[Rob43]

Hi, Some of my family members want me to get a Frist Alert device because I live alone and I'm a diabetic which if I pasted out nobody would know get help. Nobody comes and visits me much so if I went into coma I would have no way of getting help. Here is the website below for the device.

Life Alert ® - Customer Testimonials

Rob

[princesslinda]

Rob, I'm not sure this would help you in the event of coma, as you'd have to be awake to push the button to get help. A friend had this for her grandmother and the poor lady accidentally pushed it a couple of times and then once she had a mini stroke and fell, pushed the button and no one ever answered, as they thought it was another "accidental" push. The family couldn't get her on the phone and went home to check on her and found her in the floor.

Main thing is to find a way to get your blood sugars under tight control so that you don't have to worry about it so much.

[jeggeman31]

You have to be awake to push the button. If your control is to the point that you fear the hypo will get you, you need to sit down with your family and figure out a system that you can check in or something every few hours. This won't be bad if you are awake and can push the button. However remember they get set off by accident, and when the police and EMS come knocking and can't get ahold of you, your door will be kicked in. I work in law enforcement and have worked in EMS in the past. I have seen many of doors kicked in for no reason at all. Kind of like burglar alarms on your home. Burglar alarms, you are paying someone to let the police know you need a report because someone broke into your house, or you are paying them to let the fire department know to come save the basement. This you are paying someone to send EMS if you are able to push the button.


Myself, I think I would rather spend the money on Dr's visits to figure out why I am going hypo so much I need this service. Get your family involved if it is at that point.

Just my 2 cents.

[jeggeman31]

Originally Posted by Rob43

I'm taking 2000 mgs of Meformin and 5mgs of Glyburide a day. My blood sugar never drops below 200. Is 200 safe or not? Normal everyday testing is 230-275.

Thanks, Rob

I just seen this post after responding to this thread. By this post I guess you don't need to worry about going hypo at all.

[Rob43]

Hi, My aunts first alert device will call you if you don't reset the device everyday. It has a speaker and microphone built-in to it. If the person cann't get you to speak they send help.

Rob

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by Rob43

Hi, My aunts first alert device will call you if you don't reset the device everyday. It has a speaker and microphone built-in to it. If the person cann't get you to speak they send help.

Rob

And if you aren't home at that time?

I think the devices are nice, but like other have said, if you are unconscious, which is the major problem one would have in a diabetic emergency, then what good is a device for you to push a buttom and call for help.

I think I'd work on getting those numbers under 150 before I'd even be thinking of having one.

[princesslinda]

I think before i'd invest in this, I'd just tell someone i'd check in with them by ? time and then if I didn't, have them call me and if no answer, have a neighbor come by and knock on the door if my car was in the driveway.

If you are really that worried about a diabetic emergency, I would be getting to an endocrinologist to see what could be done so that I could have better control and wouldn't have to worry about it so much.

Have you ever went unconscious due to an extremely high episode in the past? Do you have a family member or friend who would check in with you on a daily basis? I hate that you are having to worry so much about something happening to you. Hopefully you'll be able to get your blood sugar issues resolved soon.

[nneighbour]

Originally Posted by jeggeman31

I just seen this post after responding to this thread. By this post I guess you don't need to worry about going hypo at all.

I totally disagree. I used to be on glyburide and have had hypos on half the amount you take. I've never gotten coma low, but I have gotten to the point where there was just too much of the drug in my system (I think I accidently double dosed) and was dropping into the 2s between each meal for an entire day.

Do what makes you feel safe. It may be just as easy to have someone call you every day.

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by nneighbour

I totally disagree. I used to be on glyburide and have had hypos on half the amount you take. I've never gotten coma low, but I have gotten to the point where there was just too much of the drug in my system (I think I accidently double dosed) and was dropping into the 2s between each meal for an entire day.

Do what makes you feel safe. It may be just as easy to have someone call you every day.

