How Low can you go?

[webpundit]

Recently I've had a spell of hypoglycemic reactions. More so because of the Christmas vacation, waking up late and generally disrupting my usual schedule of shots and eating times. Anyway, I've had really low numbers which didn't feel very different from low numbers. i.e. Once I tested myself at 29 and the other time at 65 and both times I felt just as bad.

My question is how low can my blood sugars drop before I MUST get on the phone calling 911?

[HeatherP]

Being unconscious or having seizures would certainly qualify you (but it would have to be somebody else making the call of course). If you are incoherent or unable to treat yourself that would be another occasion. Those are some very dangerous numbers - my lowest ever was 25 or 28.

I guess a good threshold is if you are unable to take care of yourself.

HeatherP

[lgvincent]

Once, I was sick and was taken to a doctor. I was told there that my blood sugar was 7 mg/dL. I don't know if I was sick because my blood sugar was low or if my blood sugar was low because I was sick.

[dws]

Guess we should call it the 'Recorded Lowest" since the meter reads the glucose level at the time you test. Very well could be much lower.

My lowest on record was 18, made by the para-medics before they started the IV glucose.
don

[MarkMunday]

My question is how low can my blood sugars drop before I MUST get on the phone calling 911?

The important question is how low you can go before you are unable to help yourself. And it depends on what your body has become accustomed to. The more often you have hypos and the more severe they are, the greater your tolerance to low blood sugar becomes.

This process results in what is called "Hypoglycemic Unawareness". It is a dangerous condition and should be avoided if at all possible. Not getting any warning that the blood sugar level is dropping to dangerously low levels means that you don't get a chance to take corrective action before it is too late. This can be a major problem if you are driving or involved in some other potentially hazardous activity.

The lowest blood sugar I have recorded is 1.1mmol/l (20mg/dl). This was at the height of my hypo unawareness, and I was able to get up, go downstairs, do a test and eat some sugar, unassisted. Which is good, but only insofar as it goes. If the bsl had dropped much lower, I would have simply passed out. I read somewhere that brain damage starts taking place when the bsl drops below 10. So it is important that you keep your bsl well above that level.

By concientiously avoiding lows, I have regained some hypo awareness. I start feeling terrible when my bsl drops below 45. And I promptly do something about it.

Cheers,

Mark :)

[gettingby]

Hey Webpundit. Good to see you around again. I had a low reading last night at work. My meter read 36 and I really felt it but was able to treat myself without help. My lowest recorded reading was 17 (done by paramedics). Don't know if this helps ya any.

[lgvincent]

Your question is a hard one to answer. I've been able to treat insulin reactions when my blood sugar has been in the 20's but I've had seizures and been able to do little when it's been in the 30's. I guess it all depends on the situation.

[dws]

Mark, my 18 glucose happen last year, I 'felt' low and checked my glucose, 46 so got a coke (40 carbs) took a couple of swallows and sat down in my recliner and passed out. Woke with the paramedics pumping glucose in my vein.
New math ....... 46 to 18 is pretty fast :)
don
** BTW, tomorrow I'll be 70 , 65 years as a type 1 . State of Texas even sent me a renewed drivers license good for another 6 yrs . ????????
don

[MarkMunday]

** BTW, tomorrow I'll be 70 , 65 years as a type 1 . State of Texas even sent me a renewed drivers license good for another 6 yrs .
Don,

That is a remarkable achievement. Keep up the good work!

Cheers,

Mark :king:

[koblenz]

Don, that is a fantastic achievement. :thumbsup:

Oh, the stories you could tell us!

Please post your secret formula so we ALL can follow it and live a long heathly life. I have only had T1 a year, no severe hypo's yet.

[dws]

I sure wish I knew what I've done to make it this long, but the truth is 'I have no idea!'
I've managed to do everything the doctors told me 'Not' to do and very little of what I was told to do!! It sure has made for a interesting life ! :)
don

[buzzborne]

I've been on the verge of collapsing, but never actually been unconscious. Lowest I rememeber being is like 2.0.... had to walk down 3 flights of stairs to go make myself some food and get some milk... this was the one time I didnt have any dextrose tablets with me.... bad mistake... and never gone anywhere without them again...

Dad on the other hand has been unconscious... mum tried everything... even the emergency kit and he still didnt come round... took the paramedics a while also... that has happened a few times... but he still alive and kicking and healthy!

[KrisinNM]

I seem to have two types of lows: the ones where gradually I start feeling light headed and thinking I need to check, and then the one that is there all of a sudden and I am sweating, heart pounding, panicing, eating everything I can reach to the point that I bounce to the 300's. I do have hypo unawareness, but it seems some come on faster than others. When I was on Humulin regular there were several times I passed out completely. Eventuallu learned it had something to do with the blood brain barrier(?) so I went back to purified pork until starting MDI with Humolog.

[webpundit]

I think many of you answered my question perfectly! Diabetes often becomes a hard disease to live with and I know that if I did not try to educate myself by talking to all of you and reading other issues a lot of fellow diabetics have, I would be at a loss on a lot of things that happen on a daily basis.

