Diabetic coma - anyone else experienced this?

Hi Ginni, welcomet to Connect.
I'd like to introduce you to fellow members @cindi819 @spinxs1987 @jjdonahue42 @ankie @gman007 and @iman_im, who may be able to relate to your husband's experience of changing sugar levels and going into a diabetic coma. I can't imagine how scary that must have been for you and for him.

While we wait for others to join this conversation, here are a few other discussions you may be interested in:
- I'm a very strange diabetic and a miracle as well....long story short http://mayocl.in/2nIMTmF
- Diagnosed with diabetes after acute pancreatic attack; now chronic http://mayocl.in/2o2mVMK

How is your husband doing now? How are you??

I am still very stressed because my husbands sugars have not completely gone back to normal. I call his doctor every day and he is adjusting his insulin. It was a very scary episode. He was out almost 10 minutes until the ambulance came. Thank God he was still breathing. His mothers birthday ( his mother passed but he saw her every day till she died) was Sunday and he had the episode Saturday morning. I kept saying Please don't die on me, I need you to cook for me. I believe his mother is his Guardian Angel. The sugars are getting better so I guess it will take a little time until he is back to having a good sugar level. We were just getting his A1C level down to 7. Thanks for the concern. Ginny LaBella

Welcome Ginni,
I have never experienced what your husband and yourself have been through, although I have had some dangerous lows. I take Toujeo for long-term blood sugar control and Humalog for fast acting. The Toujeo will not alone cause very many lows - most of my low or lowish measurements occur because I have not properly estimated my activity/exercise level and then not replaced enough carbs. I don't know how long your husband has had diabetes, but mine ocurred in much the same way. Following a few acute pancreatitis attacks, I was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis and had to take metformin and then had a tumor inside my pancreas (benign) and had a distal pancreatectomy or, the tail section removed where more than half of your insulin producing cells are and after that, I began insulin treatment. My endocrinologist prescribed a glucagon pen that is supposed to snap you out of a diabetic coma - it functions much like an epi-pen. You pop it out of it's case and then the pen is pretty self explanatory. I keep mine in a portion of my cooler where it will not get above room temp and I let my playing companions know where it is a little teach on what to do if I pass out and them calling 911. I hope he never has another low that causes that awful scare, but he should have a glucagon pen to keep with him. I hope y'all will soon be seeing numbers that you feel better about.
Gary

Was the "diabetic coma" hyperglycemia (too high a blood sugar) or hypoglycemia (too low a blood sugar)? Sometimes the symptoms are similar. Both are scary. You said an ambulance came. I assume the responders checked and treated your husband appropriately. I've had diabetes for 40+ years and have experienced both. Do you use a glucometer? Your medical team can help you get comfortable using one plus recognizing/treating highs and lows. They should also instruct you and monitor any insulin adjustments you make depending on your husband's personal medical history and situation. Finding the right balance can be a rollercoaster ride. Gary's suggestion of a glucagon prescription is great and can be a lifesaver in the instance of a low blood sugar. My hope and prayer for you is that things even out soon.

This is my first post so please forgive me if I have not posted to the correct forum but this seemed to be the closest!
My 81-year old husband has had type 2 diabetes for several years controlled with Metformin. He has a slew of other problems that have been treated surgically and medically over the years, chiefly cardiovascular. He is not overweight (166lbs clothed and 5’8) and has never smoked.

Last February he had a robotic distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy to remove an IPMN cyst that had changed its characteristics. Since then we have been trying to control his blood sugar, he is currently taking Trulicity as well, and of course through diet. Due to blocked arteries in his legs, he has difficulty walking. His A1C is now 7.8, down from a high of 10.1 at the end of July. He has recently got a Libre 2 CGM and his blood sugar readings to average around the mid-150s with spikes up to ~250.
I’m doing my best but feeling I am failing miserably with trying to select meals that will work. The Mayo Clinic diet info has been very helpful.

Really I would like to know if we should just plod along and hope for the best or there is anything else we should do or ask his PCP who is treating the diabetes. We think that the pancreatectomy has at least exacerbated his blood sugar problem.

Thanks for listening, and any advice you can offer.

Actually, you are doing a great job! You have reduced his A1C by over 20%. His blood glucose is on the high side, but with the pancreatectomy, his age and other medical problems, not surprising.

I do have a couple of suggestions - perhaps a referral to an endocrinologist - they are most accustomed to dealing with complex cases. It is possible the remaining pancreas needs more help than Trulicity - maybe even insulin. Have you seen an endocrinologist? This may be possible to do virtually if travel is difficult.

Second, problems with the remaining pancreas can occur. Has any imaging been done to see if there is any leak or obvious deterioration?
Sue

Thank you so much, Sue.
I had thought about discussing a referral to an endocrinologist with our PCP who we will see in a couple of days.
He has an MRI and oncologist appointment scheduled next month because there is another cyst in the remaining (2/3) of the pancreas. I’m kind of dreading that. 😉
Thank you again.

PS. Is there an easy way to get back to one’s post to follow the conversation. I have just clicked on the Bookmark option so perhaps that’s it.

I am glad you are considering an endocrinologist - especially because of the additional cyst.
As for finding your way back to a post...
There is a person icon at the top of the page, click it.
Then click Profiles & Settings
On the left side of the page, click Comments and you will see your posts - most recent first.
Sue

Thank you again, Sue!

I’m sorry to say I was distracted at the PCP visit from asking about a referral to an endocrinologist because the PCP advised a consult with a nephrologist because my husband’s calcium was high (10.7). However his eGFR is 75. Initial test has ruled out a parathyroid problem and some cancers so next test is parathyroid hormone related peptide test, 24-hour urine, Vitamin D toxicity, and some others. The nephrologist also told him to stop taking Vitamin D (2000 IU daily).
The good news from the MRI is that the cyst has only shown tiny (1mm) growth so another MRI and check in 6 months.
We are making progress with blood sugar levels and PCP has raised the Trulicity dosage. We have discovered that the CGM indeed jumps about 30 points after a shower .. with zero food intake after being suspicious about the breakfast I was making. 😉 Also CGM warns about excessive Vitamin C leading to higher readings. The culprit here was AREDS2, prescribed for Wet AMD and while the opthamologist (Retina specialist) said it would be ok to stop, he has reduced dosage to one per day instead of two. Sadly the Lucentis injections have not helped the Wet AMD so perhaps a different injection series this week if insurance approves.
It does really feel like a tightrope balancing act with food, meds, and doing something that causes an unexpected result.