What is the symptom that could appear at night when a person has diabetes?

Hypoglycemia is a situation in which blood sugar, or glucose, drops below a dangerous limit (Illustrative image Infobae)

The diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 500 million people around the world suffer from this condition, making it one of the most common non-infectious chronic diseases globally.

In Argentina, Between 12% and 13% of adults over 18 years of age have diabetes, which equates to approximately 3,500,000 to 3,800,000 people affected.

The disease originates due to a failure in a hormone called insulinWithout insulin, the sugar that should enter the cells to provide them with energy remains in the blood and circulates through it.

As explained in a previous note with Infobae the endocrinologist specializing in diabetes and former president of the Argentine Diabetes Society (SAD), Leon Litwak (MN 40398), “lack of insulin can occur because the pancreas, the organ responsible for producing it, stops secreting it, which occurs in the Diabetes type 1. Alternatively, in the type 2 diabetesinsulin is present, but the body cannot use it effectively due to resistance to its action.”

Type 1 diabetes accounts for only 10% of the population with diabetes (Illustrative Image Infobae)

A publication of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States reports that “the symptoms Type 1 diabetes symptoms can develop quickly, within weeks. In contrast, type 2 diabetes symptoms often develop gradually over several years and can be so subtle that they sometimes go unnoticed. Many people with type 2 diabetes have no obvious symptoms and only discover they have the disease when related complications such as blurred vision or heart problems develop.

Type 1 diabetes accounts for only 10% of the population with diabetes (in Argentina, around 350 thousand people).

Likewise, it is usually diagnosed more easily because the patient presents very clear symptoms.” In this regard, Litwak mentioned among the most characteristic ones that the person loses weight, feels weak, urinates a lot, is very thirsty, etc. The remaining 90% of people with diabetes have a pathology in which the pancreas produces insulin, but it is not enough or the organism presents a resistance to it entering the cells in an appropriate manner.

In type 2 diabetes Sugar levels may be a little high and the person may not feel anything.It is generally asymptomatic -the expert pointed out- Of the 90% of the population with type 2 diabetes, 30% do not know it and find out about the disease through complications.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels (Illustrative Image Infobae)

At this point, Litwak noted that, “in principle, we must take into consideration what a hypoglycemiaunderstood as a situation in which sugar, that is, blood glucose, falls below a limit that is dangerous.”

“To establish this we have to take into account that normally most people who do not have diabetes or any glucose control disorder have hypoglycemia, that is, a blood glucose concentration that ranges between 70/80 and 100 milligrams per milliliter when fasting and after eating some food it does not exceed 130/140 and that is totally normal,” said the expert.

Now, “there is a hypoglycemia alert When a person’s blood glucose levels are below 70, hypoglycemia actually occurs when they are below 55 milligrams per deciliter.”

And after clarifying that this nocturnal drop in blood sugar in diabetic people may be symptomatic or asymptomaticthe doctor specializing in Internal Medicine and president of the Paraguayan Society of Diabetology, Atilio Castillo Ruiz He added: “If the patient has asymptomatic hypoglycemia, meaning that the patient does not wake up, as the blood sugar level decreases, the person may have a seizure. Often the patient has nightmares and moves around in bed all night. Sometimes it is the partner or a family member who notices this condition. Often, when they wake up, they feel tired and their clothes or sheets are all wet.”

In this regard, he stressed: “The severity of hypoglycemia depends on the level of decrease it reaches, less than 70 mg/dl is mild, but below 54 mg/dl it is more important, and Sometimes it leads to hospitalization”.

The symptoms of hypoglycemia are gradual and if the patient does not pay attention to it, it is risky (Illustrative image Infobae)

Consulted by this medium, Castillo Ruiz explained that “the need to urinate at night that occurs in the patient is because the hepatic production of glucose increases during periods of fasting and causes the glucose level to be equal to or greater than 220-240 mg/dl, which is the threshold for the patient with diabetes to increase diuresis.”

In addition, “lying down increases blood flow to the kidneys by increasing venous return, allowing for increased diuresis,” he added.

Along the same lines, Litwak expressed himself in a conversation with Infobae, who highlighted that “when a person gets up to urinate during the night It is due to hyperglycemia, that is, the sugar level rises a lot. and this often forces her to urinate a lot and she is very thirsty.”

According to the WHO, more than 500 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes (Illustrative Image Infobae)

– Ruiz Castle: The higher the frequency of nocturnal hypoglycemia, the higher damage to neurons and increases the cardiovascular riskwhich can lead to arrhythmias (such as atrial fibrillation, which can cause a stroke).

These episodes can be prevented by always looking for the causes. If the insulin dose is too high, it must be adjusted, or if the person uses rapid insulin at night and does not eat dinner, they should eat a good dinner. Sometimes nocturnal hypoglycemia is due to the fact that the person does physical activity at night and in this case, changing the time of their activity can be very helpful.

– Litwak: Hypoglycemia is primarily a feeling of fainting, palpitations, sweating, and an urgent need to eat. This occurs gradually and builds up and If the patient does not take care of it, it is risky since it can cause neurological symptoms, loss of consciousness, convulsions and even death.

Although a fatal outcome is very rare, nocturnal hypoglycemia can become serious if the patient at risk of hypoglycemia is not alerted enough to deal with it.

The treatment basically consists of immediate administration of sugar, which is done intravenously and generally has a very good evolution.