I think I may be developing hypo-unawareness. I've never been lower than 40 before. Ah well it's back to the drawing board and educating myself on yet another topic, eh? :nerd:

[Maria]

My lowest was 1.2 mmol. I felt that I had hypo and I drank 200 gram of juice.I was hungry and I had tremble. But I have not lost consciousness.

Once in my life I had bad hypo. I lost my consciousness. My Novopen broke down. But I haven't understood it. And I have taken wrong dose. My husband awoke when I had convulsions. My husband gave me an injection GLUCAGEN . And I have recovered consciousness. We didn't call 911.

I think this problem can be solved by own strength.

[Littlebit63_99]

My lowest reading was 18, and unfortunately......I was in the hospital, not responding to glucose.

I have had 21's....that I was able to treat. And, like lgvincent, 30's where I have had siezures.

Mark is right about being able to tolerate lows better when you are used to running lower bsl's.

I really think there is a corrolation between lows, how fast they are dropping compared to how bad you feel. I have found that slow dropping lows are easier to treat, and don't feel as bad as the lows that drop with the speed of light. Those stink!

[Clint]

I sure wish I knew what I've done to make it this long, but the truth is 'I have no idea!'
I've managed to do everything the doctors told me 'Not' to do and very little of what I was told to do!! It sure has made for a interesting life ! :)
don

its good to see a fellow Texan on the board!

My lowest *recorded* low was 33 and I was on the verge of passing out... now I have passed out before but no one was around to record what my BS was... luckily, I came up on my own..

[Sinner]

I sure wish I knew what I've done to make it this long, but the truth is 'I have no idea!'
I've managed to do everything the doctors told me 'Not' to do and very little of what I was told to do!! It sure has made for a interesting life ! :)
don
I know what it is. You're as cantankerous as the rest of us Texans!! That has to be it.

[dws]

Was born in central Louisiana , I had my toes clipped as a child and sent to Texas to upgrade the gene pool. :)
don

[SunniD]

My lowest was 0.2 mmol/L and I was semi-conscious and hearing docs
saying I only had a few mins to live if they didn't get some dextrose in
immediately. I wouldn't suggest anybody go anywhere near that as you
can end up with some brain damage,seizures or remain in that comma. Neither appeal to me although I'm not sure how they'd discover how much more brain damage had occured. I was always this way.<smile>

My low was attributed to improper pump training.

SunniD

[rzrbks]

:topic:

Sinner

I know what it is. You're as cantankerous as the rest of us Texans!! That has to be it.

What a Very Polite way to describe what Texans Really are. My father and Grandmother were both Texans, so I Do have some experience and rights.



Back on Topic

What we each need to do if we're having truble detecting lows is let our reading go high {150/8.3-170/9.4}for a day or two then start going back down again.

That's the recommendation give at many sites by many researchers as the way to restore hypo- sensitivity.

[SunniD]

I agree with Rzrbks and that's amazing in itself<smile> about getting your
sense of hypoawareness back. My endo told me to go high around 7.5 mmol/L for 2 mos. and then back to redevelop my awareness. It does
help and I now have a sense of when I'm going low for sure.

Wasn't there a guy who's name was 'Hyposense' on here or was it another site -we could always call him cause he had a great sense of hypoawareness.*g*

I've also heard some animals have good senses of when their owners are
going low and wake them. Anyone got a pet like that??

SunniD

[Brent44a]

I have gotten into the habit of trying to always know where my BG is. I can predict how most most meals will affect my BG based on the carb content and my bolus amount. A few times a week, like last night, I have to guess the carb content. In those cases I am sure to test to confirm that I did not take too much insulin or inject more accordingly. Last night I went low and had an additional snack to counter the low BG. I believe the key is to get the basal dosage set correctly and then confirm each bolus. Then there is the phases of the moon and whether Jupiter is aligned correctly..LOL. Seriously, it is a lot of work and I wish I could do other things with all the time it takes, but it has its own rewards.

[Super-D]

I've also heard some animals have good senses of when their owners are going low and wake them. Anyone got a pet like that??

SunniD

Yes! I have a Shar-Pei that wakes me every time I go low in my sleep. She started this about 6 months ago. I have had her for just over a year. She starts what we call "sucker-punching" me in my arm until I wake up. I am usually in a pool of sweat. The first time she did it, I tested and my bg was 20 mg/dl. She even led me to the kitchen like she new what I needed was in there. When my bg started getting back to normal, I thought maybe she actually needed out, so I opened the door, but she ran and got back in bed. She never wakes me up to go pee.

The only other time my bg was lower, I was in the hospital.

I have hypo-unawareness. I usually don't feel any symptoms until my bg's are in the mid 20's, so I test almost constantly. I also keep a bag of peppermints in my vehicle at all times, and never go anywhere without some in my pockets.

