I Nearly Slept Through a 27 mg/dL Blood Sugar—Here’s What I Learned

What I Learned from Nearly Sleeping through a Severe Low Blood Sugar Episode | Chronically Climbing

The other night, I woke up with a severe low blood sugar level of 27 mg/dL. It’s not often that I drop this low, but it hasn’t been uncommon either. Just two weeks earlier, I hit 28 mg/dL. Those numbers combined are dangerous—separately, they paint an even more concerning picture.

Either of these situations could have led to seizures or worse.

If I’ve learned anything from this, it’s that I should have used my emergency nasal glucagon, Baqsimi. Instead, I chugged two 8-ounce cranberry juices faster than I ever have, said a prayer, and waited the dreaded 15 minutes to see if my blood sugar would rise.

At 27 or 28 mg/dL, there’s no room for hesitation. I shouldn’t have gambled on whether the juice would work in time. But this experience made me realize something about myself—and I hope it doesn’t take a third severe low to drive the lesson home.

I had been treating my ability to avoid using emergency glucagon like a badge of honor. Like a trophy on a shelf. I was proud of it. And now, I feel ashamed—because there is no shame in using the medicine you need when your life is on the line.

So how did I drop this low?

That night, I had a high blood sugar level before bed, so I decided to take a few units of insulin to bring it down. I set my CGM alarms to vibrate and set a timer for an hour and a half—just enough time for my body to absorb the insulin.

I slept through the alarm.

Thankfully, I woke up when I could no longer ignore the smell of my own sweat. I know how gross that sounds. It was gross. I also know how dark, scary, and sad this sounds. It is dark, scary, and sad. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced severe lows like this so closely in all my years with type 1 diabetes.

I know what needs adjusting, and I’m actively working on it. But I can’t help but share—because situations like this remind me of how fragile life with type 1 diabetes really is. You never know what might happen.

I don’t say this to scare you. I don’t want to spread fear. There are so many tools and resources that help support blood sugar stability, and we know more about diabetes now than ever before.

Still, anything can happen. Life is unpredictable. And no matter how much we know about our bodies, diabetes, or how much time we spend in the health and wellness space, we are all human. I say this as someone who’s on their way to becoming a certified health and wellness coach. I admit this because I want my future clients to feel safe sharing their own struggles—so we can work through them together, in the way a coaching relationship is meant to support.

Living with a chronic illness is complicated, but one thing I know for sure is that it has made me incredibly grateful for time. Time is a commodity that cannot be traded. It’s priceless. It holds immense power. Time is a gift.

When I lay my head down at night, I send many warm wishes out into the universe. And if, for some reason, they don’t come true, I’ll be okay—as long as I spend my life using my voice authentically and serving others in the ways I know best.

Storytelling isn’t just my bread and butter. It’s my brain, my heart, and my purpose. It’s how I creatively expand. No one can take that joy away from me. And today, more than ever, I feel rooted in the confidence that I can express myself artistically.

That’s why I am committed to being vulnerable with whatever time I have. I want to be open so that others who feel isolated or misunderstood know they’re not alone. That someone gets it. That there’s a voice of support out there willing to talk about it.

I am here. I see you. I get it. This condition sucks sometimes.