hey jude, I’ve had T1DM for a while now and i often get hypoglycemic attacks, specially in the middle of the night. I always fear passing out and dying and one day my family will wake up and it’ll be too late. Every time i follow up with my doctor my doses are adjusted and it works perfectly for a while and then it starts messing up. Nothing seems to be working I feel like I ran out of options and patience.
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Hi there,
Thank you for coming to Asking Jude for advice. I’m sorry to hear about your glycemic attacks and the anxiety you feel surrounding them. Type 1 diabetes can be a very difficult condition to live with, so it is good to hear that you are constantly checking in with your doctor. First and foremost, I am not a medical professional. However, here is some information I found relating to hypoglycemic attacks and how you can help manage them:
According to Hackensack Meridian Health (https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/HealthU/2019/10/10/5-tips-to-prevent-blood-sugar-from-dropping-at-night/), hypoglycemia at night can be the result of not eating dinner and/or aerobic exercising. Thus, make sure you follow a night routine that does not make your blood sugar levels drop too low.
Educate loved ones on how to identify hypoglycemic attacks. Letting them know about your concerns and how they can help you before (or during) an attack can make you feel more at ease when hypoglycemia occurs. Here is a link you can show them: https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/how-to-help-someone-with-diabetes-and-low-blood-sugar
Get prepared for glycemic attacks. Feeling nervous about possible attacks can make your anxiety worse, so feeling equipped to handle them can soothe your nerves and help you feel a bit more calm when they occur. Healthline (https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/staying-calm-hypoglycemia) offers some tips on how you can stay calm during hypoglycemic attacks, such as by keeping emergency phone numbers at hand, carrying snacks with you, and teaching yourself how to use a glucagon kit. It may even benefit you to practice breathing exercises (https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uz2255) or meditation (https://youtu.be/O-6f5wQXSu8) to reduce your anxiety.
Lastly, here is advice on managing hypoglycemia anxiety from someone with Type 1 diabetes: https://asweetlife.org/how-to-deal-with-hypoglycemia-anxiety/. It can be helpful to hear from someone who was in the position you are in now.
Sending love,
Helen
Hello, lovely! My apologies for the delay. The holidays threw everything up in the air.