Diabetes and very low blood sugars

[eddiej]

My 25 year old son has had type 1 diabetes since he was 2 years old. Over the years we have helped with his control. He is now working at a stressful job in finance in NYC and lives with his girlfriend. He is currently taking 2 shots a day of Humilin Reg. and NPH.  Over the last six months he has bottomed out at least 8 times usually at lunch time and the paramedics  have had to be called to his workplace. Yesterday when they arrived  his Blood Sugar was 19.  It seems he drops so quickly that he is unable to treat himself by eating a snack. He keeps himself healthy by eating well and is overall good shape. We have an appointment with a new endriconolgist in the city next week but wanted to be able to discuss options and concerns.  

[JDRF-VOL-RL]

Hi, eddie.  I'm not a medical professional, just the parent of a kid with diabetes.  Has he ever considered changing his insulin regimen?  NPH and regular Humilin are older therapies.  Something like Lantus or Levemir as the long acting and something like Novolog or another fast acting insulin are much more common these days.  They give more consistent coverage with fewer spikes.  Does he have hypoglycemia unawareness?  If he's getting down to 19, it sounds like he may.  That is a condition where he can't tell he's getting low.  It is possible to correct the condition, you just have to work out a plan with his endo.    Those are just a couple things to consider.  Good luck.

[mlz]

Hi. My husband had been on that same dosage for about 20 yrs and he started having lows more frequently, which caused me as much stress as him. He went to his endo with his problem and they changed his dosage to the 24 hr long acting, Lantus. He then takes a short acting when he eats. Things have been MUCH more stable sincen then. He has a little more flexibility with his eating times: not eating on time at lunch gave him lows and a crummy afternoon of work.

Over the years he had his dosage adjusted here and there, but it really made a difference when he switched to the long acting insulin. I would definitley bring this up to your son's Endo.  I hope things get better for him. That can't be fun to have those severe reactions at work, in front of your co-workers.

Good luck, keep us posted on the results, it will be helpful to someone else down the line with the same problems. That's what this board is all about.

Marcia

[JDRF-VOL-SG]

I totally agree with the first two postings. The NPH insulin that was the norm years ago had some very dangerous spikes in activity that we always had to watch out for. I take the newer 24-hour Lantus and find that hypo episodes are much rarer now with this insulin. Some people also find that pumps offer good control with fewer dangerous lows also. The new endocrinologist may well want to change his routine to the newer insulins, and it is well worth investigating. Better control is easier to achieve and much easier on our lifestyles.

[jspear]

one word. pump.

and one question, why havent you gotten it earlier?

I'm 25. your son's age. Working in a finance job. Find an endo that will encourage your son to go on pump therapy. I have a pump that has a sensor that warns before lows or highs ever happen.

I just feel having lived with type I diabetes for 18 years living with anything but a pump is absurd, and any hesitations at going on one are easily proven to be misconceptions within a month of use.

got any questions about it ill answer them.

[t]

I am a 24 year old diabetic. I have had diabetes since i was eight. It gets so hard, but I have had the same problems as your son. I am looking into getting the insulin oump. The doctor's say after so many years, you become numb to symptoms that you used to feel (low blood sugars). The insulin pump can monitor your sugar for you at all times. It seems really worth looking into.