[ubergeek]

The general public no, I don't think they would recognize it for what it is. I also think there are plenty of diabetics out there that wouldn't recognize it for what it is. Until recently I worked with another pumper so I wasn't very worried about work since we checked on each other a lot. I know many times one of us has walked into the others office and saw that glassed over look on each others faces and knew. Unfortunately, she took another job accross the country.

I just had a fairly serious low yesterday....the strange thing, it was the first time I have ever been "confused" while being low. Usually it's all physical symptoms, I feel really flush, upset stomach, I start sweating....but yesterday...nothing but confusion. I didn't even recognize it for what it was right away....and I live this life....so no, I have no faith in the general public to recognize what's going on with me...that's why I need to be able to do it. I do wear a necklace however, so hopefully the paramedics will clue in.

-Brian

[Penny]

We should all wear Tshirts when we are out alone......they could say something like....Give me some sugar, I'm diabetic. Or I'm not drunk, I'm diabetic....or a combination of the two. I would worry that people would not call the paramedics, who would look at the bracelets or necklaces.....they might call the police, who aren't really trained to know what to look for. More likely, they would just point and laugh! I'm not out alone that often, but I would like to feel safe doing it.

[mg_2204]

Originally Posted by Penny

grandmother sitting on the ground staring at nothing and slurring her words, would you go looking for a bracelet?

Unfortunately we live in a day and age where people don't care. There was this man on the sidewalk in downtown Montréal a few years ago... people walked around him, making sure they would avoid the guy. He looked terrible. My sister stopped and asked him what was the matter. It turned out he was having a heart attack.......................

Terrible isn't it?

[andypoo]

Originally Posted by mg_2204

Unfortunately we live in a day and age where people don't care. There was this man on the sidewalk in downtown Montréal a few years ago... people walked around him, making sure they would avoid the guy. He looked terrible. My sister stopped and asked him what was the matter. It turned out he was having a heart attack.......................

Terrible isn't it?

That just hurts my heart to hear things like that. Unfortunately you can't tell the truly drugged out messed up people on the street from someone who's legitimately having medical distress. It's become so common,especially in the large cities for people to walk past someone who's acting bizarre. It's so sad.

[andypoo]

Originally Posted by Penny

We should all wear Tshirts when we are out alone......they could say something like....Give me some sugar, I'm diabetic. Or I'm not drunk, I'm diabetic....or a combination of the two. I would worry that people would not call the paramedics, who would look at the bracelets or necklaces.....they might call the police, who aren't really trained to know what to look for. More likely, they would just point and laugh! I'm not out alone that often, but I would like to feel safe doing it.

I think you just hit on something there,Penny, it wouldn't bother me to wear something like that . I like the "I'm not drunk "one .

[duck]

Originally Posted by Penny

I wear a necklace, but......if you were not a diabetic, and you were walking in the park, saw a chubby grandmother sitting on the ground staring at nothing and slurring her words, would you go looking for a bracelet? I am thinking most people would say, "Look at that old drunk!" and avoid me like the plague. I am just wondering if some of you also have behavior that would confuse the general public? Myself, I plan to not let it happen if I can at all help it, but I still wonder if it could.

I have been laughing at the thought of this all day...why would you describe yourself this way?

[Penny]

Originally Posted by duck

I have been laughing at the thought of this all day...why would you describe yourself this way?

I posted a picture of myself, and I looked a lot better then! LOL If I was a skinny 25 year old, I would get help if I was drunk or not. Not many people would look at a person who looks like me and imagine a reason for me to be acting strange. I look like a grandmother! What would a grandmother be doing acting drunk....unless! I even remember a time when I saw an old lady acting strange on the sidewalk, years ago when I was young and knew everything. I figured she was drunk, but decided to call the police to get help for her. Turned out she was drunk, but she could have just as easily been sick. If I could do it over, I would ask her if she needed help......then called the police.

