Q about diabetes/hypos ( new here )

[mumoftwo]

Hello, I'm not a diabetic, but my husbend is, type I, it never happened to him before, but I freaked out big time, he was sitting in the chair and suddenly he started to sweat, I was talking to him but he wasnt responding, pls tell me what do I do in this situation? I gave him bread and butter and a box of strawbberries, he ate it all and cam back to normal, but next time he might just callapse? what do I do???? open his mouth and give him what? sugar?

Any tips on diet? do you drink herbal teas? Any partucular fruit/veg that balances sugar? We eat really healthy...thats all really..

He smokes and does not do any exersises.

Do you carry a card with you saying that you are diabetic? Where do you put it? in your wallet?

Thank you!

 

[sunflower_harvester]

Oh dear, I bet you were freaked out, are you ok now? Sounds like he got blindsided by a hypo-happens to most of us at some point. Good thinking to get food down him but bread and butter and strawberries aren't ideal as the glucose in them isn't fast acting enough.

If it happens again and he is conscoius( spelling?) and able to swallow the best thing is sugary drinks like lucozade, regular coke or glucose tabs or gels followed up by something starchy like biscuit or bread when hes come round a bit.

If he's unconsciuos then your two options are rubbing glucose gel (like hypostop)or honey inside his cheek-but be very careful as a) theres a risk of choking if he swallows it and b) mind your fingers! or you could use glucaon injection-you will have to ask your diabetic nurse how to use it and for it to be perscribed.

I'm really naughty and carry nothing saying I'm diabetic-which is a bit dumb (except an insulin pump and a stash of glucose tabs) but if I'm doing sport I write diabetic on the back of my race number and on my wrist. You can get medic alert bracelts and watches etc and paramedics/fisrt aiders are probably more likely to look for these than a card.

Any idea what caused his hypo?

 

[mumoftwo]

Thank you so much sunflower_harvester!!! Very helpfull info, I will make sure I have those things at home, I should have really look into it earlier knowing that my husbend is diabetic, but he never ever had any problems...

He had eggs and veg for lunch, some bread and injected too much insulin, so it droped big time, it was 2 ( I think).

Thank you again!!!

 

[xbethanyx]

for id cards etc... have you heard of medic alert? they do some really nice jewellery and watches which shows he is diabetic and they also provide a card for his wallet with all the important information on it. i think its ?25 for a years membership but i think its well worth it. there is a phone number that can be called if he is found unconcious which will tell the person what to do and give any info about you needed. www.medicalert.org.uk
as already said about the hypos - lucozade would be best if he can still drink if not hypo stop or the glcogel injection.

 

[tracey w]

What is hypo stop? and where can you get it?

 

[kincaidston]

its a glucose packed gel, comes in a squirty bottle or test tube type things (like small ice poles).. just order it at a chemist and they'll get it in for you

 

[sofaraway]

hypostop (now called glucogel) is very expensive to buy but you can get it on prescription.

 

[Viki]

Thats does sound scary. I was diagnosed in 2006 and have had a few episodes that have scared my friends and family too. My Mum and boyfriend have both had demos from my diabetes team about the glucagon injection incase of a really bad hypo but mainly my boyfriend and spent time looking at what signs i get before a hypo. If i dont spot them (or if im asleep) he knows my diabetes well enough to recognise whats happening to help me out before it gets to serious. I found this a great support too.
I would say to your husband to carry glucose tabs on him all the times and keep them by the bed (this is second nature for me now!) and if in doubt test! Glucose tabs are quick to pull you out of a hypo as is orange or apple juice but as sunflower_harvester said dont ever put anything in his mouth if hes unconscious as he could choke. If your ever really worried or unsure just call 999 its better to be safe.
Its very daunting at first and you should be prepared for some more hypos while your husband finds his feet but in a few months youll both be diabetes experts and itll be much less scary!

 

[RWJ]

Mumoftwo

All I can say is I must be very lucky with my local diabetic team - I have been type 1 for 18 months, and right from day one their support has been superb.
My first prescription included everything from insulin, needles, test strips, glucogel etc. Plus a weeks supply of everything and the test meter to tide me over. I was given a mobile phone number which one of the nurses has with them 24/7.
They offered to meet with my wife/family if required, but as my wife is a nurse this was not necessary - not that she spotted any of the symptoms before I was diagnosed!
I carry glucose tablets im my pocket, car and rucksack, plus oatcakes/mini coke cans and crisps. I'm worse than having a toddler!
I'm sure your local diabetes clinic would happily talk you through symptoms and actions for hypos?

 

[mumoftwo]

Thank you all!!! Very helpfull info !!!

 

[craig]

if you needsome sort of id to say that your diabetic try this company coolmedid.com very resonably priced and have various id things i/e bracelets to necklesses