Hi newbie here

[ree1234]

Hi All

I am new to the forum. I am a relative of someone with type 1 diabetes and need support please. I have spent the last fortnight worried sick, as they were in the ICU under sedation, with severe DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis). Their heart stopped, I had a call in the early hours from the ICU, they managed to revive them with CPR.

I found them unconscious after not receiving a response by text or phone call. I called 999. It was traumatic to witness. The person wants to return to the property (living alone), but the property was my late parents and is under probate. It needs to be rented out to cover a parents carehome fees. The relative cannot stay there

I am fearful the person will descend into chaos again, risking DKA, coma and death, and I will be left to pick up the pieces again.
Ive informed their GP it might be a safeguarding issue of a vulnerable adult.

Is there anything that can be worn or accessed if someone is alone and suspects they are going into DKA please? Or is there any organisation that will support that person if I am unable to be there to prevent DKA

Many thanks

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi All

I am new to the forum. I am a relative of someone with type 1 diabetes and need support please. I have spent the last fortnight worried sick, as they were in the ICU under sedation, with severe DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis). Their heart stopped, I had a call in the early hours from the ICU, they managed to revive them with CPR.

I found them unconscious after not receiving a response by text or phone call. I called 999. It was traumatic to witness. The person wants to return to the property (living alone), but the property was my late parents and is under probate. It needs to be rented out to cover a parents carehome fees. The relative cannot stay there

I am fearful the person will descend into chaos again, risking DKA, coma and death, and I will be left to pick up the pieces again.
Ive informed their GP it might be a safeguarding issue of a vulnerable adult.

Is there anything that can be worn or accessed if someone is alone and suspects they are going into DKA please? Or is there any organisation that will support that person if I am unable to be there to prevent DKA

Many thanks

Welcome to the forum.
I am sorry you are in this position, it sounds like a very difficult situation. Do they have anywhere else to live.
I'm sure there will be things that can be done to prevent DKA happening again but it will come down to how well they manage their Type 1.
Before this happened how were they managing their condition, what insulins and do they have a Libre or similar. If so there is a way of sharing their Libre data if they agree. This is often done for parents or people caring for elderly adults.
Their Diabetic clinic or GP should be able to put a support system in place through the social care system. But it will be important to ensure that they are appropriately taking their insulin and eating properly and be alert to any illness that could disrupt their blood glucose control making them more at risk of DKA.
The Diabetes UK helpline may be able to offer advise when they reopen, the number is at the top of the page.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Gosh @ree1234 how awful for you and them

Do you think the DKA was accidental? Or was the person deliberately not taking their insulin?

Sounds like your relative may need a little more support, and perhaps it would help them to see a specialist diabetes psychologist, who is used to the particular challenges and mental health impact of living wit T1 long term. Have they ever been on a structured course (eg DAFNE) to help them understand how to adjust their insulin doses and live a little more freely with their T1?

As a T1 they should have access to a continuous glucose monitor (eg Libre2+ or Dexcom One+) on the NHS, and while it would not track ketones, would allow you to ‘follow’ their glucose levels and get alerted if their blood glucose was remaining dangerously high for extended periods.