Living alone with diabetes

[beach]

Hi all,

I am a very tight controlled type 1 and my wife and I are separating. I will be living on my own for the first time in my life with diabetes. My question is there something like life alert for people with diabetes? What are the different options. I appreciate you input.

Bill

[lgvincent]

I don't know if this is what you're looking for but I've heard there are dogs trained to warn people of low blood sugar. It is my hope that it would wake you at night should the situation come up. The only bad side is I've heard they are very expensive.

Sorry to hear of the problems with your marriage. Perhaps things can be worked out soon.

[KritterMom]

There probably is something like that available, I'm not sure, but I'm sure someone will be along soon who can answer the question. Good luck! We're here if you need us.

[princesslinda]

Apparently life alert is for diabetics as well....I googled "life alert for diabetics" and got the following: (also, their # for brochure describing their services is 800-815-5922)

Diabetes
Diabetes means that your blood glucose (often called blood sugar) is too high. Your blood always has some glucose in it because your body needs glucose for energy to keep you going. But too much glucose in the blood isn't good for your health. In case of a Diabetes related problem, Life Alert can give you a peace of mind and get you the help that you need even if you cannot reach a phone. By just pressing a single button you know that Life Alert will provide you the help that you need.


Welcome to the forum!

Linda

[Lloyd]

I live alone. I was very happy I had a cell phone on me when I broke my ankle, a year and a half ago. Something to think about.

-Lloyd

[desperado]

Hello Loyd,
I too am glad you had a cell phone with you! How are you doing now? Great I hope:)

[Lloyd]

How are you doing now?

Recovery has been gradual, six months ago I was good for about a half hour of standing or walking at a time. Now, I can do that for about 2 hours.
A recumbant bike has been a big help, I would say my ankle is now at about 80%, likely that is as good as it will get. When reattached, the tendons and muscles came out short and tight.
On the average day, I don't notice it at all. I won't be going for long hikes over uneven ground though.

Thanks for asking!

-Lloyd

[desperado]

Oops sorry Beach. I just came on and am at work . Sorry I just saw Loyds post didn't mean to cut in .

[desperado]

Loyd, I was going over at my DD's home one night and stepped into a hole in the yard. Fell on my right knee ended up Spending 6 months in a knee brace and managed to get out of having surgery. We're just so dang sweet it takes a bit longer to heal seems like.:) Glad to know you are doing good now.

[LauRa Lu]

I've lived alone adn kind of do now.

I agree with the mobile phone thing and just 'always' keep sugar on you, glucose tabs etc.

[EasyType2]

beach, I've now lived alone for almost 10 years, and survived.

I confess it was a bit frightning at first, but with a cell phone, and glucose tabs tucked everywhere, I've done fine. It has made me learn to pay attention to the early hints of being hypo, however.

[JediSkipdogg]

I personally don't see how Life Alert would be any. Firstly, if you are running extremely high you are well enough to treat it yourself or call 911. If you can't at least call 911, then you most likely can't even remember to push a Life Alert button. The same applies to the more dangerous low. If you have a low BG and insuiln reaction, you definitely can't push a life alert button.

Now, if your diabetes is in good control, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. I've lived alone for 8 months now and haven't had any problems where I needed anyone else. Heck, in the last 4 years of living with my parents I never needed them to help me. I give alot of that to pumping.

If you are really interested though, you can consider a Diabetic Alert Dog. Sometimes insurance will pick up the cost of such dogs as the basic cost is around $6000 for the training and I don't believe that fully includes the dog. Heaven Scent Paws is the best organization for those dogs and their fees include LIFETIME support of the dog. If at any time something goes wrong with a dog in it's training, they will help work through it or replace the dog at no cost to you.

[beach]

So here in the skinny on me. I am almost 42. I have never had a low so bad that I needed help to get me out of it. I have had diabetes for 10 years and only once was I really scared. I was alone (my wife was in class) and 30 minutes after a reasonable dinner I became violently ill vomiting etc. I had a full bolus in my system and could not even keep glucose down. My blood sugar was hovering around 50 for the next hour and I was trying to drink juice, eating glucose tabs but couldn't keep enough down to get me over 80. I evetually came out of it after a few hours but that was a scary thing. Those are the unexpected things that I worry about. I have great control and I use a Deltec cozmo pump. I guess I was just thinking worst case senario. Thanks all.

Bill

[xMenace]

Worst case can and do happen. We all make mistakes.

Unfortunately older guys like us can and usually do sleep right through bad hypos. One thing I do when my wife is away on business is write things down, especially before going to bed. I find recording things forces you to think about your decisions more. Usually I keep my Excel log active, but if I'm not logging, I'll write my pre-bed activities and readings on a white board.