[sweetstick80]

I could very easily be mistaken for being drunk. Once I get under 55-60 I become disoriented, perspire buckets and get slap happy. Most of the time I get no warning......I get goofier than usual, fumble to check glucose level and it`s always in the 50`s. 15-20 carbs cleans me up, but I`m usually wiped out for several hours......Jack

[andypoo]

Originally Posted by Penny

I posted a picture of myself, and I looked a lot better then! LOL If I was a skinny 25 year old, I would get help if I was drunk or not. Not many people would look at a person who looks like me and imagine a reason for me to be acting strange. I look like a grandmother! What would a grandmother be doing acting drunk....unless! I even remember a time when I saw an old lady acting strange on the sidewalk, years ago when I was young and knew everything. I figured she was drunk, but decided to call the police to get help for her. Turned out she was drunk, but she could have just as easily been sick. If I could do it over, I would ask her if she needed help......then called the police.

Penny, you are too **** funny! You seriously should consider getting up on stage and doing you drunken grandmother bit!!LOL

Originally Posted by sweetstick80

I could very easily be mistaken for being drunk. Once I get under 55-60 I become disoriented, perspire buckets and get slap happy. Most of the time I get no warning......I get goofier than usual, fumble to check glucose level and it`s always in the 50`s. 15-20 carbs cleans me up, but I`m usually wiped out for several hours......Jack

I do the same thing,when I have a low,and Like you said I'm just drained of energy,I mean to the point of "I have to lay down and sleep!"

[coconut]

Originally Posted by mg_2204

Unfortunately we live in a day and age where people don't care. There was this man on the sidewalk in downtown Montréal a few years ago... people walked around him, making sure they would avoid the guy. He looked terrible. My sister stopped and asked him what was the matter. It turned out he was having a heart attack.......................

Terrible isn't it?

Oh my God.

[JediSurfer]

Medically it impossible to know whats wrong with sombody with some sort of medical analysis like a blood test.

[JediSurfer]

I always wear visible diabetes identification.

[HelenM]

Would others know you aren't drunk?

I don't think they would notice, but they wouldn't notice if I was drunk either.When I'm low I tend to become withdrawn, move away from people, try to cope with things by myself. I behave exactly the same way when when I've drunk too much. I have a very strong fear of embarassement in public which seems to overide everything else.
There are usually (but not always) physical symptoms with my lows :sweating tremours etc my husband notices but I don't think others would.

[duck]

Originally Posted by mg_2204

Unfortunately we live in a day and age where people don't care. There was this man on the sidewalk in downtown Montréal a few years ago... people walked around him, making sure they would avoid the guy. He looked terrible. My sister stopped and asked him what was the matter. It turned out he was having a heart attack.......................

Terrible isn't it?

You think that's bad, go look up the story about the woman who was stabbed at a Kansas City convenience store...as she lay bleeding, shoppers stepped over her, checked out, left...all on camera.

[Penny]

Originally Posted by HelenM

Would others know you aren't drunk?

I don't think they would notice, but they wouldn't notice if I was drunk either.When I'm low I tend to become withdrawn, move away from people, try to cope with things by myself. I behave exactly the same way when when I've drunk too much. I have a very strong fear of embarassement in public which seems to overide everything else.
There are usually (but not always) physical symptoms with my lows :sweating tremours etc my husband notices but I don't think others would.

Come to think of it....the 3 times in my life that I was drunk (17, 30 and 40), I felt the same way I do when I am low. I also tend to try to avoid people and find a place to kind of hide, I also fear public embarassment. But even my grandchild says I look strange, glazed, staring eyes and I also get shaky....which is exactly how people described me when I was drunk. Just so the children do not get disallusioned about my Grandma status....I got drunk at 17 at my first college party when someone added rum to my coke and I liked it . The other 2 times were birthday celebrations, and I actually got drunk on wine coolers. As you can see, I am not much of a drunk either.