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Night sweats

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eggyg

eggyg

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 3c
I am a 50 year old female recently diagonosed pancreatic diabetic. I am suffering from the most awful night sweats which I had presumed were probably the menopause. They are waking me up every 1/2 hour or so and I am literally dripping with sweat. I sleep naked (sorry for that image), have no heating on in my room and it's been down to -15 degrees these last couple of weeks but am still sweating. After yet another disturbed night last night I started thinking that maybe it was to do with my diabetes, so I googled it and found out it could be noturnal hypos. I take 500mg of metformin twice a day, my pancreas (what's left of it) still produces some insulin. Does anyone else suffer from this? I also have hot flushes every half hour through the day, mind you that could be the menopause. Elaine.
 
Hi Elaine, sorry to hear this. What you describe does sound similar to the symptoms of a night hypo. What do you do when this happens? Are you able to test your blood and see what your levels are? If not, then I would recommend getting a meter - you can get them for about ?10-15 from Boots etc. and they usually come with 10 strips so that would be enough to do a few tests. If your levels are 4.o mmol/l or below then this is a hypo andneeds to be treated with some fast acting sugar like a couple of jelly babies or 100ml of ordinary coke/lucozade etc.
 
eggyg said:
I am a 50 year old female recently diagonosed pancreatic diabetic. I am suffering from the most awful night sweats which I had presumed were probably the menopause. They are waking me up every 1/2 hour or so and I am literally dripping with sweat. I sleep naked (sorry for that image), have no heating on in my room and it's been down to -15 degrees these last couple of weeks but am still sweating. After yet another disturbed night last night I started thinking that maybe it was to do with my diabetes, so I googled it and found out it could be noturnal hypos. I take 500mg of metformin twice a day, my pancreas (what's left of it) still produces some insulin. Does anyone else suffer from this? I also have hot flushes every half hour through the day, mind you that could be the menopause. Elaine.
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As a bloke, I can't comment too much on the menopause (OK, I can't comment at all!).

Before diagnosis, I often found myself dripping with sweat in bed, so much so that I took to putting a towel over the pillows! Since, I've got the blood sugars under control though, I have not had that problem so much. Perhaps once or twice, but nowhere near to the same extent.

I believe that it can be yet another symptom of diabetes, but am not sure of the underlying reasons. I also remember, when diagnosed, the medical guys asking me about whether I had night sweats or not, but as usual never explaining why they asked the question and I wasn't clued up enough to ask!

Andy

p.s. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a hypo in my case though.
 
Hi Elaine I'm 47 and have hit the menopause too. I have had night sweats and put this down to the menopause, you have certainly given me something to think about (more questions for the nurse lol). I tend to keep a fan by my bed, at -temps at the moment a bit silly but I do find this helps as I find I only need to use it for a few minutes when necessary.
 
It might be menopause, but it is also worth getting a meter to check you are not actually having a hypo.

If it is menopause I think you can get things to help relieve the sweats, but you'll need to see a docotor. Worth doing for a decent nights sleep.
 
Northerner said:
Hi Elaine, sorry to hear this. What you describe does sound similar to the symptoms of a night hypo. What do you do when this happens? Are you able to test your blood and see what your levels are? If not, then I would recommend getting a meter - you can get them for about ?10-15 from Boots etc. and they usually come with 10 strips so that would be enough to do a few tests. If your levels are 4.o mmol/l or below then this is a hypo andneeds to be treated with some fast acting sugar like a couple of jelly babies or 100ml of ordinary coke/lucozade etc.
Click to expand...

I have a meter I will use it tonight when it happens. I usually just lie on the top of bed until I freeze! I have just realised that although I have been having hot flushes and night sweats occasionally for the last couple of years, these really bad ones started around the time of diagnosis and my metformin was upped from 1 x 500 to 2. I had been on 1 x 500 for pre diabetes for a year. I will let you know what the results are.
 
eggyg said:
I have a meter I will use it tonight when it happens. I usually just lie on the top of bed until I freeze! I have just realised that although I have been having hot flushes and night sweats occasionally for the last couple of years, these really bad ones started around the time of diagnosis and my metformin was upped from 1 x 500 to 2. I had been on 1 x 500 for pre diabetes for a year. I will let you know what the results are.
Click to expand...

It's possible that the extra metformin has lowered your levels to a point much lower than you have been used to and this is giving 'false' hypo symptoms - you may not actually be hypo but adapting to new, lower levels. It happens more at night because the liver slows down its trickle of glucose into the bloodstream, usually at its lowest around 3 am. If this is the case, then the symptoms should ease before too long. If you are concerned though, do ask your doctor if there is any other explanation or any help he/she can provide. 🙂
 
night sweats have been happening to me quite alot lately aswel to the extend that im actuly dripping in sweat, happening at least once a week, i dont hink it could be the menapause in my case. have never teste through the night when this happens but i will do in future now.
 
traceycat said:
night sweats have been happening to me quite alot lately aswel to the extend that im actuly dripping in sweat, happening at least once a week, i dont hink it could be the menapause in my case. have never teste through the night when this happens but i will do in future now.
Click to expand...

If you can I think it's always worth testing so at least you know whether you can discount blood sugar levels as a cause.🙂
 
Hi Elane,

I'm 51 and am pretty sure I'm going through the "change". I do suffer from night sweats but they are more cyclical. When I mentioned this to the doctor, she said that might be because of the diabetes. It's difficult to gauge what is natural and what is diabetes? My doctor told me that I once my levels came down to a normal level, my hormones would be more well balanced. Good news for my family then!

Donna 🙂
 
Eggyg - definitely worth talking to your GP, as night sweat symptoms could be menopause related, and there are several treatments that might help you.
 
I often get night sweats. Practice Nurse suggested it may be night time hypos, espacially as I am fortunate enough to be able to keep my HbA1Cs low (<5%).

Eating slow acting carbs (e.g wholegrain (Burgen) bread) before going to bed has helped.

Richard
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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