I think what Jim was refferring to was the part of him never being under 200 and his norm is 230-275. Therefore he's WAY above the danger level and need needs to get closer to normal before he even thinks of being in the hypo range.

[Rob43]

Hi, I wondering if I should go to a endocrinologist when my family doctor puts me on insulin? This doctor want me not to go to a endocrinologist because she said she can take care of my insulin if I go on it. I think most doctor's love us because we are lifetime patients. I go to this doctor once a week for rest of my life because of blood thinner check-ups.


Thanks, Rob

[Dewey]

Eek on the blood thinner checkups once a week. If the doctor is recommending an endo for you, it may be good to go. If nothing else, you'll still have the doctor you currently see as backup for your Diabetes care.

On the other, I can't speak for FirstAlert or LifeAlert, but can say that I've used the Wherify wireless watch (it's very small), which is equipped with GPS. My hubby was able to keep a check on me at any time (i.e. know where I was) in the event my sugar went low. The best part was that if my sugar was low & I happened to be unconscious, the GPS would able to track me within a specific triangle & within x amount of feet from where I might be. The only drawback was that in some areas, signal strength was weaker.

Also, Wherify has come out with small GPS phones built specifically to track family members in the event of medical emergencies. While they may look kind of "kiddish," they do the job quite well...All that aside, even regular cell carriers are now equipping phones with GPS, so maybe you & your family can check into that? Keep in mind however, that if you don't have the cell phone on you, it will Not be useful in the event of a low or issue.

[princesslinda]

Since you have a relationship with this doctor, it may be that she can handle things should you have to go on insulin. I mentioned an endocrinologist because I feel that if your Internist/Family Doctor cannot keep you under good control, this might be necessary. That being said, from what I've seen, WE are the one's who have the choice in how we control things, THEY (docs) pretty much just write the scripts and have our blood drawn.

I think I would try really, really hard to exercise, diet, whatever it takes to get my levels down...insulin may be in your future, but I think lifestyle changes might go a long way in helping with your control even if you are on insulin.

[andypoo]

Originally Posted by Rob43

Hi, Some of my family members want me to get a Frist Alert device because I live alone and I'm a diabetic which if I pasted out nobody would know get help. Nobody comes and visits me much so if I went into coma I would have no way of getting help. Here is the website below for the device.

Life Alert ® - Customer Testimonials

Rob

Are these family members that want you to get a first alert aware that being in the 200's will not induce you into a coma? also are they visiting when they tell you this. If so,Maybe they could pop in on you once in a while. Are you around anyone close by that could call or check on you from time to time? Like a neighbor or if you have a landlord . My brother lives by himself,and if it wasn't for neighbors and friends,I don't believe he would've made it alive when he had lows,I'm talking extreme "coma" lows.".call an ambulance and get immediate treatment" lows.Those kind of lows can get you into trouble,but in all situations a First Alert wouldn't have mattered one iota. None of his family live close by.Have you done something that scared them into saying this? I know my brother lives dangerously, he had problems with alcohol and drugs,so when he passes out it's because he' been so messed up he's not aware of his bgs. Not saying you do anything like this,but paying attention to yourself,should eliminate too many lows. At least where you can get to something quickly enough to counteract the lows. Hope all turns out well for you.!

[Kate H]

when i've had 'pass out hypos' fortunately they have been at the door to my office....... a First Alert device would NOT have saved me in the event of my unconscious hypos...... it's too late by that time

and yes, i had ZERO notice before i collapsed

[Penny]

I think anyone who lives alone should have some form of alert. We got a thing from Radio Shack, I think it is called the Guardian. It dials up to 6 numbers (I think) and when answered Granny's voice says "I need help". If someone does not pick up the phone after 5 calls it dials 911. If she accidently pushes the button (which she has done), one of the 5 contacts will know. We have our number, 2 of the local grandkids and 2 neighbors on her "call list'. It only cost about $60 and no monthly fees. Well worth the peace of mind.