Drenching sweats

On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 18:27:54 -0500, "limey" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

My husband is diabetic and frequently suffers from really drenching sweats, necessitating a
complete change of clothes. These happen in both the day and night. Our internist has made no
comment when told.

Someone mentioned that these are caused by diabetes. Is this true? If so, where can he turn
for help?

I would greatly appreciate any comments. TIA

Dora [email hidden]

limey at toad dot net

if it is caused by the diabetes it most likely be caused by low blood sugar levels. do you test his
blood sugar at home? and especially when this occurs?

Mack Type 1 since 1975 alt-support-diabetes.orgalt-support-diabetes.orgOpen ↗ insulin-pumpers.orginsulin-pumpers.orgOpen ↗

In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength in a
world filled with strife and terrorism.

"Mack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

limey said:

My husband is diabetic and frequently suffers from really drenching

sweats,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

necessitating a complete change of clothes. These happen in both the day and night. Our internist
has made no comment when told.

Someone mentioned that these are caused by diabetes. Is this true? If

so,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

where can he turn for help?

I would greatly appreciate any comments. TIA

Dora [email hidden]

limey at toad dot net

if it is caused by the diabetes it most likely be caused by low blood sugar levels. do you test
his blood sugar at home? and especially when this occurs?

Mack Type 1 since 1975 alt-support-diabetes.orgalt-support-diabetes.orgOpen ↗ insulin-pumpers.orginsulin-pumpers.orgOpen ↗

Good point. He doesn't test his blood sugar when these events happen - I'll tell him to make sure he
does. His blood sugar varies - runs mostly near 200 but often drops to 60 or 70. In other words, it
yo-yo's. The doctor has no explanation for that, either. Looks like he needs another doctor?

Dora

Personally, it used to happen to me quite often when I was running high,
but I don't have much experience with lows at all. :-)

--
Cheri
Type 2, no meds for now.

Mack wrote in message ...

Quoted message said:

if it is caused by the diabetes it most likely be caused by low blood
sugar levels. do you test his blood sugar at home? and especially
when this occurs?

Mack
Type 1 since 1975
alt-support-diabetes.orgalt-support-diabetes.orgOpen ↗
insulin-pumpers.orginsulin-pumpers.orgOpen ↗

In tribute to the United States of America and the State
of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and
terrorism.

Cheri said:

Personally, it used to happen to me quite often when I was running high, but I don't have much
experience with lows at all. :-)

When I have a severe hypo my clothes and the bed is soaked. It is when I am very low. I think you
need an explanation. A good question is how does he recover and how does he feel then. The other
replies are on target. It is the docs responsibility to make changes to avoid this as much as
possible. Guy

limey said:

Quoted message said:

if it is caused by the diabetes it most likely be caused by low blood sugar levels. do you test
his blood sugar at home? and especially when this occurs?

Mack Type 1 since 1975 alt-support-diabetes.orgalt-support-diabetes.orgOpen ↗ insulin-pumpers.orginsulin-pumpers.orgOpen ↗

Good point. He doesn't test his blood sugar when these events happen - I'll tell him to make sure
he does. His blood sugar varies - runs mostly near 200 but often drops to 60 or 70. In other words,
it yo-yo's. The doctor has no explanation for that, either. Looks like he needs another doctor?

Dora

Limey, is he Type 1 or Type 2?

If he's a type 2, "mostly near 200" would be concerning me. Sounds like a roller-coaster. What is
his HbA1c?

I ask because his control does not sound good, and improved control could improve lots of things,
including lows and night sweats. If he's Type 1, forget I wrote.

Cheers Alan, T2, Oz. dx May 2002 , A1C 5.8, no meds, diet and not enough exercise. I have no medical
qualifications beyond my own experience. Choose your advisers carefully, because experience can be
an expensive teacher.
--
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.

how low are your severe hypos? I can go down into the 40's and not sweat a drop. Many, many years
ago I used to plummet into near unconsciousness and I'd sweat then. Certainly haven't had a
"sweating" hypo in the past 8 years on a pump, but I do get "low". Mostly I get weak, get
speckled "blue" vision, and tremble a little. On MDI, I used to shake like a leaf because the
lows came on so fast.

dave

Guy said:

Cheri said:

Personally, it used to happen to me quite often when I was running high, but I don't have much
experience with lows at all. :-)

When I have a severe hypo my clothes and the bed is soaked. It is when I am very low. I think you
need an explanation. A good question is how does he recover and how does he feel then. The other
replies are on target. It is the docs responsibility to make changes to avoid this as much as
possible. Guy

On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 18:27:54 -0500, "limey" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

My husband is diabetic and frequently suffers from really drenching sweats, necessitating a
complete change of clothes. These happen in both the day and night. Our internist has made no
comment when told.

