Nocturnal hypoglycemia

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Nocturnal hypoglycemia

Nocturnal hypoglycemia refers to low blood sugar levels at night in a person with diabetes. Blood sugar levels can drop below a safe range at night if a person eats too little food after taking his or her usual nighttime insulin dose or takes more insulin than prescribed in the evening.

Signs of low blood sugar at night include:

Restlessness, unusual noises, talking, or nightmares
Waking up feeling tired or having a headache.
Having damp clothing and bed linens in the morning (night sweats).
Having a high blood sugar level in the morning.

Testing blood sugar levels about 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. for a few consecutive nights may help a person determine whether low blood sugar is causing the symptoms.

Nocturnal hypoglycemia may be prevented by decreasing the evening insulin dose or by adding more food to the bedtime snack.

Credits

Author	Jeannette Curtis
Author	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Last Updated	May 25, 2007

Last updated:	May 25, 2007
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman

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