died. This was a great shock to all his family, we had no idea that a person could actually die from the effects of diabetes, and we would all like to know if this is a rare occurrence or has there been other instances when a person has actually died as a result of hypo attack?

Very sorry to hear your sad news, Alan

Unfortunately, there are instances of people falling unconscious from hypos, and if not treated quickly enough then coma and brain damage can be the result The brain needs a certain amount of glucose in order to function, and if this starts to fall low we normally get the symptoms of a hypo, which are as you describe in your brother. As soon as we recognise these symptoms we have to have some fast-acting sugar - I have jelly babies, but some people have a sugary drink or glucose tablets. Chocolate is not the most suitable thing, as the fat can slow the release of the sugar into the blood. Do you know what diabetes medication your brother was using? Severe hypos are usually caused when a person has injected too much insulin (it can sometimes be very difficult to calculate the correct dose to take, when you have other problems predicting your levels, as was the case with your brother's cancer).

Less severe hypos are fairly common and easily treated, but there are times when levels can fall to the point of unconsciousness. Sometimes, the person's liver will respond by producing an extra boost of glucose from its stores, but this cannot be relied on, and if levels are not restored and continue to fall, coma leading to death can occur.

I hope this helps explain things, Alan. Once again, very sorry to hear about Bill

 

[Stitch147]

Very sorry to hear about your brother. Sending my condolences to you and your family.

 

[miguel81]

How very distressing for you all. You have my sincere condolences.

 

[Amigo]

I’m so very sorry to hear this Alan. How devastating for your family especially at this time of the year.

Sadly people can die from severe hypos, they are a medical emergency as northerner describes. Sadly the cancer may have exacerbated the effect in your brother’s case and I’m so sorry for his loss.

 

[trophywench]

Very sorry to hear about your brother.

It is sad - but it can and does happen unfortunately. At other times repeated hypos can cause the sort of brain damage that doesn't cause other organs to fail but damages the brain in ways that completely change a person's personality. Some diabetics who are normally the mildest, friendliest people you could ever wish to meet can become quite violent when hypo and can easily hurt the people who are trying to help them and/or themselves. This can have a big effect - say if its a big strapping burly bloke whose smaller sized wife, his parent or his child is trying to help - plus of course folk working for any of the emergency services can be on the receiving end and though I daresay operational police and fire service people have to be both fit and strong, the same is not a pre-requisite of medical personnel generally let alone the general public.

I don't act like that fortunately - I'm a wimp physically anyway and tend to act more like a very silly drunk (apparently) - but of course that's a danger because trying to restrain and/or sober up this silly older woman you happen to come across is only going to cause unnecessary harm to me (or at least delay the treatment I need) and of course I'll struggle physically cos my inner being is still desperately trying to scream coherently at you 'I'm hypo you idiot - not blind drunk!!' but can't.

We all try to avoid 'going there' of course - but as we know from life itself - sometimes, sheet simply just happens.

 

[alan james gilpin]

Very sorry to hear your sad news, Alan

Unfortunately, there are instances of people falling unconscious from hypos, and if not treated quickly enough then coma and brain damage can be the result The brain needs a certain amount of glucose in order to function, and if this starts to fall low we normally get the symptoms of a hypo, which are as you describe in your brother. As soon as we recognise these symptoms we have to have some fast-acting sugar - I have jelly babies, but some people have a sugary drink or glucose tablets. Chocolate is not the most suitable thing, as the fat can slow the release of the sugar into the blood. Do you know what diabetes medication your brother was using? Severe hypos are usually caused when a person has injected too much insulin (it can sometimes be very difficult to calculate the correct dose to take, when you have other problems predicting your levels, as was the case with your brother's cancer).

Less severe hypos are fairly common and easily treated, but there are times when levels can fall to the point of unconsciousness. Sometimes, the person's liver will respond by producing an extra boost of glucose from its stores, but this cannot be relied on, and if levels are not restored and continue to fall, coma leading to death can occur.

