Nocturnal hypoglycemia?

my dads glucose level drops at the night.becomes really low like 60.is this Nocturnal hypoglycemia? im wondering if it has something to do with metformin as well.thanks!!

Metformin does not cause hypoglycemia. It works in three ways:

1. It assists the type 2 diabetic's own insulin in getting the glucose into the cells. Therefore, the only way the Metformin could be contributing to a low blood glucose situation is if the body is producing too much insulin... not uncommon among type twos.

2. It slows the liver's conversion of glycogen into glucose.

3. It helps block the absorption of glucose in the intestine.

It does not, and cannot lower blood glucose unless there's an abundance of insulin to work with.

For me 60 is not "really low"... it's merely low. The best thing he can do to prevent lows is to be very consistent with his diet and exercise routine. He might need to be rechecked for insulin production. When I changed my diet recently, my sugars went down and I tapered off the Metformin. I haven't taken any since Dec. 13th. It had to do with increased consumption of fruits and vegetables containing potassium. If he suddenly started eating more fruits and vegetables, he might experience a more pronounced affect from his own insulin. That's not unheard of.

My mom has hypoglycemia, and it is something she has round the clock, not just at night. To combat her blood sugar dipping low at night, she eats a high protein type snack at night. At one time, it was a cup of milk and some wheat crackers, but now she can make do with a handful of nuts or perhaps a boiled egg or piece of cheese. My dad has the opposite, diabetes, and he just has to control his sugar intake whether or not it spikes. Cinnamon helps control blood sugar as well.

It could be the basal insulin, Lantus, which is known to cause it.

I use Lantus insulin and i have a terrible problem with this. I have make sure i eat complex carbohydrates 60 grams at bedtime for me. Your dad needs to try something because it is dangerous. I get scared when it happens, sometimes I think I won't wake up. But for some reason when it happens I always wake up sweating and shaking. Good luck and help your dad watch himself.

any medicine u can be at risk---my last med was metformin--the bad thing about me taking metformin is that i had no symptoms of my sugar going low---i would only know if i tested---now i am on glipizide but it still goes low at times---at least with this new med,i get the shakes or a headache----i usually get up in the middle of the night and eat a banana or a pudding cup---sometimes i am in bed half asleep eating a nanner---if he has to,he should set alarm clock for maybe 2 or 3 AM and eat something---the 2 things i eat are great for ppl who have their dentures out at night

some diabetics go low during the night, it could be medication (but metformin by itself would not be the culprit) sometimes it is just the pattern of diabetes. My daughter is type 1, she doesn't USUALLY go low during the night, but her cousin who is type 1 also, is consistently having horrible hypos during the night....always has. I have been told by the diabetes nurse that hormones can have a lot to do with it (if it isn't the medication). I would suggest your Dad has something extra to eat before he goes to bed, if he is on other medication then perhaps it is time for a review with your doctor.

60 is not even very low. 70-80 is a good bloodsugar to sleep on.

He may want to try eating a small snack before bed.