Super-D

[lgvincent]

I was owned by a cat named Sidney that warned me of low blood sugar. He was a few months old when the paramedics had to come to the house to revive me. I'm told he kept a close eye on what they did to me. After that, he would meow any time my blood sugar was low and I'd know something was wrong and go treat it. There were times when he would jump over my head and scare the heck out of me and that would wake me up. I could sometimes remember him meowing before he did that and that's what he would do if the meowing didn't wake me. If things were really bad and I would wake up, he would bite me on the toe. I'm pretty sure that worked every time he did it. I can sometimes remember him jumping over my head before he did that but being too far out of it to respond. Sadly, on Christmas Eve in 1988 he woke me from an insulin reaction. I usually walked him early in the morning so he could "do God's work", so to speak. This time, I let him out on his on so I could take care of the low blood sugar. While I was doing that, he was run over by a car. I should have waited and gone with him but there's nothing I can do about it now.

He was a pretty smart cat, though. He knew when my blood sugar was low and he knew how to wake me up to take care of it. He developed it on his own and was never taught to do that.

[zookeeper671]

I've hit the "LOW" reading on my meter many a time, but I've never had a seizure. I've gone unconscious many times, had to have Glucagon injected several times, been treated by paramedics many times, but haven't had a seizure. Out of dark curiosity, what is a hypo seizure like? Can you be awake while it's happening or are you unconscious? (I'd seriously hope the latter.) The thought of the possibility of having a seizure scares me. http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/sad1.gif

Angie
P.S. My dog (who sleeps between my legs) snores right through my night hypos.

[MarkMunday]

... what is a hypo seizure like? Can you be awake while it's happening or are you unconscious? ....

The term "hypo seizure" is a bit of a misnomer. A seizure is not normally part of the hypo experience. But hypoglycemia can precipitate an epileptic type seizure, even in people who don't have a history of epilepsy.

I have had Grand Mal Epilepsy since I was 6 years old. Becoming T1 at the age of 20 was particularly unfortunate because low blood sugars cause seizures. And, during the last 20 years, virtually all the seizures I have had coincided with hypos.

Switching to Lantus has meant an end to nocturnal hypoglycemia. And I stopped taking the anticonvulsant medication three months ago. So far so good. I haven't had any problems. And I am reasonably confident that I will won't have any more. Lantus and a lowcarb diet have given me the level of control that has always evaded me in the past.

Seizures vary in nature and intensity. During my seizures, convulsions start in the lower left leg and spread throught the rest of the body. And I lose conciousness. Sometimes they are extremely violent.

During the worst one, extreme stomach muscle contractions caused a wedge-compression spinal fracture. But sometimes they they are very mild. They happen while I am asleep and I don't even wake up. The next morning, I only know from muscle stiffness and having bit my lip that I had a seizure.

Cheers,

Mark

[lgvincent]

I can tell you that you don't want to have one. I have found them to be very unpleasant and hard to deal with. I've had several and often beat my face against the floor and am unable to do anything about it. I just broke my nose for the 3rd time a few months ago during one. I can't breathe through my nose and I don't have the money for another septoplasty.

[HeatherP]

My husband describes it as a large type of whole-body "shudder" at intervals. I remember sort of having a tremor, but apparently it was much worse than what I thought. I was kinda out of it so I have to take his word for it.

HeatherP

[soremom]

I heard the paramedics say I had a seizure when they were treating me. I was scared I would lose my licensce since a cop was there and I was told if you have a seizure you automatically lose your licensce for 6 months. The cop even drove the ambulance to the hospital. Never heard anything from that.

I have never asked my parents what the seizure was like or how I acted, I guess I just don't want to know. That was a bad low because if inovled my youngest son and almost did both of us in, but that is another story. As far as I know, that is the only time I had a seizure, really never asked though.

Kim

[mark-TN]

I have had several seizures brought on by severe hypoglycemia. Like Mark Munday I have much better control since switching to a low-carb diet and have not had any lows even close to being severe since. When I was a teenager I had several. When I had seizures I was unconscious so did not know what was going on. I have “woken up” after being revived with a severely swollen tongue from having bit down on it so hard. The felling I got when I was coming around was the worst feeling I can think of. I was just so out of it, and as I would come out of them I could remember fighting just to clear the cob webs. It was an awful feeling with my mind racing to try to try to catch up and to try to figure out what was going on. On a couple occasions as I was coming around I would cry uncontrollably. I would be completely drained physically and emotionally and the headaches were god awful. To be honest I would rather not think about it anymore or ever again for that matter.

