Night sweats?

Question

I have recently started having very bad sweating attacks at night. The pillow and duvet can be wrung out afterwards. I am 43 years old and taking Simvastatin and asprin. I also have a slightly raised blood sugar level (7.9 on last test). What is causing these? I am not over weight and do not smoke, and I do not drink excessively.

Answer 1

It may have nothing to do with your diabetes. I had exactly the same symptoms at about the same age and I was on simvastatin too. I also had occasional dizzy spells, where it seemed as though my brain had jumped two inches outside my head. I had a battery of tests and they couldn't find anything wrong. It was less noticable the following year and then stopped altogether. I never found out what it was.

Answer 2

I agree with masfonos999. Speak with your doctor (probably the hospital doctor would be more productive) about wearing a CGMS (Continuous Glucose Monitoring System). You would wear this for approximately 4 days where you would be expected to record in a diary the times you ate, the times you took insulin, the times you exercised, and the times you experienced hypoglycaemia.

This would undoubtedly show if you were experiencing hypos during the night.

Unfortunately, this might not be the end of the tale. I, too, experience night sweats but, in my case, it's due to autonomic neuropathy. Neuropathy, in case you're not aware, is nerve ending damage.

Of course, as others have already mentioned, the night sweats might, in fact, be nothing to do with your diabetes, but more to do with the medications you are taking.

Answer 3

I am a diabetic on Simvastatin - but I am insulin controlled - I find that I get REALLY hot & sweaty when my blood sugar gets really low. A biccie or 2 and I then get incredibly cold before levelling out again!
Do you have your own test kit - might be worth checking it out next time it happens.

Answer 4

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A number of clinical studies have been carried out in recent years that show potential links between herbal therapies and improved blood glucose control, which has led to an increase in people with diabetes using these more 'natural' ingredients to help manage their condition.

Answer 5

Talk to your doctor and see if you can get a CGMS to wear for a while and see if you are going low. Night sweats can be a symptom of hypoglycemia.

Going low at night can be dangerous, so until you get it sorted out maybe you should be sure to have a bedtime snack and if you are on pump treatment, reduce your basal rate at night

Answer 6

at this age most men get the hot flushes it's a change in your metabolism you may be starting the male menopause