I hope this helps explain things, Alan. Once again, very sorry to hear about Bill

Thanks, this is very helpful. I'm sorry but I don't know what medication he was using, though I do know that the doctor had tried something different that did not agree with Bill and he had stopped taking it. Twenty-four hours before his death I had a phone conversation from hell with Bill, he was very confused and could hardly speak. To make things worse, his wife (in her seventies) was not sure whether he was having too much sugar or not enough. I told her that Bill, in the condition he was in, should be in hospital or at least should be seeing his Doctor. This was late evening and Bills wife (I prefer not to use her name) said that the Macmillan nurses were coming in the morning and she would take things from there. I live in Kendal, and Bill lived in York, two and a half hours apart. I now curse myself for not shooting over there to help my brother, by the following evening Bill was unconscious and in hospital. My greatest concern and the purpose of my enquiry is the fact that I was totally ignorant that type two diabetes could actually eventually kill someone. It would be helpful if someone in Bill's condition could be provided with a hand-full of red cards, something like calling cards, that could be given out to friends and family, stating in no uncertain terms that diabetes, in the extreme, can lead to unconsciousness and death. Perhaps this society could look into something along these lines. With this knowledge I would certainly have made that journey to York. My phone conversation with Bill will haunt me for ever. Thanks again, Alan.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Sorry to hear this Alan

 

[HOBIE]

I can remember a conversation on this forum from a T2 who said diabetes was not a life threatening disease ? Realy am sorry alan

 

[Amigo]

Thanks, this is very helpful. I'm sorry but I don't know what medication he was using, though I do know that the doctor had tried something different that did not agree with Bill and he had stopped taking it. Twenty-four hours before his death I had a phone conversation from hell with Bill, he was very confused and could hardly speak. To make things worse, his wife (in her seventies) was not sure whether he was having too much sugar or not enough. I told her that Bill, in the condition he was in, should be in hospital or at least should be seeing his Doctor. This was late evening and Bills wife (I prefer not to use her name) said that the Macmillan nurses were coming in the morning and she would take things from there. I live in Kendal, and Bill lived in York, two and a half hours apart. I now curse myself for not shooting over there to help my brother, by the following evening Bill was unconscious and in hospital. My greatest concern and the purpose of my enquiry is the fact that I was totally ignorant that type two diabetes could actually eventually kill someone. It would be helpful if someone in Bill's condition could be provided with a hand-full of red cards, something like calling cards, that could be given out to friends and family, stating in no uncertain terms that diabetes, in the extreme, can lead to unconsciousness and death. Perhaps this society could look into something along these lines. With this knowledge I would certainly have made that journey to York. My phone conversation with Bill will haunt me for ever. Thanks again, Alan.

When we lose a loved one we always feel terrible guilt Alan no matter what we’d done or however hard we tried to help. You simply didn’t realise he was at risk and had no idea he could die from the diabetes. Most people wouldn’t and hindsight is a wonderful thing.
It could be it was the medication that caused the problem or perhaps he was already on cancer medication that interacted badly?
His wife thought things would be ok till the next day too and you’re right, people just don’t appreciate that this can be fatal because it is much more unusual in type 2’s and extremely so in those who don’t take medication.

You didn’t have the knowledge you needed but the love and concern was there and this warning will help others to be much more pro-active in a similar situation. Remember him fondly, he was clearly unwell anyway and you’ve no knowing whether the damage was already irreversible. Best wishes.

 

[alan james gilpin]

Thanks me amigo.

 

[alan james gilpin]

I think a red card as suggested would help and encourage people to call on skilled assistance.

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Condolences to you and your family.

 

[Ditto]

I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[grainger]

I’m so sorry for your loss.
The pain of losing a loved one is not Something to be underestimated and I only wish I could say something that could provide comfort at this incredibly difficult time.
Remember the good things, the moments that make you laugh or smile.

I hope the coming months bring you some peace x

 

[hopingandwinning]

Sorry to hear about your loss

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry for your loss Alan. Must have been devastating for you and your family.

 

[alan james gilpin]

When we lose a loved one we always feel terrible guilt Alan no matter what we’d done or however hard we tried to help. You simply didn’t realise he was at risk and had no idea he could die from the diabetes. Most people wouldn’t and hindsight is a wonderful thing.
It could be it was the medication that caused the problem or perhaps he was already on cancer medication that interacted badly?
His wife thought things would be ok till the next day too and you’re right, people just don’t appreciate that this can be fatal because it is much more unusual in type 2’s and extremely so in those who don’t take medication.

You didn’t have the knowledge you needed but the love and concern was there and this warning will help others to be much more pro-active in a similar situation. Remember him fondly, he was clearly unwell anyway and you’ve no knowing whether the damage was already irreversible. Best wishes.

Thank-you for your reply and concern. Bill had a rare form of cancer that starts in the back, and can apparently be controlled. He was receiving injections for that purpose that possibly did affect his diabetes? He was managing to live a normal life prior to this. I just hope that the medical profession take note for future reference, anyone in a similar circumstance needs close monitoring and guidance. Thanks once more, Alan.