Complaint made to the BBC about Saturday's Casualty

[AJLang]

AS I was having a hypo which was not giving me increased risk of complications I decided to make a complaint to the BBC about Saturday's Casualty.......message that I sent:

Having been diabetic for 40 years I was extremely disappointed in your portrayal of diabetes in this episode of Casualty. Low sugars (hypos) are potential side effect of good diabetic control as an individual aims to keep their blood sugars as close to normal as possible in order to minimise the risk of complications such as leg amputations. Hypos DO NOT cause complications such as kidney diseases, sight loss, leg amputations etc. Continual high sugars can cause these very serious complications. I am therefore extremely concerned and worried that you appear to be suggesting in Casualty that hypos (low blood sugars) will lead to amputations . This risks putting many people off of maintaining the tight diabetes control that is important to reduce the risks of these complications. I can evisage people now saying that they can't keep their blood sugars low because it will risk complications..........in my opinion this is very irresponsible of the programme makers

 

[Northerner]

Very eloquently put Amanda, let's hope that it is something they consider in any future portrayals 🙂

 

[Caroline]

Well done. If we don't point these things out some people will always get it wrong. Please do let us know their response if any.

 

[Steff]

Amanda well done,Hope they reply just as eliquently

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Well done you. Hope you get a response from them.

M

 

[Vicsetter]

I think you are all being a bit harsh. Casualty is not a factual program, it is a drama, the dialogue and actions are done for effect rather than complete accuracy. Having reviewed the scene with J-dog the only thing I would find objectionable is the method that Adam used to scare J-dog, this was way out of court. If you listen to the dialog J-Dog was not monitoring his bloods and as a result had a Hypo, whilst not in the dialog it would be more than reasonable to assume that his blood sugars had been doing a rollercoaster ride and he was seriously at risk of complications. You should also bear in mind that this maybe a way of developing Adams character and suggesting that he is going a bit over the top.

 

[Northerner]

I know what you are saying Vic, but it might have been better to have him in DKA from high levels - would have made more sense and could equally have been from not monitoring, and possibly not even injecting. If you remember the infamous 'The Hospital' documentary, there was a young man on that who was discharging himself despite having BG levels of over 50, which would certainly have merited Adam's stark warnings, although he should still not have acted as he did!

 

[Ellie Jones]

I actually agree with Vic on this one

If you haven't been testing your BG's you are more likely to land yourself in the A&E department with an major Hypo than you would with DKA

If you look and listen you will hear the nurse come into the resus explaining that she had spoken to his mum that J-Dog had an history of not controling his diabetes nor taking blood sugar levels, and his mum was at her whits end with it all...

The writers have established J-dog wasn't monitoring his control (taking his blood glucose levels) they've correctly established that not only do poor control lead to major hypo's with a visit to A&E but also can lead to complications....

If they have chosen to DKA that isn't seen in the A&E department that often due to most DKA cases going straight to a ward sent in by GP rather than an emergency 999 call out! Then it would be 'hypo' haven't been addressed!

I don't expect every member of Joe Public that I walk past, stand next to in a shop or sit next to on the bus etc... To know or even understand the in's and out's of diabetes I know sod all about many unseen medical conditions that an individuals may suffer from, I know nothing about asthma but I am able to regonise when my friend is starting a asthma attack, know that's it's the blue inhaler she needs and to get medical assistence if required!

All this nit picking just in my opinion makes matter worse for us... As it ends up depicting us as well serious ill, not to be trusted and we can't live a normal life!

 

[Caroline]

All this nit picking just in my opinion makes matter worse for us... As it ends up depicting us as well serious ill, not to be trusted and we can't live a normal life!

I appreciate it can look like nit picking, but I think it is also good to raise awareness. One of my friends is very allergic to nuts and always carries what she calls her antidote and has made sure all of her friends know how to use it and when call for help.

 

[Northerner]

...All this nit picking just in my opinion makes matter worse for us... As it ends up depicting us as well serious ill, not to be trusted and we can't live a normal life!

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, it's what makes life interesting 🙂

 

[SusieGriff]

You're so right Alan, But I agree with you on this one, it's the likes of the older generation, like my mother who is almost 90! and never listens to anything properly, will jump to a conclusion after seeing that, that if I have a hypo I'm at risk of having my feet cut off!!! she even shouts at the TV watching stuff like this!!! SO, I think maybe they ought to make it a little clearer what's what - fact or fiction!