I have also been on the other side of a diabetic seizure. A man was having what I would call a seizure at our Racquetball club back when I was about 15 years old. They called me into the locker room because they knew I was a diabetic. The man was standing up in the shower. They had tried to give him a candy bar and he had it clenched in his teeth, but he would not eat it. He had the most paranoid look on his face. His eyes were wide open and the only thing he could do to resist was shake his head. If he had the ability to move his arms I believe he would have tried to knock someone out. The poor man could not talk, he was just groaning. It scared me to death because I had no idea what to do. I had never been on the other side of a low sugar; I was always the one being treated. I knew he needed sugar, but he would not accept the candy, juice or soft drink we were trying to get in him. It was hopeless. There must have been six of us in there trying to get him to take sugar, but we were no where near successful. The paramedics finally showed up and I got out of there, it really shook me up pretty badly. It made me realize what I must have put my Mom through. She would tell me what she went through but I never truly thought it was any where near that bad. I had a much greater appreciation after that experience and I believe that is where the extreme emotional aspect of having severe low blood sugar attacks came from.

Mark

[may]

I would sure never want to see how low I could go!
Sounds like that could certainly be an un-necessary death!
Although,, hopefully no one would try that.
I "never" go as low as many talk about.
Under 90 I get really shakey, and can barley help myself.
I'm often alone, so that is a responsibility for me to watch.
My sister lives alone, and always has. Her endo wants herto stay
at least around 90 at night, as she can go low fast and there is no one to help her.
My mother used to stay with me a few months out of the yr. She was a type 2 for years. She was elderly and I always wanted to know that at her bedtime she was around 90-100 also. She dropped really low a couple of times and the ambulance had to be called. IT IS Scarey.

[mccubbij]

I have been driving and had to pull over and test. I was once at 12 but OK enough to drive off the highwayfor a snack (didnt have much of a choice). There was a period of about 2 years where I would have seizures if I went below 55. Once I got off R and NPH and switched to the pump, they all went away.

[daddyo]

lowest ever was 12 the highest ever 1200 the low I remember waking up in the ambulance the high i was at Kmart to get insulin never made it to Rx counter passed out at the service desk first woke up in the ambulance again then spent a week in the hospital but all is well on the pump now and #s are the best they have ever been in 23 yrs why i waited I don't know but I do know If you have a way to get one get one because control is the key I feel my life is starting over again I feel so much better now if you help me convince my daughter to take better control I would be very happy But I guess Kiddo learned it from daddyo

[Rachey128]

Lowest 16 Highest 800 My lowest I went into a seizure and my highest was when I was first diagnosed 6 years ago :)

[notme]

The lowest I have ever gone is 26. I was able to take care of myself, but I struggled. This winter, I tested and was in the low 40's. My daughter found me outside in the backyard talking about the birds. I have no idea what I was doing out there. She asked me to come inside and I did. I got myself food and then sat down and started crying. Weirdest thing. I only remember the crying part. So far, I have never gone unconcious.

[rzrbks]

My daughter found me outside in the backyard talking about the birds. I have no idea what I was doing out there. She asked me to come inside and I did. I got myself food and then sat down and started crying. Weirdest thing.

Now we know what you California people put in Your pumps. :thumbsup:

[james kirk]

hey,
i'm new and this is where i first read some postings so i'm going to respond here...to all you smug pump owners and all others with insurance..enjoy being on top of the pile of us insulin dependent slobs...we without insurance and who don't qualify for government handouts see y'all as the elites...i see an endo in the richest part of town because, although he doesn't have time for people like me ( book signings and all) he gives me free insulin so the $200 cash i give him / per office visit is worth the insulin i take home but alas and alak for the past 3 months i have been having what y'all call hypo seizures, so far a broken left arm plus surgery for a plate screws and wrist pins, a broken right wrist, a broken left collar bone, a severly sprained right ankle and a knee ligament tear causing severe pain and swelling (of blood) so i am hobbling wounded in my walker...i don't see any light at the end of this tunnel...i don't know how much more of this i can take...i am desparate to get involved in one of those experimental trials that are transplanting islets from live donors...i have a healthy 25 year old daughter whose ready to help...thanks...jim





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9

[MarkMunday]

Jim,

Those sound like nasty injuries ... You just have to stop those lows. For me, that meant getting off the rollercoaster ride. And switching to Lantus enabled me to do that. What insulin regimen are you on?

Cheers,

Mark ;)

[Dewey]

hey,
i'm new and this is where i first read some postings so i'm going to respond here...to all you smug pump owners and all others with insurance..enjoy being on top of the pile of us insulin dependent slobs...we without insurance and who don't qualify for government handouts see y'all as the elites...i see an endo in the richest part of town because, although he doesn't have time for people like me ( book signings and all) he gives me free insulin so the $200 cash i give him / per office visit is worth the insulin i take home but alas and alak for the past 3 months i have been having what y'all call hypo seizures, so far a broken left arm plus surgery for a plate screws and wrist pins, a broken right wrist, a broken left collar bone, a severly sprained right ankle and a knee ligament tear causing severe pain and swelling (of blood) so i am hobbling wounded in my walker...i don't see any light at the end of this tunnel...i don't know how much more of this i can take...i am desparate to get involved in one of those experimental trials that are transplanting islets from live donors...i have a healthy 25 year old daughter whose ready to help...thanks...jim
Jim,

