A Blood Sugar of 48 – Now and Then

Graham Daugherty • March 7, 2017

By Kirstie Bradway

So if you’re either a diabetic yourself or have a loved one with Type 1 Diabetes, you know that all lows are completely different. You could have a low of 50 and feel completely ‘normal’ as if you were 100, or you could have a low of 70 and feel as if you were 40 or 50.

Tonight was one of the bad lows. The really bad ones. I never got an alarm telling me his sugar was dropping. He went to bed 45 mins ago at around 100 with a straight line. I didn’t think we had anything to worry about, but I was wrong. Way wrong. I normally check my phone every 15 mins or so to see where he is because I’m over obsessed with checking his numbers on his CGM; as I’m sure any of you parents of T1’s are also! But tonight I was working (I’m a photographer) so I was editing away and the time just happened to get away from me until around 8ish. I realized it had been awhile so I checked and he was 48! FORTY EIGHT!!! I freaked out and ran up the stairs hoping that his CGM was just off and he wasn’t actually that low.


I wish I was wrong, but I wasn’t. He tested at 52. He wouldn’t open his mouth. He wouldn’t even move. I shook him and he finally moved a tiny bit. I put the straw in his mouth and his instincts finally kicked in and his started drinking. Once he started stirring a little bit, he also started shaking. A lot. Probably the most I’ve ever seen him shake during a low. I scooped him up and held him while he slept for the next 10 minutes kissing him with tears rolling down my face.

This was a scary one. One of the scariest yet I think. Not just because of the number, but how he was reacting to this number. He’s been at 48 before and you would have never even known by looking at him. He felt like a million bucks. But this low was one of his worst yet.



I hate that my baby has to live with this battle every single second of every single minute of every single day. It’s not fair to him; not one little bit. If I could take this away from him, I would in the blink of an eye. The constant fear of this disease weighs on me every minute of my life. The what-ifs that run through my head scare me half to death.

But unfortunately there is nothing we can do about any of it. And it sucks. So until there is a cure, I advocate. I raise awareness. And I fight. For him. For my husband. And for the thousands of other T1’s just like them. Because they are warriors. They are superheroes. And they deserve a cure.


A little boy is sleeping in a person 's arms.
A young boy is sleeping on a bed with a box of milk and a thermometer.
A young boy is flexing his muscles in front of a wooden wall.
Smiling young girl on couch with bandage on arm and hospital bracelet on wrist
By Kimberly Belz, mother of two daughters, one with T1D May 5, 2026
Learn how early screening, TrialNet research, and Tzield treatment helped delay one child’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis and insulin dependence.
T1D camper Mia and her friend at camp with matching blood sugar levels on their phones
By Lauren Behm, Parent of T1D Camper, Mia May 4, 2026
Learn how overnight diabetes camp helps children with type 1 diabetes build confidence, independence, friendships, and lifelong support.
A small vial of insulin and other diabetes treatment tools on a table.
By Dr. Paul Wadwa, MD April 24, 2026
Learn the key differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Understand how to recognize misdiagnosis.
A woman is doing a split with the words if i can just inspire one person
By Sasha Amiscaray April 15, 2026
TL;DR After 15 years of living with type 1 diabetes, Sasha shares her journey from diagnosis and denial to acceptance, advocacy, and a career in healthcare. Through challenges like fear of injections, managing diabetes as an athlete, and navigating school and college, she discovered strength, community, and purpose. Her story shows that while diabetes is difficult, it can also shape identity, open doors, and lead to meaningful connections and opportunities.
A black and white photo of a person with an insulin pump on their stomach
By Dr. Holly O'Donnell April 3, 2026
Type 1 diabetes affects mental health in youth and families. Learn about risks like depression, anxiety, and distress, plus support options and when to seek help.
A young boy in a white sweater is standing next to a cabinet.
By R. Paul Wadwa, MD, Professor of Pediatrics at the BDC April 2, 2026
Type 1 diabetes is often misdiagnosed as flu, UTI, or viral illness. Learn key symptoms, DKA warning signs, and when to ask your doctor for testing to avoid delays.
Author Mary Ann in hospital bed in 1994 smiling with team mascot
By Mary Ann Chamberlain March 30, 2026
After years of hiding her type 1 diabetes, one woman shares how community, advocacy, and lived experience transformed her journey with T1D.
Author Wyatt Adams and his grandmother reading his book North of Normal
By Wyatt Adams March 30, 2026
A grandson shares his and his grandmother's journeys with type 1 diabetes, revealing how care, technology, and support have changed across generations.
Young girl with T1D in hospital gown and room
By Aaron Rea, Physician and Parent of a T1D March 30, 2026
A physician and father shares his daughter’s 15-year journey with type 1 diabetes, from diagnosis to independence, highlighting resilience, care, and support.