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What Causes Nocturnal Sweating In A Type 2 Diabetic Patient?
Question: My husband, 53 years old, sweats heavily at night. He is Type 2 diabetic but does not use insulin. He is also on ASA 81 mg. In the am his pillow and sheets are soaked. He takes metformin 1000mg BID, glicliazide 30mg SR in the am, bisprolol 5mg in am, plavix and crestor40mg in am also. He does drink about 250 ml of white wine at night with supper around 7:30 pm.
Brief Answer:
hypoglycaemia is a possibility
Detailed Answer:
Good day.
Noted your concern. There are two possibilities for his symptoms of nocturnal /early morning sweating. Either it is due to hypoglycemia or due to autonomic neuropathy induced episodic sweating. It is best to check his blood glucose at 3 am at least on two occasions. And it a good idea to check his blood glucose when he is sweating (make sure you wipe off the sweat from fingers before testing glucose ) as well. Treatment is based on the cause. First aim should be to diagnose the cause.
Regards
Binu
hypoglycaemia is a possibility
Detailed Answer:
Good day.
Noted your concern. There are two possibilities for his symptoms of nocturnal /early morning sweating. Either it is due to hypoglycemia or due to autonomic neuropathy induced episodic sweating. It is best to check his blood glucose at 3 am at least on two occasions. And it a good idea to check his blood glucose when he is sweating (make sure you wipe off the sweat from fingers before testing glucose ) as well. Treatment is based on the cause. First aim should be to diagnose the cause.
Regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Because he takes the glicliazide in the Am, it seems hypoglycaemia is unlikely as it would be worn off. He takes it at5:30 in the am. He has had the symptoms for years and diabetes was diagnosed after. He does tend to be a warm person and overheats easily. We keep the bedroom cool and he sleeps naked without bedclothes. His symptoms seem worse in the past 12 months.
He has been diabetic for 3.5 years. His a1c runs high around 7-8 in the past 12 months. Last A1C was 8 months ago. I did an A1C test for him in Oct. 2014 and it was 7.2.
I am wondering if the ASA could be a cause? He thinks so.
I don't think hypoglycaemia is his problem. If anything he is hyperglycaemic most often.
Please reconsider your suggestion.
He has been diabetic for 3.5 years. His a1c runs high around 7-8 in the past 12 months. Last A1C was 8 months ago. I did an A1C test for him in Oct. 2014 and it was 7.2.
I am wondering if the ASA could be a cause? He thinks so.
I don't think hypoglycaemia is his problem. If anything he is hyperglycaemic most often.
Please reconsider your suggestion.
Brief Answer:
ASA not the culprit
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the reply.
Even though he is taking Gliclazide in the morning, the effect can last the whole day. One other thing to consider is autonomic neuropathy which cause episodes of sweating. I guess, by this time your doctor would have done thyroid function tests to rule out hyperthyroidism as a cause of increased sweating.
ASA ( aspirin) doesn't cause such sweating. The main side effect of ASA is acidity symptoms.
ASA not the culprit
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the reply.
Even though he is taking Gliclazide in the morning, the effect can last the whole day. One other thing to consider is autonomic neuropathy which cause episodes of sweating. I guess, by this time your doctor would have done thyroid function tests to rule out hyperthyroidism as a cause of increased sweating.
ASA ( aspirin) doesn't cause such sweating. The main side effect of ASA is acidity symptoms.
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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