I'm sorry to hear you are having so many severe troubles, but it's not fair to come on here and start blaming people who are on pump therapy or who have good insurance (people who would be more than willing to give the shirts off their backs to help a fellow member or friend in need). I currently don't have good insurance, but try my best to find good deals either on the internet or by other means -and I am NOT jealous of nor cruel to others who are better off than myself. In fact, a fellow member here was kind enough to give me some of her insulin at a time when I couldn't afford it. Please be considerate of others when making posts, and please do not blame people who would be willing to aid you in your time of need. Also, please correct me if I've read this wrong... :(

[gettingby]

Ok, maybe I have taken this post in the wrong context and if I have, I apologize. Yes, I have good insurance but I want you to know that we really have to pay for it. $130/week is taken out of my hubby's paycheck for myself and our daughter to have ins. coverage. Do I think that's fair? HECK NO !!!!!! So, I don't consider myself one of the "elite".
"Smug Pumpers". Man, you have the wrong number there. I have to say that I am considering going on the pump. The pumpers on this site have been nothing but helpful to me with my never ending questions. I can understand your frustrations but there has to be some type of help available to you.
Again, if I have read this wrong, please accept my humble apologizes. I mean no offense. The people on this site have been a godsend to me and I do tend to get a little overprotective when they are trashed. These people have accepted me and all of my faults (lol) and I consider them family.

[Brent44a]

James,

I think you have come to a good place for help. Like your daughter, the people here are willing and able to help others who share this dreadful disease. I would offer a few items for your consideration.

First, you are not alone. No one wants this disease. I've often wondered what life would be like without it. But then I remember that we all have our crosses bear. This is not the worst thing that can happen to me and I am thankful that the treatment can be self-managed. I am also thankful for the people on this site who have helped me.

Second, diabetes is expensive for everyone. Even insurance costs are very high for most of us. And you probably already know that the emotional toll can dwarf the actual dollars spent. If you look to those on this site, and I suspect to you daughter, you will begin to see the light you are searching for. We all struggle and on ocassion feel the burden you express so well in your post.

Third, I would recommend getting involved in a treatment plan that helps you avoid the complications you describe in your post. Many studies show that the real cost of diabetes lies in the complications. The cost of medication and general medical treatment are dwarfed by the costs of the associated diseases; and even by injuries brought on during hypoglemic episodes. Sounds like you have experienced that already.

I would also recommend you see a medical team you trust and that you research diabetes and what you can do to manage it. Mark's suggestion of using Lantus sounds simple but understanding the difference between long-lasting (basal) insulin and rapid acting (bolus) injections keep millions with diabetes relatively free from severe hypoglycemic episodes.

Forgive me if you already know this information. I just sense that you are in a position that all of us find ourselves occassionally. Where is the light at the end of this disease and why do I have to endure it to begin with. I'll just offer one more item that helps me, and that is to follow the 11th Commandment: "Hangeth in there." There are better things that lie ahead, search them out.

Oh yes, "Live Long and Prosper," (I couldn't resist).

Regards and welcome,

Brent

[zookeeper671]

My dog (who sleeps between my legs) snores right through my night hypos...

Weird quoting myself, but I was talking with my bf the other day, and he reminded me of something I'd completely forgotten. One time when I was unconscious and he was attempting to give me a glucagon shot, my dog stood on my belly and wouldn't let my bf near me. He was being "big and bad," growling, acting as ferocious as a little Bichon can. lol Wonder what that was all about?

...for the past 3 months i have been having what y'all call hypo seizures, so far a broken left arm plus surgery for a plate screws and wrist pins, a broken right wrist, a broken left collar bone, a severly sprained right ankle and a knee ligament tear causing severe pain and swelling (of blood) so i am hobbling wounded in my walker...

Oh man! :eek: No wonder you feel desperate. :( I honestly can't imagine having to deal with all of that in just 3 months. Some of the suggestions by others have been good ones, but only if they're attainable (i.e. you can get your hands on some Lantus). Maybe you could call your doc and ask about elevating your blood sugar level for a week to see if that could help return your awareness? Just another idea being tossed out with the hope of helping.

[Poe]

I can recall having 2 in my 32 years as a T1. The first was scarey because I WAS driving with my son in the car. I don't know how I didn't have an accident and hurt either one of us. It's still a blur to me but I remember my 10 year old son telling the cops "He needs sugar" and they then knew I wasn't drunk. I was treated by paramedics and taken to the police station where my wife picked us up. I received a phone call that night from the police officer as a curteous call. He did tell me that if the lows become frequent that the State has the ability to suspend/revoke the DL.

Second time was stupid on my part. I did my inection, took a shower and laid down on the bed (fell asleep). I later received a phone call and my wife was telling me to pick up the phone. I responded by picking up the blanket and began talking into it.

I have no idea what I tested at the first time but the second was around 15. It really does scare the heck out of you and who else you can't hurt.

[Eri's mom]

The lowest Eri ever went was 19...she was out cold...
The lowest she ever was w/o it seeming as though NOTHING was wrong w/ her was 22 or 25...

