I'm a newly-diagnosed Type1. Yesterday I suddenly measured 54 BG, while I was at work. I fixed it, but then I thought - what if I hadn't caught it? What if I would pass out or whatever... Nobody at work has received any emergency instructions from me. In fact -- I'm ashamed to say -- I don't even know what those instructions should be! Actually, now that I think of it, even my husband at this point doesn't know what emergency situation to be aware of, and what to do 'in case'.
Advice please!
Usually, when I've passed out, someone will call the paramedics. I always am pretty open about it in the office/ cubicle environment I work in so people would know. I'm a bit apprehensive as I have a new boss recently with whom it hasn't come up but, OTOH, if she *did* know it'd mean they'd talk to me? There's a chance that if they had some glucagon and knew how to use it or read the directions they could revive you but, if you are passed out, they'd probably call EMT's who'd bring their own and, if they found you passed out, would probably give you more glucagon, depending on what your BG is. A sugary liquid might revive you a bit. MrsAcidRock and junior have gotten stuff for me when I've gotten pretty deeply into it a couple of times. At work once, I got stuck on the phone and gave my buddy $.55 to get me a Mt. Dew, although, after I chucked it, I tossed the can at him.
If you feel comfortable with sharing information with your boss or fellow employees Lilly has a CD that explains when and how to administer a glucagon injection and Lilly also has a Mobile app called Glucagon...very through.
If you are unconscious, your coworkers should call the paramedics. Do you carry Glucagon? If not, you should. At the very least, your husband should know how to administer it, in case you're ever in a situation where an ambulance cannot get to you fast enough. Your husband should also know how to check your BG in case you cannot.
If you are low in that you're not making sense but are conscious, whoever is with you should try to give you something with fast-acting sugar in it (glucotabs, cakemate, sports gels, etc). I think we all have somewhat varied symptoms when we're low and you should let the people around you know what those symptoms are. For example, when I start going low, I get really quiet and have trouble talking coherently. I don't always get sweaty and shaky right away. I may get grouchy, but usually I'm just really quiet.
You should also wear something that lets people know you are a Type 1 diabetic. At the very least, if you were to go unconscious, the paramedics would see this and know what to do.
Finally, you obviously want to do everything you can to prevent this from happening. This means you need to test, test, test. I've caught many BGs in the 50s and 40s while at work only because I am diligent about testing. As time passes, it will not be uncommon for you to have lows that you don't feel.
Also please remember to tell your coworkers that if you are unconscious they are not to try to put even juice down your throat because that makes it dangerous you could choke. Whether you train them on a glucogon kit or just tell them to call emergency that is what they should do if you are unconscious and your husband would probably want to train on glucagon though the problem with glucagon is it's expensive and needs replacing when it expires. I don't know if you can get it on your medical plan there.
But don't let all this talk of passing out and emergencies scare you. Most of us have lows that we can easily manage ourselves by taking glucose tablets (I've managed down to 28 and the one time I was unconscious which was before I knew how to use insulin and did something stupid, my liver kicked in and brought me around so I could treat). MBP has the motto: test, test, test!
The procedure for treating you is the identical same as it it for someone choking, having seizures, or otherwise in some way "unable" to care for themselves. Its not mystical stuff...
1) Assume you are low. While in theory its possible you're "high", that is not going to cause you unconsciousness, disorientation with the suddenness which lows can/will/do. Assume you are low, and start from there.
2) Treat lows with relatively small quantities of FAST carbs; tubes of cake icing, Glutose tubes, SODA. Something that is idiot proof, simple and easy enough a child can treat you and won't balk doing so. Nothing chocolate, nothing fatty. Straight sugar that will breakdown easily. Not ice cream, not milk, not tiny hard candies. One thing, only one thing you don't have to count or make any choices about, your ability to do so is literally vanishing. The can will hold your attention, the color of the wrapper, their clever jingle on the commercial, not what should hold your attention, getting it down.
Worst possible case, absolutely end of the known world scenarios, you get an ambulance ride. There is nothing special about these events. The trick is keeping them to the absolute minimum possible.
Where you or someone with more experience will differ, is the first time situation(s). If you catch it quickly enough, no problem. If you don't then things get interesting. Your symptoms, might be drunken confusion, giddiness, they might be sleepy exhaustion, singing gibberish. All kinds of different stuff is possible.
For the sugar to get into your system and stop the "free fall" could take as long as 20-30 minutes before you feel human, totally normal again. You might get lucky and have no problem whatever the reading eventually determines.
Treat first, treat conservatively and you avoid other problems after the fact if like most of us you overdue it a little with too much "treating"...
Let me see if I can dig up a description thread "what a low feels like" I wrote a long time ago.
I wrote this back in late March 2008. The account describes what a video camera might record when I got low once... I thought it was pretty good, if a little embarrassing:
~...why isn't the test workkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkking.... I spillllllled the stripy things...... better put them back in the bottle..... how many do I have left... better count them..... ONE, TWOOOOOO THREE... I LIKE THREE.....hey, putting them in wrong.... better redo it.... again... wouldn't want em facing up, HI STRIPY THINGS......they should face down go "night-night"..........
Oh yeah, what was I doing....... hi kitty...... nice kitty..... no don't play with my stripys thingys.... BADD KITTTY..... you feel warm... I love you kitty...... HEY give them back..... Oh yeah..... I remember now....STRIP... tests..... ummmngh, am I low... LET'S SEE..........I stuck the stripy thing in, bled..... ooopsy pulled the stripy thing out by accident... better do that again.....