[Lloyd]

So here in the skinny on me. I am almost 42. I have never had a low so bad that I needed help to get me out of it. I have had diabetes for 10 years and only once was I really scared. I was alone (my wife was in class) and 30 minutes after a reasonable dinner I became violently ill vomiting etc. I had a full bolus in my system and could not even keep glucose down. My blood sugar was hovering around 50 for the next hour and I was trying to drink juice, eating glucose tabs but couldn't keep enough down to get me over 80. I evetually came out of it after a few hours but that was a scary thing. Those are the unexpected things that I worry about. I have great control and I use a Deltec cozmo pump. I guess I was just thinking worst case senario. Thanks all.

Bill

Do you use the cozmonitor?
With glucose and bolus information in the pump, I find myself going back and checking stuff. It would not help if you were too low or high to see straight, but I find the alarms and the ability to look at history does help me in avoiding bad situations.

-Lloyd

[sbuff28@charter]

i don't have an issue with it at all.... like you i have never had a serious low. so no low no problem.


only suggestion is if u have a cordless phone keep it on the hook so u know where it is if you need it. mabye even putting the phone somewhere really obvious...


as for the cell phone... awesome when away from home, but while im at home i always lose it because i dont have a proper place for it.

[Erin]

I have lived alone for 3 years, and with very under involved roommates for 4 years before that. I've not had any problems. The payroll secretary at my work knows to call me or my emergency contact if I don't show one day (without calling out). She does this for everyone, not just me, I think it's a great idea! That makes me feel really secure, knowing if I was to have a problem, It would be found out relatively quickly. Maybe you could work out a similar scenario at work, or with a friend.

[Jan2306]

If you're worried about it, I would recomend checking out a continuous glucose monitor. Unfortunately I don't think they're covered by insurance (yet) although have heard some doctors are getting them approved for people who are hypo unaware. I had one for a week (my endo uses them to set basal and bolus) and it alarms when you go low.

[poodlebone]

I live alone and in the past, I could probably have used something like life alert. Before I started pumping I slept through a lot of bad lows and would wake up having a seizure with no control over my body. I would be freezing to death, even in the summer. It would have been hard but I might have eventually been able to press a button to call for help. Instead I had to wait until my liver dumped enough glucose to bring my BG up enough so that I could control my limbs and get some juice/food.

After I had my first seizure a co-worker would call my apartment any time I was late just to check on me. I started pumping 2 years ago and have not had a really bad low where I couldn't help myself since.

[SueM]

So here in the skinny on me. I am almost 42. I have never had a low so bad that I needed help to get me out of it. I have had diabetes for 10 years and only once was I really scared. I was alone (my wife was in class) and 30 minutes after a reasonable dinner I became violently ill vomiting etc. I had a full bolus in my system and could not even keep glucose down. My blood sugar was hovering around 50 for the next hour and I was trying to drink juice, eating glucose tabs but couldn't keep enough down to get me over 80. I evetually came out of it after a few hours but that was a scary thing. Those are the unexpected things that I worry about. I have great control and I use a Deltec cozmo pump. I guess I was just thinking worst case senario. Thanks all.

Bill

Well if you never been that low to need help why worry about it?:)
I live alone and have done so for 25/30 years.
I was taught from day 1 diabetes was my problem don't expect others to come a running.
I have only had 1 nr death experience when I needed help and that was due to an addison's crisess sp! I knew that I was in bad trouble so rang the out of hrs emergency Dr service.
The Dr was with me within 20 mins and injected the life saving drugs so life goes on.
I can't and won't live life wondering what if. Lifes to short :)

Just make sure you always carry glucose tabs with you and always have quick acting glucose in the house.
Not sure if you have it where you are but I have stuff called hypo stop/glucose gel which disolves on your gums so u wont be able to throw that up in a hurry, Well worth having some as a stand by.

[June91]

I understand your fears. After my divorce, I lived alone with my daughter who was 2 to 3 years old at the time. My fears mostly concentrated around me not being there for her and were mostly irrational - worst case scenarios seemed to be playing in my head very often. I sometimes woke up hourly to test during the night and was an anxious wreck a lot of the time. If I had the level of confidence in my control I have since managed to get, it probably would have been a lot better.

So I think gaining as much control and making your bg as predictable as possible is crucial to alleviating most of those fears. Anxiety unrelated to diabetes, which I also have some experience with, is only to be expected after your separation, whoever initiated it and however welcome it seems.

Hope all goes well for you.

[gettingby]

I don't live alone but I have a friend who does. I worry so about this friend. :(

[BriOnH]

I live alone. I just make sure to treat lows ASAFP. When people are around I don't mind letting a low linger for a few moments, but while alone I nip it in the bud.

When I am SUPER low I will call my best friend or my mom and just ask them to call back in 15 min and if I don't answer please call 911 and get someone to me :) .

[shabbie6247]

i live alone, i admit i was pretty scared when i first went on shots, because i was reading all about scary lows and seizures and all.

so far i havent needed to worry, any lows overnight from over bolusing just give me a liver dump and a high in the morning, and thats it.
i have a friend who checks in with me every morning.

and if i was sick with a load of bolus on board, my diabetic nurse said to put some sugar inside my cheek or under my tongue where it can be absorbed quickly.