Adrian Brooking, 55, a type 1 diabetic from Clifton, Nottingham, nearly died after his insulin pump malfunctioned during sleep, causing his blood sugar to plummet to 0.8 mmol/L—a level doctors described as "not compatible with life." His wife Julie, 49, discovered him unconscious and "stone cold" in bed at around 3 a.m. on April 30, 2026.
Wife's quick actions save his life
Julie Brooking, Adrian's full-time carer, said: "Luckily enough, I woke up when I did because I needed the loo. When I first saw him, he was in a weird position and I joked 'what position are you in now, you daft bugger?' Then I realised something wasn't right. I shook him and he was stone cold. I thought I'd lost him, I thought he was already gone."
She and their son Oliver, 28, called 999 and attempted resuscitation. The 999 call handler instructed them to lower Adrian to the floor for chest compressions, but he was "rock hard, like getting a piece of meat out of the freezer," Julie said. Oliver performed a 'bear hug' technique, causing Adrian to gasp and regain semi-consciousness.
Hospitalization and recovery
Paramedics administered glucose at the scene before rushing Adrian to Queen's Medical Centre. Doctors found his blood sugar had dropped to 0.8 mmol/L—far below the normal range of 4–7 mmol/L. He received glucose, insulin, a saline drip for severe dehydration, and antibiotics to prevent sepsis. Two days later, he was discharged.
Adrian said: "I don't remember hardly anything that happened, just glimpses. It was worse for my wife and son, something life-changing that they will never forget. The doctors told me: 'you're the luckiest man in here, you shouldn't be alive'."
Malfunction under investigation
Adrian had used the Omnipod 5—a glucose monitor linked to an insulin pump—for six years without issues. The device automatically administers insulin but malfunctioned overnight, delivering excess insulin when his blood sugar was already low. Insulet, the manufacturer, said: "We are deeply concerned to hear about Mr Brooking's experience and are grateful he received urgent medical help. We understand how much people rely on Omnipod every day to help manage their diabetes and we take any report of an adverse event extremely seriously."
The pump is under investigation, and Adrian now takes tablets and blood thinners for atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm caused by the episode.
Long-term impact
Adrian, who has managed diabetes since 1984 and previously suffered two eye hemorrhages, said he felt fine before bed. Julie added: "Now I naturally wake up at 3am and roll over to check he is okay. You have to move on with life, but I would never want to go through something like that again."