[jeggeman31]

mum tried everything... even the emergency kit

What do you have in your emergency kit ?

[zookeeper671]

Had blood work done a couple of days ago. According to the lab results, my bsl was 44 at the time of the draw (oddly I felt fine). According to the medics who peeled me off of the pavement just outside of the lab building, my bsl was 21. I literally had about 7 seconds of warning. By the time I got my purse open, my hands were shaking so badly and I was feeling so sick, that I had trouble dealing with the so-easy-to-deal-with glucose tab container and getting some tabs into my face before rapidly becoming a pavement pile.

Weird. I usually have more warning. I also usually feel pretty icky if my bsl goes below the mid to upper 80's. No rhyme or reason to this thing, eh?

[lgvincent]

I've had that happen before, too. I can tell something is wrong and I'll go for the nearest thing with sugar. I was once opening a coke but went into a seizure before I could get it open. I try to keep some glucose in my pocket but it can become uncomfortable at times.

[MarkMunday]

What do you have in your emergency kit ?
If there is a T1 in the house, you should keep a glucogon kit in the fridge. And everyone should know how to use it. If a severe hypo causes the patient to become unresponsive and it is not possible to give anything orally, a glucogon injection sorts the problem out very quickly.

It consists of vial that contains 1mg of glucogon hydrochloride, and a syringe filled with distilled water. To use it, you inject the water into the vial, shake it and draw the mixture back into the syringe. Then you inject it into a muscle.

I didn't have one until recently. But I realised the importance of having one after an incident with my daughter.

Cheers,

Mark ;)

[buzzborne]

What do you have in your emergency kit ?

the emergency kit we have.. is hypostop.. like sugar gel.. and it tastes foul...! it is rubbed into the side of the cheeks/gums, that didnt have much effect so then moved onto the glucogon kit.

When I was at school I had a long queue of people that wanted to give me the injection if I needed it... thankfully I havent and hope it stays that way!

[jeggeman31]

If there is a T1 in the house, you should keep a glucogon kit in the fridge.

I am type 1 and have never heard of a glucogon kit. I always keep the juice and other things. Can you get this over the counter ?

[koblenz]

In California anyway, you have to have a prescription to get the glucagon kit. My Endo wrote me a prescription for 3. One for home, one for work, and one to carry around in my "kit". My insurance covered them, with a $15.00 co-pay of course.

I taught my wife and several people at work how to use it. And like buzz said previously, there are several people in line at work that look forward jabbing me with that needle. :D

My wife on the other hand is a little afraid of it, but she would if she had to.

[buzzborne]

I am type 1 and have never heard of a glucogon kit. I always keep the juice and other things. Can you get this over the counter ?


Don't think that you can get them over the counter... pretty sure it has to be a prescrpition...

[zookeeper671]

A prescription is needed for a glucagon kit here in Florida.

I taught my wife and several people at work how to use it. And like buzz said previously, there are several people in line at work that look forward jabbing me with that needle.

A bit twisted, eh? lol :D My bf has had to inject me several times and has told me he's loved doing it. I can just picture him worrying about my being unconscious for all of... 5 seconds... then getting all excited about being able to give me the shot. http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/rolleye/rolleye12.gif

[soremom]

In Pennsylvania you also have to have a prescription for a glucagon kit. I have one at home, carry one in my purse and my mom has one. Since both my sister and I are T1 it makes her feel better.

I figured my husband would love to give me a shot and he actually joked about it, till he had to do it. It freaked him pretty bad me being total out of it. He would come home from work, around 4:30 in the morning and I would be gone. I would love to have seen his face from the beginning. He was pretty white once I came around. I know it isn't funny but I do laugh now that I am not having lows at night.

Kim

[dbc]

In Pennsylvania you also have to have a prescription for a glucagon kit. I have one at home, carry one in my purse and my mom has one. Since both my sister and I are T1 it makes her feel better.



WHat is the shelf-life of the glucagon kit? How often do you have to replace it if unused?

[may]

And without insurance a Glucagon 1 MG Emergency Kit costs about 110.00. They are expensive to tote, and a script is necessary.
I tote the one dollar gluco tabs. I never have gone "to low".
I get shakey always at about 75.
I will take one tab and it will take me to about 90 immediately.

I have never tried the jel that another wrote about. But, I have a sister that carries that and I need to check that out.

[koblenz]

I got my first glucagon kits back April 2004. They have a printed expiration date of Aug 2005. So it looks like about 18 months or so. I have not had to use one either, but my doctor insisted I get some and keep them handy. Now that I know why, I suspect it was because I was a new diabetic at the time and it was better to be safe than sorry. If my insurance continues to cover them, then I will keep some handy, "just in case"!

Plus, they make my wife feel better... that if I do go too low, she can do something to help me. I think the cost of the kits is worth it just to give her some piece of mind. She worries about me too much.

