Sarah Howard
Sarah Howard has worked in the diabetes research field ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.
Related Stories
43 Comments
Have you experienced a hypoglycemia episode that resulted in a loss of consciousness? Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Down into the low 20s twice, but still semi-lucid. First time was deliberate during a study of counterregulatory hormones back in the 1970s.
Yes I fell to 21 woke up in a ambulance to the hospital .
Close, but it does take a lot out of me. After stabilizing then it’s time for a nap.
I’ve had to many of these types of episodes in my life time of living with T1D. Thank God for the improvements over the last 6 or so years with pumps and CGM’s. I haven’t experienced any blackouts since 2015👍👍👍👍
Yes, only one time in public at the Little League Ball park. The coach took my son out of the game, so he was terribly embarassed and upset with me. I woke up on the ground with an IV in my arm on the dirty ground. 2 other times, I was at home and husband helped me with something sugary. Now that I use the 14 day Freestyle Libre, I check sugars often during the day and night which helps me know where I am running and where the arrows are pointing. Thanks Abbott
Only as a child in middle of night. Most times parents would force feed me until I gained consciousness. I needed a bath afterward bc sugar & OJ would be all over me. I only remember one time parents took me to ER. In recent years I’ve had 1 episode of semi-conscioousness in middle of night & called for my wife’s assistance with glucagon.
Ah yes, I remember those days and the aftereffects of being sticky all over from OJ and Karo Syrup residue, the clammy cold sweats, and being escorted to the tub filled with warm bubble bath. I sat shivering in the tub as my body temp warmed up and I recovered enough to go back to bed.
Yes. Several times throughout my life. I also had several hypoglycemic induced seizures as a child and young adult where I didn’t lose consciousness but had an out of body experience. As my body was seizing on the floor or kitchen chair I was aware of myself being outside of my body and witnessing what was happening from a near distance.
Yes, a while ago, and learned this lesson. Don’t mix up your fast acting and long acting insulins. Lol
Plenty before switching to pump therapy. I would either not wake up on my own and have to be awoken by paramedics or I would be in the midst of things during the day and just check out… they could get me to intermittently talk or respond during these events but they weren’t rational communication or they were combative responses in my stooper of a state.
When my glucose is below 40, I’m not hungry but will fall asleep. When that happened I tried to make dinner, but it was too late. I passed out, and my husband called the EMTs. I’m 75, and I made sure that never happened again. My CGM has a welcome alarm system.
Many moons ago, at work at my desk, before blood glucose meters, pumps and CGM’s. Even though we had an on-site nurse, who was also diabetic, I finished up in hospital.
I have only a couple times. The worst on the embarrassment was during a nursing clinical. I went to get something out the nourishment room for my patient and couldn’t remember what I was doing when I got there. When they found me sitting on the floor, I had no idea what who I was or what was going. Thank goodness for my amazing clinical instructor who knew what was going on.
T1 57 yrs, of course, disturbing to wake in bed to EMTs asking questions after a dose of D-50 – “Who is the President” I was asked in 2009, “Bush” I answered “close enough” they said. Told me wife I was thinking Geo H. W. Bush!
Several times, starting in 1945, the year I was diagnosed. One time when I was driving my car, 1958.
I used to have them often, it took being included in Endo CME to learn that the meter I was using read higher than actual for people with anemia. After changing meters (out of pocket) and relying on my Dexcom, it’s been years since I’ve had major lows.
The worst one was at home, my partner call EMS, there I am stark naked. He ran around hiding his Playboy mags, leaving me there – in all my naked glory. After it was over I told him if he ever found me like that again, to cover me. They don’t really care about his magazines. He responded by saying they see naked people all the time. I responded with “Dude, those guys are my co-workers.” They were – co-workers I worked for a large city fire department.
Had severe anemia 2 years ago. Complaining about my glucose levels being erratic.
I have, yes, but it was a long, long time ago. I work really hard to avoid those problems.
I’ve had my eyesight go out a few times, but never loss of consciousness.
No, and that is over 47 years, taking 3 shots a day.
Yes, long before personal glucose meters. The last time was in the early 80’s after shoveling my car out of a snowed-in apartment parking lot. I made it back up to our apartment where my spouse found me three hours later getting home from work. I had passed out on the living room carpet, still dressed in outdoor gear. Out two cats were sitting on top of me. Fortunately, she was able to revive me without needing to call for assistance. Now, with CGM alarms I’m aware of approaching lows and highs and take preventative action.
Never a loss of consciousness but I have been low enough to have no memory of an episode.
Once in 51 yrs, people around helped, EMS was great, no hospital.
After over 44 years, I’ve come close to unconsciousness but it has never happened. Even with my sight blacking out, due to the low level of BG – I’ve been able to stumble around to find a sugar source, on my own, or with some help, and, in time, recovered. Luckily, those events have been few and far between!
After reading comments I feel so grateful. I never have had such an episode, and after 59 years still have a fairly recognizable autoimmune response. Sometimes I just feel “off” and sure enough, my dexcom follows shortly. Lucky for me since I live alone. I do remember those years before home glucose monitoring…. it is hard to overstate how much in the dark one could be with urine tests alone.
