'Dead in bed' syndrome refers to unexplained deaths in young people with Type 1 diabetes. Research shows little definitive evidence as to the cause of this very rare phenomenon. There is a small amount of published evidence looking at the condition. One possible theory has been a link to hypoglycaemia (hypo) during the night. It is suggested that this may compound an abnormal heart rhythm, which can cause death.
For the vast majority of individuals who use insulin, diabetes can be safely and efficiently controlled. Some people, however do have difficulty managing their diabetes, including having difficulty recognising signs of oncoming hypos. With relation to 'dead in bed' syndrome and nocturnal hypoglycaemia, we would advise individuals who experience hypoglycaemia during the night to speak with their diabetes care team about how this can be resolved. In addition, blood glucose levels should be checked before going to bed and a snack eaten to help ensure levels do not fall through the night.
Some reports have sought to link differences between human and animal insulins to 'dead in bed' syndrome. While some people are unable to effectively control their diabetes with particular types of insulin, there is no evidence to support a link between the type of insulin used and 'dead in bed' syndrome. There has been no increase in the number of deaths attributed to this cause since the introduction of human insulin.