THUNK....
That's hilarious Stuart!
hahaha!
Hey Stuart…try having a low like that in a nudist resort. That story is somewhere on Tu. They had every emergency truck and every cop in the county we were in at the time all showing up at the nudist resort looking for the beached whale…lol.
Negg,
I would get a glucagon pen for home and office at a minimum (you will need a prescription in the USA). At the office, there should be at least one person who has been instructed on where the pen is and how to give it to you.
Next, carry a tube of glucose tablets with you ate all times. Keep a bottle of 50 in your desk drawer. Keep a spare tester, batteries, etc there too.
If you are not doing this already, do the following:
1 - Test often
2 - Test before/after stressful situations
3 - Get a feeling for what lows feel like for you - sweating, confused thinking, etc.
4 - When in doubt, take 2 - 3 glucose tabs and test ASAP.
Over time, you will learn how to cope a bit better. This is a new situation for you - you have to walk before you can run.
BTW, how did you "fix" your 54 bg reading?
Cheers,
Mike
i took 1 1/2 glucose tabs (4 grams each, and its supposed to be x6 for my weight, which would bring me up to 90.) so far so good. Then I happened upon some potato salad, so I ate it :). (I never go near potatoes anymore..). i was very shaken up.
I always have my glucometer with me, a few glucose tabs (I guess I should have more) and i do test a lot. eat very low carb. i'll work on getting those emergency kits. thanks
For me, the biggest peace of mind comes with being prepared. At work, I keep on my bookshelf at eye level in plain sight small bottles of coke - my "emergency stash". Having it right there prevents me from having to get up from my desk to find sugar in a severe event or if I'm falling fast.
I keep my glucose monitor and sweetarts on my desk within reach and always carry a roll of sweetarts in my pocket so I have it on me at all times. I test often or if I feel tired, hungry, woozy or just "off". I also wear a med alert bracelet with emergency information.
I'm really open about my diabetes at work because I'm comfortable there and have worked there for a long time but I've never "trained" any of my coworkers. I've told them that if I ever pass out (I never have in 25 years), call 911.
I am very open about my diabetes at work, so I thought it would be a good idea to let everyone know what they should do in case I am not able to help myself. We usually have a safety topic at our team meetings, so I asked my supervisor if I could do a presentation at one of them. I talked about lows and what my symptoms usually are (my husband tells me that I go dumb and can't think properly). I showed them the tube of glucose tablets in my drawer, which I have labeled "take 4" and I also showed them the glucagon kit that is in my purse, but most of all I stressed that they should call 911.
They really appreciated the info and I think I even convinced my one coworker who hates needles that he could give me a shot of glucagon if I needed it (or at least tell someone else what to do).
It made me feel more secure knowing that they know what to do and it made them more comfortable asking me other questions.
I actually got a little bag from target last year. It's a little red cooler bag with a white cross on it. In it, I have glucose tabs, Cake Icing(Yes, that is the easiest thing to squeeze between your cheek and gum and will dissolve very quickly when you are getting woozy) I also have emergency numbers in it with a small piece of paper that says "WHat to do if I am..." I travel for a living and I will tell you that bag has been a lifesaver!! The airline attendants love it! No one pouring orange juice my unconscious self causing aspiration pneumonia!
Hello Negg,
I'm recently diagnosed also. You should get 2-3 glucagon or glycogen pens, carry one with you have one at work somewhere and one at home. Tell someone where the pens are and how to use them. I have told a co-worker what to do if I pass out, first glucagon, then call an ambulance and use the tube of glucose if I'm not able to drink but I'm not unconscious. I guess that means not passed out but not really coherent and up either. Tell them not to give you liquid if you are really out of it and lying down as this can go into your lungs etc.
The only problem I'm wondering about is that I wonder what happens if you pass out for some other reason and someone gives you glucagon that you don't need? Then you will end up with high bg....someone here told me about glycogen which will not make you nauseous as will glucagon- I plan to get that instead now, who wants to possibly be nauseous for 24 hrs after a bad low if they don't have to be?
My lowest low was 29 which dropped from the 60's after trying to treat it 2 times... I really didn't feel as if I couldn't treat it, but I was really quite worried/scared and I felt I could pass out, I had that sinking feeling. I ended up taking too much sugar and jumped to 227 later which I eventually had to correct.
Now I try to treat in the 70's to 80's if i feel I'm on a downward trend, this will head off a real low. I also will use oj instead of tabs in a big low as that seems to work very quickly, it did for a severe low I had during a meal- I just drank the juice for that one. That was 3 months ago or so, I didn't even bother to test.. within 2 minutes I started to feel better.
Testing frequently if you can is a good idea to see where you are.
I tell everyone about possible emergency steps now- I went for an mri today and I told the nurses/techs that I had my glucagon etc. They had me leave everything near me and I had a piece of candy with me just in case. Most people are receptive to helping you if you let them know what to do.
You should also have everything you need in a bag with you and some things in a drawer at work such as candies/glucose tabs/juice/ insulin for corrections etc. as well as an id bracelet/necklace. I think putting speed dial for an ambulance for your fav hospital may be a good idea too- I'm going to do that.
that is a good idea jujube, I think I will type up an instruction sheet for people too, hopefully they will be able to find it in my D backpack...lol.