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After living with a type one diabetic (my fiancé) for a year I have some tips perhaps useful for a diabetics and their loved ones.
Learn to care for them when they can’t for any reason.
(A thread. Please share if you know anyone with diabetes.)
Learn to care for them when they can’t for any reason.
(A thread. Please share if you know anyone with diabetes.)
The most important thing for those who care about a diabetic, is to be able to react to the sensor alarms and their dangerous blood sugar symptoms.
This is mostly helpful for diabetics who wear an insulin pump with body sensor; but you can also learn to recognize problem signs.
This is mostly helpful for diabetics who wear an insulin pump with body sensor; but you can also learn to recognize problem signs.
You may need to help out not only if the diabetic becomes incapable due to low or high blood sugar; or if they become intoxicated; but also when they are too tired to react correctly, such as when I noticed my fiancé giving himself a bolus eyes closed!
The fastest killer is low blood sugar; or hypoglycemia. The alarm will play a downward tone.
Read the blood sugar by hand before reacting. If the blood sugar is below 90; or the pump indicates it is dropping fast (especially with active insulin in the body), you must act quickly
Read the blood sugar by hand before reacting. If the blood sugar is below 90; or the pump indicates it is dropping fast (especially with active insulin in the body), you must act quickly
Even without a sensor you may recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia. This could help anyone to save a stranger’s life too! But ask your diabetic loved one what their common symptoms are. If they have hypoglycemic unawareness (they do not recognize their symptoms), you need to.
The chart does not address the more serious symptoms of hypoglycemia. Of course unresponsiveness is a good clue! But so is inappropriate emotional reaction. The first time I encountered my fiancé’s hypoglycemia it was because he was laughing uncontrollably for no reason.
When their blood sugar is low they need both fast sugar (juice) and protein (PB or a protein bar).The protein is to keep the blood sugar from dropping rapidly, which depends on active insulin in the body, how fast sensor measures the sugar plunging, and whether you add insulin.
Keep juice boxes and protein bars in the house (bedroom) and give them care packages for their car and purse/knapsack/etc.
While we are on gifts, give a diabetic a bracelet with your name and phone number ‘ICE’ ( in case of emergency contact), for if they need care without you.
While we are on gifts, give a diabetic a bracelet with your name and phone number ‘ICE’ ( in case of emergency contact), for if they need care without you.
Note if a diabetic is unresponsive or otherwise unable to safely eat or drinkCALL 911 NOW!
Discuss with your loved one in which other cases they would want to have medical care from a professional.
When in doubt call 911.
Discuss with your loved one in which other cases they would want to have medical care from a professional.
When in doubt call 911.
When their sugar is high- the warning sound will rise- again measure by hand so you don’t have to wake them up like I did early on “Honey I don’t want to kill you! I gave you too much insulin!” They now need an addition of insulin (a bolus). The bolus wizard makes this easy.
The 3rd alarm is to calibrate the sensor. While this seems innocuous, the sensor will soon shut off completely and you will have no idea if the diabetic’s blood sugar reaches a dangerous level. You do not have to awaken the diabetic for a bolus or to calibrate the sensor.
Also you may do your loved one a favor if you calibrate any time you measure by hand, as that darn alarm goes off every 12 hours at the worst times! But ask them now if they want this or not.
For those who think hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia are no big deal:
Besides that low blood sugar can kill you, and that as it goes lower you are less capable of saving your own life; if you allow your hyperglycemia expect to have a needle poked into your eyes every 6 months...
Besides that low blood sugar can kill you, and that as it goes lower you are less capable of saving your own life; if you allow your hyperglycemia expect to have a needle poked into your eyes every 6 months...
And a real fear of kidney damage.
Once your kidneys begin to fail they do not improve. And dialysis is not just inconvenient a few times a week. A friend of mine who gave his sister a kidney told me all he can eat safely is red meat and Coke! Don’t risk this.
Once your kidneys begin to fail they do not improve. And dialysis is not just inconvenient a few times a week. A friend of mine who gave his sister a kidney told me all he can eat safely is red meat and Coke! Don’t risk this.
Practice all of this when the diabetic you love is awake and alert. One problem is them being afraid to let you poke their finger-or you being afraid to. If they are nervous when awake, they may fight you when less so! Practice until you are both completely comfortable.
Since I have been addressing my fiancé’s sensor alarms and recognizing his symptoms, his endocrinologist says he has not been this healthy in 30 years.
To diabetics: it may be embarrassing to be different, but your friends would rather learn this than watch you die.
To diabetics: it may be embarrassing to be different, but your friends would rather learn this than watch you die.
Extra notes.
Give a big glass of water if the diabetic is alert with high blood sugar.
And to stress: Give them a medical alert bracelet with your name and number ICE! Strangers won’t know what to do, and medical professionals can’t immediately know what the problem is.
Give a big glass of water if the diabetic is alert with high blood sugar.
And to stress: Give them a medical alert bracelet with your name and number ICE! Strangers won’t know what to do, and medical professionals can’t immediately know what the problem is.