Someone mentioned that these are caused by diabetes. Is this true? If so, where can he turn
for help?

Endicronologist or neurologist. It is called Gustatory Sweating, and presumptive evidence of
autonomic Neuropathy.

Quoted message said:

I would greatly appreciate any comments. TIA

Dora [email hidden]

limey at toad dot net

On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 18:59:04 -0500, "limey" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Good point. He doesn't test his blood sugar when these events happen - I'll tell him to make sure
he does. His blood sugar varies - runs mostly near 200 but often drops to 60 or 70. In other words,
it yo-yo's. The doctor has no explanation for that, either. Looks like he needs another doctor?

Dora

if his BG is dropping from the 200s(way to high) to the 60s and 70s rapidly that would trigger the
sweats just as easily as if he dropped slowly into the 60s or lower. as to the need of a new doctor,
does your husband test his BG on a regular basis, record exactly what and how much he eats and what
type and duration of exercise he gets? This data will allow a good doctor to help him correct the
problem. If he presents the doctor with all the facts and data and the doctor still says "I don't
know", "I'd" be looking for a new doctor.

Mack Type 1 since 1975 alt-support-diabetes.orgalt-support-diabetes.orgOpen ↗ insulin-pumpers.orginsulin-pumpers.orgOpen ↗

In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength in a
world filled with strife and terrorism.

Limey, As most of the posters have said, the drenching sweats could be caused by going low. (Or,
going from high to normal very rapidly. That kind of swing will sometimes mimic hypo symptoms.) He
really needs to test his sugars when he has an episode. Some other hypo symptoms I have gotten are:
shakes, sweat, problems thinking and speaking, blue dots before my eyes, metallic taste in my mouth,
and just being "out of it." I think the sweats are the worst of the lot. It's awful when the clothes
and especially the bed clothes get drenched. It takes forever to warm back up!

As for Cheri, who said that she sweats when she runs high, I've never heard that. I wonder what
mechanism is triggered when she goes high?? (Real question.)

I hope that your husband will look into going to an endocrinologist. There has got to be an
explanation for his sweats. Keeping and log and testing his sugars during one of these episodes will
help ya'll to figure out what is going on.

Good luck. Steph

"limey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My husband is diabetic and frequently suffers from really drenching

sweats,

Quoted message said:

necessitating a complete change of clothes. These happen in both the day and night. Our internist
has made no comment when told.

Someone mentioned that these are caused by diabetes. Is this true? If

so,

Quoted message said:

where can he turn for help?

I would greatly appreciate any comments. TIA

Dora [email hidden]

limey at toad dot net

Diabetic sweating is not just from hypos.

It can also be from running highs.

It is a form of diabetic autonomic neuropathy.

This from NIH: diabetes.niddk.nih.govneuropathiesOpen ↗

"Sweat Glands

Autonomic neuropathy can affect the nerves that control sweating. When nerve damage prevents the
sweat glands from working properly, the body cannot regulate its temperature properly. Nerve damage
can also cause profuse sweating at night or while eating."

Jennifer

Stephanie Kolban said:

Limey, As most of the posters have said, the drenching sweats could be caused by going low. (Or,
going from high to normal very rapidly. That kind of swing will sometimes mimic hypo symptoms.) He
really needs to test his sugars when he has an episode. Some other hypo symptoms I have gotten
are: shakes, sweat, problems thinking and speaking, blue dots before my eyes, metallic taste in my
mouth, and just being "out of it." I think the sweats are the worst of the lot. It's awful when
the clothes and especially the bed clothes get drenched. It takes forever to warm back up!

As for Cheri, who said that she sweats when she runs high, I've never heard that. I wonder what
mechanism is triggered when she goes high?? (Real question.)

I hope that your husband will look into going to an endocrinologist. There has got to be an
explanation for his sweats. Keeping and log and testing his sugars during one of these episodes
will help ya'll to figure out what is going on.

Good luck. Steph

Thanks for the info. I was hoping someone would have an answer. Steph

"Jennifer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
berlin.de...

Quoted message said:

Diabetic sweating is not just from hypos.

It can also be from running highs.

It is a form of diabetic autonomic neuropathy.

This from NIH: diabetes.niddk.nih.govneuropathiesOpen ↗

"Sweat Glands

Autonomic neuropathy can affect the nerves that control sweating. When nerve damage prevents the
sweat glands from working properly, the body cannot regulate its temperature properly. Nerve
damage can also cause profuse sweating at night or while eating."