[ksa01]

In addition to keeping a glucogon kit handy, I also keep a small tube of cake icing (cut the top off so it's ready to use). My CDE told me about this as an alternative to the liquid glucose which apparently tastes awful. Other items I always have with me are glucose tabs and a juice box - juicy juice are the smallest and have a relatively long shelf life. With the exception of the glucogon kit, I keep these items throughout the house, in my car, in my husband's car, at work, in my purse, etc...

[rzrbks]

koblenz

Plus, they make my wife feel better... that if I do go too low, she can do something to help me

My wife just forces me to sit down and drink regular pop(coke, of course).

It was funny the time it happened. I was in the high 20s/1.2 or low 30s/1.6. I couldn't think, hear or see too well. She just Took Charge, LOL.

[gettingby]

For anyone who doesn't know what one is, here is a pic of a glucogon kit. Hope it works.
http://www.diabetesnet.com/images/glucagon.jpg
I know in NC, you definitely need a perscription.

[KickStart101]

My lowest was 1.2, We had friends over for the evening and I felt
fine. I went into the kitchen to test my sugar since I didn't have much
time earlier. When I saw the 1.2, I remember saying, "Oh, Oh". At which point my heart had to of course start beating 20 miles a minutes and sweat started pouring. I focused my brain on getting 3 of the Lindts chocolate balls out of a container and into my mouth(they are great since they melt quickly).
I then laid down on the kitchen floor, as I always did, even as a Kid. The
coolness seems to slow the body systems down some so I feel alot better faster. My Hubbie came in looking for me, sees me on the floor, worriedly starts for the orange juice in the fridge which he was going to mix sugar into. "No Sugar, I had chocolate, thanks". Three chocolate balls is usually more than enough. It's happened many times. Ain't dead yet. :D :1eye:

[jeggeman31]

For anyone who doesn't know what one is, here is a pic of a glucogon kit. Hope it works.


Thanks for the photo.

[gettingby]

Thanks for the photo.
No prob. I just didn't want anyone to think I was trying to be a smart aleck, just being helpful. :)

[statdeac]

Low 40s was my lowest. (T1.5 for 5 yrs.)

[BeckieLynn55]

Low 40s was my lowest. (T1.5 for 5 yrs.)
Not too shabby!

This summer working at a hospital, I seemed to have run in the 20s every day no matter how little insulin I took. I once took my pump off for my entire 8 hour shift and still was in the 80s. I usually felt perfectly fine in the 20s and only tested my sugar because it was before lunch.

... none diabetic medical student friends of mine questioned how I could be so fine at this number and I dont think they believed me... I guess it happens to lots of us! You definitly can't learn everything from a text book or from any non-diabetic for that matter.

I've never had an seisures or any real problems yet that Ive had medical assistance other than maybe a high school nurse putting that horrible glucose paste in my mouth once..yuck. The highest my meter reads is 600 and the lowest is 20. I've maxed out both ends, but not sure exactly how high or low.

[daddyo]

If you don't have a glucogon kit get one it saved me last fri night my suger was low so i treated it and thought I suspended my pump in my haze I did not fell asleep woke up 4 hours later with the EMS pumping suger in me my daughter gave me the glucogon and it brought me back this is the first time for this to happen on the pump but happened many times on MDI kiddo also diabetic did the right thing so get a kit keep it handy and show others around you how to use it and tell them it dos'nt hurt because your out cold and may not wake up if they don't give it to you by the way have any of you had experiance with EMS not knowing much about diabetes the ones here fri had never even seen a pump oor how to shut it off so as they are pumping me full of suger my pump is still giving me insulin oh yes I did teach kiddo all about the pump so she knows now how to use it I told her if she still can't turn it off to just cut the cord as I said thank GOD I have such a wonderful daughter she pulled me thogh more than once

[gettingby]

I'm sorry that you had to use yours daddyo :eek: but it's great that your daughter was there and knows what to do. I really wish that EMS techs everywhere were better trained on how to deal with hypoglycemia. What they know and don't know can make a big difference.

[jeggeman31]

have any of you had experiance with EMS not knowing much about diabetes the ones here fri had never even seen a pump oor how to shut it off

When I went through my Medic school in 1990 they did not teach us about pumps. Nor has any of my Continued Ed class's that we are required to take. Not a thing. I have been out of EMS for 5 years now, so I don't know if they teach anything now, but back when I was in EMS they did not teach a thing about pumps.

[daddyo]

anybody out there know of where to contact someone about this issue it's been more than once that this has happened to me and I would'nt want it to happen to others out there by the last post it seems as tho this is not an iselated problem with EMS and they are the first responders in most cases

[BeckieLynn55]

I read this an immediately quized 3 friends of mine who were online. They're all enrolled in the Emergeny Medicine Program here at Pitt. They're all currently working as EMTs and one is a medic. A medic requires a lot more training.

and the result...
They all said they would check their sugar and give them glucagon or D 50. When I asked what they'd do with the pump, they all said nothing. They know it gives insulin, so they wouldnt want to touch it. None of them thought to disconnect it. They've all breifly learned what a pump is, but know nothing of how to work it - except through what they've learned through me.