Twice.
Once at a buffet with my Mom who was somehow able to get OJ or sugared soda or something down me. I became conscious at a table with food all around me.
Once at home where EMS had to be called. I had been having seizures which my doctor didn’t explain fully… and on this incident, it was reported to me that they were really bad. I became conscious in the ER.
No, but came close to it a couple of times.
It happened to me right after lunch while I was driving out of the ATM at my bank. I was pregnant, and BG drops in the first trimester. It was in California, and it was hot, but my car lacked AC, so I had the windows cracked open. That made it easy for the EMT’s to get into the car. That was 43 years ago, when I was on a single injection a day. It was my only time in 51 years of diabetes. And with hypoglycemic unawareness, I now rely on the alarms from my CGM to prevent this.
One time in 33 years. I didn’t wake up and was in the hospital for a month. I only remember the last week of it. I was conscious but not speaking. I had to be put in a nursing home for almost two weeks for physical, occupational and speech therapy. Apparently I padded out while trying to treat my low.
just once thank God. I passed out trying to go up a set of stairs. My wife found me and gave me a shot with an emergence kit. I woke up in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
I’ve had two episodes. One while driving a car and the other while operating a lawn mower. In both cases it’s miraculous that I survived. I have obviously become much more careful when doing both.
Always test before driving or operating machinery.
Yes, but it was many years ago. The cgm has been a HUGE game changer for me. I am so thankful for this technology.
In my 58 years as a diabetic, I have never actually passed out. I stopped having any of the typical hypoglycemic symptoms long ago, after about 20 years. Instead, the changes that occur are all CNS issues that manifest as loss of muscle control, and what would be regarded as psychological/behavioral changes from the norm. For example, I may become very talkative. However, the oddest is a change to an altered consciousness in which I am aware of what is going on around me, but I can’t problem-solve (cognitive issues). I did find myself in this state once when driving. I drove around town, responding to stop lights, etc., but ended up taking a freeway and driving 30 miles/hour in the fast lane. The police pulled me over on that one and I realized I was having a hypoglycemic episode. I ate some quick carbs and it was over.
First grade teacher called 911 when I didn’t wake up from a nap (she should have known to give me sugar instead of letting me nap). Woke up in the hospital at least twice in fifth grade, after a week at the Joslin Clinic in Boston where they increased my insulin dose. Had a seizure after sexercise in my early 20s. Never had glucagon emergency treatment.
Historically, yes. Most of my severe hypoglycemia was overnight and not being able to “regain” consciousness. Prior prior to my diabetes diagnosis, I had several fainting episodes, which I now recognize were likely hypoglycemia.
Many too many. Since CGM mostly only overnight. Severe lows are disturbing. Still have too many but fewer with the CGM. Working on my basal rates and bolus doses.
Just two, about 25 years ago when I was newly diagnosed with T1D. Hadn’t learned to recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia onset and, in one of those two instances (my first), my source of quick supplemental glucose was a small box of raisins, as suggested by my endocrinologist at the time. Needless to say, that didn’t work out! Today I carry glucose tabs and always have a small juice box readily available. I’m also on CGM.
I woke up twice in the hospital wondering where I was and how I go there with BG of around 20. This happened in the first years after my diagnosis. I was taking a split mix of Regular and NPH. This was a awful regiment. I haven’t had as severe lows with the pump and only “mild” lows (~50 or so) with CGM.
Yes, first time was in 1973 – my first week in college. This was before pumps and CGMS. I knew nothing about how to change dosages for different activities and physician at time made no recommendations. Second time was in the late 1990s prior to having a GCM. I accidentally put glucose in my allergy shot which was a major over dose! These are the only two times in 60 years of TD1
Wow this answer currently right now is a 50% split. It’s a scary thought to know that you could pass out from your blood sugars being too low. Diabetes has no days off —- NO DAYS OFF.
Boy these long-term TYPE 1 diabetics make me optimistic. I try for “tight” control, but work physically, often to exhaustion. Often worked 12-13 hours a day, plus taught myself to repair appliances and small engines (these were after work, until early hours). I’ve lost it in my garage/shop floor 3 times, once in my BR (preparing to shower), once after a shower, the last time this part October by just compounding my bolus after a year of horrible levels.
Wearing a sensor a few years ago taught me for some tasks I just don’t need insulin. I’m now faster at stopping the basal dose (tearing out a crawlspace, cutting grass, demo-ing a house) but…
To try go achieve that tight glucose control you want go strive for a “sugar level” about 7% or less, that gives you 2% or less range for error. Over year 7% you risk permanent physical damage. I do test before driving, before some tasks (when working alone in risky situations) but I see just sometimes until technology catches up it’s a risk for long-term health.
But as an active 61 year old TYPE1 making 20 year olds cry I feel I’m winning, TYPE 1 over 23 years I might survive.
Prior to CGM it was all too frequent. Seizures at home and on vacations. EMTs standing over me everywhere – at work, the grocery store, dentist’s chair, my graduation party, bedroom and finally, at the scene of a car accident. That car accident frightened me so badly that it pushed me to demand CGM. Never had an EMT episode since. Never want to go back to those horrible days.