Jennifer

Stephanie Kolban said:

Limey, As most of the posters have said, the drenching sweats could be caused

by

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

going low. (Or, going from high to normal very rapidly. That kind of

swing

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

will sometimes mimic hypo symptoms.) He really needs to test his sugars when he has an episode.
Some other hypo symptoms I have gotten are:

shakes,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

sweat, problems thinking and speaking, blue dots before my eyes,

metallic

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

taste in my mouth, and just being "out of it." I think the sweats are

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

worst of the lot. It's awful when the clothes and especially the bed clothes get drenched. It
takes forever to warm back up!

As for Cheri, who said that she sweats when she runs high, I've never

heard

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that. I wonder what mechanism is triggered when she goes high?? (Real question.)

I hope that your husband will look into going to an endocrinologist.

There

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

has got to be an explanation for his sweats. Keeping and log and

testing

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

his sugars during one of these episodes will help ya'll to figure out

what

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is going on.

Good luck. Steph

I don't know, but that happened a lot when I would be over 300 in the old days. Head and hair
soaking wet waking up covered in sweat etc. It could have been a combination of high BG's and
menopause, but now that I have good control it doesn't happen. Maybe a coincidence that they both
ended at the same time as far as drenching sweat goes? Still, when I do spike, I break out in a
sweat around the face area, even when I'm sitting. Dunno why.

--
Cheri
Type 2, no meds for now.

Guy wrote in message <[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

When I have a severe hypo my clothes and the bed
is soaked. It is when I am very low. I think you
need an explanation. A good question is how does
he recover and how does he feel then. The other
replies are on target. It is the docs responsibility to
make changes to avoid this as much as possible.
Guy

The important thing about our post is that all diabetics are not the same. That is why I like to be
here and compare notes. That is why I like to read the posts from many. In my opinion, ther are
several conditions we call diabetes, all resulting some loss of glucose control. It is not a simple
condition. Guy

Cheri said:

I don't know, but that happened a lot when I would be over 300 in the old days. Head and hair
soaking wet waking up covered in sweat etc. It could have been a combination of high BG's and
menopause, but now that I have good control it doesn't happen. Maybe a coincidence that they both
ended at the same time as far as drenching sweat goes? Still, when I do spike, I break out in a
sweat around the face area, even when I'm sitting. Dunno why.

"Jennifer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Diabetic sweating is not just from hypos.

It can also be from running highs.

It is a form of diabetic autonomic neuropathy.

This from NIH: diabetes.niddk.nih.govneuropathiesOpen ↗

"Sweat Glands

Autonomic neuropathy can affect the nerves that control sweating. When nerve damage prevents the
sweat glands from working properly, the body cannot regulate its temperature properly. Nerve
damage can also cause profuse sweating at night or while eating."

Jennifer

Many thanks, Jennifer, for the reference to the NIH publication. It was really informative. I know
how distressful it is to my husband and how frustrating it is to get no help from the doctor.

Dora

"limey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Mack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

limey said:

My husband is diabetic and frequently suffers from really drenching

sweats,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

necessitating a complete change of clothes. These happen in both the

day

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and night. Our internist has made no comment when told.

Someone mentioned that these are caused by diabetes. Is this true? If

so,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

where can he turn for help?

I would greatly appreciate any comments. TIA

Dora [email hidden]

limey at toad dot net

if it is caused by the diabetes it most likely be caused by low blood sugar levels. do you test
his blood sugar at home? and especially when this occurs?

Mack Type 1 since 1975 alt-support-diabetes.orgalt-support-diabetes.orgOpen ↗ insulin-pumpers.orginsulin-pumpers.orgOpen ↗

Good point. He doesn't test his blood sugar when these events happen -

I'll

Quoted message said:

tell him to make sure he does. His blood sugar varies - runs mostly near 200 but often drops to 60
or 70. In other words, it yo-yo's. The doctor has no explanation for that, either. Looks like he
needs another doctor?

Looks more like he needs to take a "little" more responsibility for his condition and start making
sure he's in control of his blood sugar levels.. At least to me it does.

Running mostly near 200 is almost a guarantee that he'll be racking up a whole slew of complications
later on in life, and he's obviously not eating as he should or testing like diabetics require if
they're to gain SOME control.

Sorry to be so blunt, but it looks like he (and you) are about to foist his problem off onto another
doctor instead of accepting that the problem is discipline at home.

Beav

I really appreciate everyone's comments and helpful suggestions, since I know how distressing this
is to my husband. He describes it as a "melt down". Thank you, everyone.

Dora

Quoted message said:

if it is caused by the diabetes it most likely be caused by low blood sugar levels. do you test his
blood sugar at home? and especially when this occurs?

Mack

Thank you for the advice. This also happens to me and I have not tested. Will do so. Betty.