And in all honesty, I really highly doubt any EMT would ever be required to learn. EMTs are taught the basics, and medics are the one who go through a lot of the training. Sometimes only a couple of EMTs will show up. If it is a cardiac arrest or other major emergency, they are required to have a medic there, but not for diabetic emergencies since they are seen as routine. Maybe it could be make a requirement for medics, probably never EMTs... but they could teach them to snip the cord.

Even in the 4 year Emergency Medicine program here at Pitt, they are not taught about how to work one. In my opinion I think they could definitly learn to snip a cord or disconnect it.. maybe not learn to work 5 different models.

[daddyo]

I agree they should at vleast know to cut the cord if not anything else like i said if they are giving you suger in the vain it would only be comman sense to stop the flow of insulin till you get your facaultys together to figure uot the proplem that causes the low in the first place when i finaly got it together with my self i relized I did not suspend my pump when my suger waslow and that added to the problem

[soremom]

I am just going by my personal situations in my small town. When you call 911, police, fire and ambulance are all dispatched. Most police and fireman are EMT's. They do the basics. They have never checked my blood sugar. The one time I was not completely out of it but out of it enough not to be able to help myself, the police gave me glucose gel, yuck :eek:

Usually, atleast with me, paramedics have responded. I have always had an i.v. hooked up, or tried, once given a glucagon injection. That was mainly because I was jerky so bad they couldn't get an iv in. The infiltrated my are and boy did that hurt. A few times I have been out for a good length of time which was good the paramedics responded. I don't know if it is just because we basically have one ambulance company in our area, or if it depends on the situation they are responding to.

Well that is just my 2 cents worth and how my area seems to work, which for me is great. I guess for my kids too. :(

Kim

[gettingby]

Hey daddyo,
I'm glad to see you are feeling better. :D

[KrisinNM]

Several years ago I was the manager of a local tavern that was used as a location for one of the situation tests for the newest batch of EMT students. The victim was a guy that the people who were setting up the test doused liberally with nail polish remover (supposed to smell like ketones), put a med alert necklace on him and set him in a booth with some empty beer bottles. He then started acting goofy and pretended to be passing out and my job was to summon the emt trainees. A couple teams dxd "diabetic coma" and administered glucose gel to the inside of his gums, a couple teams dxd him as drunk and let the cops take him to detox. :eek: When it was all over I questioned the head instructor because the teams that gave the glucose passed. In my opinion when someone smells like ketone then you don't give glucose or glucogon because it means they are DKA and more sugar will make it worse. The instructor told me that all EMTs are taught to give glucose if they even suspect anything having to do with diabetes because it won't kill them but if they guess wrong and don't give it, it could kill the vic. Hmmmm.

[daddyo]

2 years ago I had a low while driving ran into someone at a red light everybody was OK at the time but they (EMT's) thought I was drunk and left me alone for over 45 min till finaly a fireman asked if I was drinking which I was not and I told him I was diabetic they treated me took me to the hospital again asking if Iwas drinking left me in the hallway for another hour till I got it together removed the IV and went to get somthing to eat at the cafateria at the hospital and called a cab and went home seems every time my daughter has called the EMT's they always ask how much has he been drinking I drink very little if at all it plays havek with my suger like my daughter tells them I would'nt call you because my dad has been drinking

[rallrox19]

my lowest has been 41. i almost passed out. it was at school too.

[zookeeper671]

2 years ago I had a low while driving ran into someone at a red light everybody was OK at the time but they (EMT's) thought I was drunk and left me alone for over 45 min till finaly a fireman asked if I was drinking which I was not and I told him I was diabetic they treated me took me to the hospital again asking if Iwas drinking left me in the hallway for another hour till I got it together removed the IV and went to get somthing to eat at the cafateria at the hospital and called a cab and went home seems every time my daughter has called the EMT's they always ask how much has he been drinking I drink very little if at all it plays havek with my suger like my daughter tells them I would'nt call you because my dad has been drinking

daddyo~ Do you wear a medic alert bracelet of some sort? Medics are trained to look for one (wrist first, then neck, etc.). If you were wearing one, and they missed it... :eek:

[may]

Anjie,

It was good of you to mention the medical braclet.
They are just so important.
I "never" do the lows...but, I still wouldn't be without one.
Last yr., I ended up in the emergency room with a bad UTI, and
believe it or not I could not get my meds straight.
Thank goodness for my braclet.

Mine was not expensive. Got the mens one, which fits loosely from Wal-Mart. I've had it for several years, and it looks as nice as an expensive one.
It's amaizing how much information I get on a little folded paper that fits inside!

[daddyo]

daddyo~ Do you wear a medic alert bracelet of some sort? Medics are trained to look for one (wrist first, then neck, etc.). If you were wearing one, and they missed it... :eek:

Yes the next day I got one. Hav'nt taken it off since.