Why does he have these episodes

[GemGem95]

My brother, 26 was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 13.

At first he was doing really well looking after himself until 16 he then just ended up in the wrong crowd and ended up partying, drinking and smoking recently.

He’s had a few episodes where he’s collapsed and fitted after a night out and also has had moments where he has gone hypo and acted drunk.

He doesn’t really take after himself. He won’t go to diabetic checkups, eye test extra.

He’s had an operation for an abscess on his lower back and of course it’s never heeled properly.

This morning at about 6 I was woken up to him throwing up but was only watery as it’s been hours after food.

He went to work for a few hours and ended up coming home because he started to feel ill, he’s obviously not eaten all day so has gone hypo and fainted and throwing up everywhere.

Why is he having this problem?

[Activity2004 Administrator]

Hi GemGem95 ,

When people drink alcoholic drinks, alcohol can mimic/look like a low blood sugar. In some people, it can also mimic highs. Has your brother stopped taking his insulin? If that is the case, you (or other family members) have to call his doctor and talk to them on his behalf to say what has been going on and see what the family can do. A family intervention may even be a neccessary option, but ask the rest of the family beforehand, of course. I hope this helps. Please let us know what happens very soon.

[MEJones]

Hi

It sounds like your brother is really struggling and is going through a very common diabetic teenage rebellion, it’s incredibly common and most people end up looking back on it as one of the stupidest things they’ve ever done. Unfortunately there isn’t much you can do apart from try and support him the very best way you can, or try promting him to test his bloods, take his insulin & make sure he’s having adequate carbs to compensate when he drinks.

The throwing up is very concerning and usually this isn’t down to hypoglycaemia and tends to be down to extremely high blood glucose levels. If possible get him to check his ketone levels just to rule out the possibility that he’s slipping in to DKA. If he’s not a taking care of himself and having lots of hypos it’s also possible that he’s skipping injections & still eating without insulin, or injecting much later when he remembers.

If you’re based in the U.K. then you can phone the Diabetes UK helpline, they have trained advisors who can simply offer a sympathetic ear or put you in contact with services who might be able to help. diabetes.org.uk/how_we_help...

I’ve had type 1 diabetes for 22yrs and it’s a hard condition to accept, but especially when you’re so young, we’ve all been through silly periods where we maybe didn’t take it as seriously as we should but hopefully he will come out of the other side. Now that I’m nearly 28 I take it too seriously but I’d rather That than suffer the consequences later.

I admire you for thinking about your brother and trying to help him change his behaviour. good luck. x

[HOBIEONE]

Hi Gem Gem. Drinking is strange to T1s. I do & have had some episodes of going low the next day/morning. I always have something to absorb to alcohol on the night & keep bg reasonable. Good luck & hope your brother takes it in to behave.

[Bloomfield1655]

Hi GemGem95

I am a type 1 and have been for 37yrs I was diagnosed in 1982. It took me three years to properly come to terms with accepting my diabetes and I went through some of the things that your brother is going through. It is probably due to seeing that his friends are ok and not really accepting the fact that he will be diabetic for the whole of his life. He in all probability just wants to be normal again just like the so called friends he has made. It does sound like he is not taking his insulin at the proper times if at all, and is probably running his blood glucose far too high. If I am correct in my assumption he is playing a very dangerous game which can have an impact on not just his long term health but will affect the rest of his family. Councilling will help him but you will have difficulty in helping him taking the advice given. There is a risk of much more permanent long term physical damage as well as mental damage being done to himself, if this situation continues unchecked.

I have no way of properly seeing that the advice you have been given will work but I can tell you that my younger brother was also a type 1 and tragically died at the age of just 52yrs and was diagnosed at the age of seven years old. He suffered during the final three years of his life having had to face amputation of his toes on one foot and was lucky not to have lost his leg. He finally lost the battle due to suffering numerous mini strokes over twelve years ago.

I do hope you can talk some sense into your brother as it would be so sad to see another life lost to this disease because his current situation is reversible.

Kindest regards

Robert