I am going to leave my 7 year old daughter who has T1D with my dad over Thanksgiving weekend so we can go to a wedding.
This will be the first time we are leaving her since she was dxd last March.
I am preparing him well, and I am going to be okay. I promise. I really really am.
But, the more information I can give him, the better I will feel. I was just wondering. If he needed to give her Glucagon, and he called 911, do they have a script for that? Would they be able to walk him through the process? I know they have software with some kinds of things in it, like helping people give birth to a baby, etc. I just wondered if the directions for Glucagon is one of the things for which they have a script.
I of course will show him how to do it, and of course I will give him a link to a video, and of course I will make sure he has written instructions, but it would be nice to know, since 911 will keep you on the line once you call them, if they will be able to guide him through the steps once he calls.
Does anyone know if they typically have scripts for that?
This kind of thing would be great to know for future sleep overs, or even for me!
I don't know if they have a script for that or not. Has she required glucagon often? In over 40 years of type 1 I never needed it. Even in the days before home blood sugar testing. If you simply set up a testing routine with your Dad, things should be fine. Does your daughter recognize a low? Hopefully she should. Her blood sugars may not be completely normal between your nerves (which will probably rub off) and the excitement of a night with grandpa, but I suspect that things won't go too out of kilter. Try to relax!
I'm simply trying to cross every t and dot every i because I've never left her before, and I'm very thorough. I think it's important that he knows how to use it, and I'll show him. It was just the kind of thing that I thought it would be nice to say, "Here's how you do it, but don't worry about it too much, because you probably won't need it, and if you do, you can call 911, and they'll walk you through it."
See, how nice that would be, then he could relax.
She wears a glucose monitor and she does have lows, but she rarely drops precipitously unless she's been swimming, and even that we've gotten pretty good at managing.
No, it's not that I'm concerned he'll need it. I was just trying to give him a quick answer so we could set that particular lesson on the back burner and move on to, and concentrate on the things he's likely to really need to know how to do.
All I can say is that I hope she has a terrific time with Grandpa and that you have a wonderful time while out. She will be fine. The first time is scary. Soon this will be old hat to all of you.
Please relax, breath deeply and, chill. Your daughter will be OK. Give your father the credit he deserves (he raised you well?!)
911 does not use glucagon in my world. I seriously doubt they have an "over the phone" glucagon "script," but you can call to find out. Tell your father to call them and have them stop by. They are great and know what to do. The paramedics deal with this a lot--over 50% of their calls seem to be for low BGs. I deal with them a lot on charity/political functions, as well as their arrivals over the years at my home at 2 AM... I trust them.
My husband, God love him, cannot administer glucagon. Your Dad may have the same problem. And glucagon makes me very sick the next day.... I am not a fan and 911 does not charge around here if you are not transported.
Again, breath deeply and chill. Let your dad know you trust him, have confidence in his decisions and you are always available by phone.
And, please have a good time,trusting your father to be as good with your daughter as he was with you.
Thank you, I really am trusting him. I just think it's important to make sure he's informed. I can't just walk off without giving him instructions.
Somewhere between panicking and negligence, right? ;)
The main reason I was wondering about the 911 glucagon script was because I was hoping we could NOT worry about it. If I thought they could walk him through it, then I wouldn't bother with it much. As it is, I've printed up the instructions and put them in the folder along with the other things we are leaving with her.
Things like how to do her breakfast super bolus. How to bolus for pizza
how to change her Omnipod.
I mean, obviously we have to leave instructions.
And yes, of course he can call me. I'll be reachable virtually any time except while I'm actually on the airplane and perhaps during the wedding ceremony itself.
Also, my two older sons, are going along too, and they are here every day and help with her management every day, so they can act as back up support.
I know it will be fine. I also know that there's nothing wrong with being prepared.
i always tell my friends just to call the ambulance if i pass out. i mean if your father tells them she is diabetic they will know what to do. if the paramedics will do an iv with glucose in it it will be better for your daughter anyway, as she wont be sick afterwards and the iv kicks in faster as well. so that way you wont have to instruct him in glucagon use, you can only tell him to call the ambulance. bc glucagon takes quite a while to kick in so probably hell panic after a while and call the paramedics anyway.
just my opinion, and as mentioned above, she wont use it anyway because everything is going to be fine :)
enjoy the wedding!!
I'm a planner and a list person myself and understand wanting to be prepared for anything (for as much as possible.) That said, I agree with the concept of "relaxing" to, although that often times is easier said than done.
You could find out if your father has specific ambulance company which services his area. If so, call that one and talk with them directly about your concerns. If he doesn't have a specific ambulance company, find out which ones are available to him, select one, and call them to directly discuss your concerns, leaving your father with their contact information.
I have had many expired Glucagon Kits and give them to my family and close friends.They can open the vile, complete the mixing proses and inject something like a orange...One more important fact, open your kit and inspect it, I have opened one and it had a broken syringe. I have no idea if I damaged it or it was already damaged when I received it.
you're a wonderful parent to be so on top of caring for your daughter!
In times like this, it's important to remember that diabetics are not dropping like flies because control is such a precarious challenge. We are much tougher than a mamma bear's love wants to admit.
her control may not be as good with grandpa as with mom, but she'll be fine, and grow from the experience.
I don't think the 911 operators have a script for it. The EMT's know how to use it and carry it in the ambulance. My glucagon kit has pictures and written instructions right on the inside, it's hard to screw up.
My DNE told me to tell my friends that if I pass out, just call an ambulance. It's not an instant death thing.
