Cited by 225Diabetes Management and ResearchAutopsy Techniques and OutcomesPatient Safety and Medication Errors

Confirmation of hypoglycemia in the “dead-in-bed” syndrome, as captured by a retrospective continuous glucose monitoring system

Tanenberg, Robert J., Newton, Christopher A., Drake, Almond J.·2010·Endocrine Practice

Abstract

Objective To report a case that substantiates the presence of hypoglycemia at the time of death of a young man with type 1 diabetes, who was found unresponsive in his undisturbed bed in the morning.Methods We describe a 23-year-old man with a history of type 1 diabetes treated with an insulin pump, who had recurrent severe hypoglycemia. In an effort to understand these episodes better and attempt to eliminate them, a retrospective (non-real-time) continuous subcutaneous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) was attached to the patient. He was found dead in his undisturbed bed 20 hours later. The insulin pump and CGMS were both downloaded for postmortem study.Results Postmortem download of the data in the CGMS demonstrated glucose levels below 30 mg/dL around the time of his death, with only a minimal counter-regulatory response. This finding corresponded to a postmortem vitreous humor glucose of 25 mg/dL. An autopsy showed no major anatomic abnormalities that could have contributed to his death.Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of hypoglycemia at the time of death in a patient with the "dead-in-bed" syndrome. This report should raise the awareness of physicians to the potentially lethal effects of hypoglycemia and provide justification for efforts directed at avoiding nocturnal hypoglycemia.

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Crossref · 10.4158/ep09260.cr

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  • A temporal relationship between extremely low subcutaneous glucose concentrations and death in a patient with type 1 diabetes wearing a CGM device and found dead in bed has been reported.

    “A temporal relationship between extremely low subcutaneous glucose concentrations and death in a patient with type 1 diabetes who was wearing a CGM device and was found dead in bed has been reported (31).”
  • A temporal relationship between extremely low subcutaneous glucose concentrations and death in a patient with type 1 diabetes who was wearing a CGM device and was found dead in bed has been reported.

    “A temporal relationship between extremely low subcutaneous glucose concentrations and death in a patient with type 1 diabetes who was wearing a CGM device and was found dead in bed has been reported (31).”

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Authors
Tanenberg, R. J., Newton, C. A., & Drake, A. J.
Affiliations
  • East Carolina University (US)
  • Emory University (US)
Corresponding author
Tanenberg, Robert J.
Venue
Endocrine Practice
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-03
Volume
16
Issue
2
Pages
244-248
ISSN
1530-891X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1994810473
Cited by
225
References
21
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 11
FWCI
6.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Endocrine Practice (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Autopsy Techniques and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Emergency Medical Services › Patient Safety and Medication Errors
Keywords
type 1 diabetes, continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pump therapy, nocturnal hypoglycemia, counterregulatory response
MeSH terms
Adult, Blood Glucose, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Humans, Hypoglycemia, Insulin Infusion Systems, Male, Fatal Outcome, Young Adult

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