Michael Holt, aged 54, committed a significant error before going to sleep, and the consequences haunted him for years to come.
This incident was reported by Chanelle Georgina, a Senior Health Reporter in London, specializing in health issues since 2020.
Michael Holt, a type 1 diabetic, typically administered insulin injections as part of his routine. However, one night, he mistakenly took two doses of insulin before going to sleep. While lying in bed beside his sleeping wife, Lin, Michael experienced a distressing reaction to the excess insulin. He recounted, “I was foaming at the mouth,” and his wife attempted to assist him, but it was too late at that point.
Lin urgently contacted the paramedics, who managed to revive him, although he remained disoriented. Michael described a peculiar action he took during this period, saying, “For some reason, I decided to put my hands on my collarbone and I burrowed into my skin and pulled it apart.”
Michael Holt was at risk of a life-threatening insulin overdose (Image: Michael Holt)
A father with diabetes experienced a disturbing incident before bedtime, which caused him to foam at the mouth and painfully tear his skin apart
“My wife heard the noise and thought I was ripping the bed linen.”
Insulin overdose risks
Diabetes UK warns that an accidental insulin overdose can result in severe hypoglycemia (hypos), which can be life-threatening. Severe hypos can lead to disorientation, seizures, and even death. Diabetes UK emphasizes the importance of ensuring that your family and friends are aware of what to do in the event of a severe hypo that causes unconsciousness.
An X-ray of Michael Holt’s shoulders (Image: Michael Holt)
They should:
- Place you in the recovery position (on your side, with your head tilted back and knees bent).
- Administer a glucagon injection if available and if someone knows how to use it.
- Call an ambulance if you don’t have a glucagon injection or if you haven’t recovered within 10 minutes after the injection.
Michael’s traumatic incident occurred eight years ago in 2015, necessitating double reconstructive shoulder surgery. He underwent the placement of 20 titanium pins in his shoulders and the insertion of a metal plate in his left arm. Michael explained to the Liverpool Echo that he has a limited range of motion in his arms and cannot raise them as high as most people.
Michael Holt aboard his boat (Image: Michael Holt)
Despite enduring years of physical therapy, Michael has undertaken an ambitious goal: sailing across the Atlantic. He plans to embark on this journey on January 25, 2024, setting sail from Gran Canaria aboard his boat, True Blue. The expedition is projected to last 55 days, culminating in Port St Charles, Barbados.
Throughout his adventure, Michael aims to raise funds for the Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services (LCVS).
