Always carry glucose.

[tom58]

Went for a cataract op recently. BS fine pre op but was down to 58 (which is about 3.0 in English!) post op. In the recovery room the hospital orderly arrived and asked if I wanted a coffee. "Yes please" I replied "with plenty of sugar, because I'm a bit low". "You're a diabetic, so I can't give you any sugar". He gave me an extra sachet of sweetener instead!

Luckily, having been in similar situations before, I had my own supply of calories stashed in the locker. But it's really troubling that even in hospital you can't always count on other people having the slightest understanding of diabetes.

Incidentally, the op went well and I see a brighter world more clearly now.

 

[himtoo]

good advice -- I ALWAYS carry glucose on my person . spares in the car , loads in the cupboard in the kitchen, on the bedside table , pretty much everywhere i am or are going.

 

[Diakat]

Good to hear the op went well, even if the nurses were daft.

 

[TheBigNewt]

I got low in an intensive care unit some years back (the only time I've been in a hospital since I got diabetes), they gave me an ampule of "D50" and I came back up (I was conscious but I could tell). I said "how about a little something to eat". Nurse said no not meal time. I said then be ready with another round of that **** because D50 is only 100 calories Toots. I didn't have anything I could get my hands on there. I carry either Tootsie Roll Pops (70 cal, don't melt or go bad) or Bit 'O Honey wrapped minis (25 cal each). I used to carry a roll of Lifesavers (10 cal each, 12 to a roll) but got tired of them. Lots of flavors though. Butterscotch best!

 

[himtoo]

I got low in an intensive care unit some years back (the only time I've been in a hospital since I got diabetes), they gave me an ampule of "D50" and I came back up (I was conscious but I could tell). I said "how about a little something to eat". Nurse said no not meal time. I said then be ready with another round of that **** because D50 is only 100 calories Toots. I didn't have anything I could get my hands on there.

I promise I am not laughing -- knowing the USA care system -- did they not offer to sell you something to treat the hypo ???
( you have to laugh or you would just cry )

 

[Guzzler]

Re the orderly, I sometimes call his/her attitude as 'Shiny Buttons Syndrome" meaning that some HCPs act far beyond their capacity to understand and beyond their pay grade but because they wear a uniform they think they have all the wisdom of Methuselah. Good work on preparing for all eventualities.

 

[Deleted member 308541]

the hospital orderly arrived and asked if I wanted a coffee.

The NHS is really excelling them selves there.

When I had my cataracts done, and sitting in the holding area at the day surgery unit at the Mater hospital, I was offered coffee or tea and a packet of salad sandwiches.

 

[TheBigNewt]

I promise I am not laughing -- knowing the USA care system -- did they not offer to sell you something to treat the hypo ???
( you have to laugh or you would just cry )

No but they probably tried to bill my insurance company $100 for the D50. Right? Maybe $200. I've had that stuff from paramedics of the fire dept. Man you're awake before they're done pushing it in. Not like glucagon that stuff takes FOREVER.

 

[lmc]

Hospitals can be very worrying for diabetics when in patients. They take your insulin away do not give it to you when you need it, then try and take your food away when you have finally injected.

I had a angiogram once which was ok luckily. I was told to have morning insulin and food, then come into hospital and I would be straight down for theatre. They actually had me way down the list, but did not tell me. I told them I would have a hypo if it got to lunchtime. Took me down way after my lunchtime for angiogram and had hypo on way back. Good job not during!

Another time, nurse wanted to give me a cup of milk when blood sugar 1.9 and have argument about me wanting to take Lucozade. She insisted this worked for her type 1 diabetic child. I ignored her and took lucozade. Consultant laughed when I told him and said she would have to put some sugar in the milk.

 

[EllieM]

As a type 1 whose mother was also type 1, we've had mixed experiences in UK hospitals. My kids are in now in their twenties, but the Hammersmith hospital in London was awesome for my in-patient pregnant stays. They let me have my own food in the ward's kitchen, and handle all my own testing.

Now for my mother, not so good. At 77 and multiple organ failure which she only just survived (thanks to the staff in intensive care who were wonderful), problems arose when she was moved to the normal wards, and she started to recover. Her normal dosage was a very low (total 16 units a day?) combo of lantus and humalog, but in intensive care her insulin needs more than doubled. It was a weekend and after a severe night time hypo she pointed out to the nurses that her insulin needs had gone down. There was no one available to authorise the change in meds and she was too weak to prepare and perform her own injections. The nurses agreed that she was allowed to refuse insulin, but not change the dose, so she elected to skip the humalog, on the grounds that she was incapable of eating very much and it was easier to cope with the lantus in excess rathe than the humalog. When she saw the diabetic specialist the next day he was very very very apologetic but her situation confirmed to me that general wards are not necessarily safe for diabetics....

 

[tom58]

The NHS is really excelling them selves there.

I live in France so the NHS weren't involved but misconceptions about diabetes seem to know no borders. Having said that, we live with our malady day in and day out so we naturally know a great deal about our own particular condition whilst hospital staff have to deal with a myriad of different medical problems.

 

[Dodo]

Hospitals can be very worrying for diabetics when in patients. They take your insulin away do not give it to you when you need it, then try and take your food away when you have finally injected.

I had a angiogram once which was ok luckily. I was told to have morning insulin and food, then come into hospital and I would be straight down for theatre. They actually had me way down the list, but did not tell me. I told them I would have a hypo if it got to lunchtime. Took me down way after my lunchtime for angiogram and had hypo on way back. Good job not during!

Another time, nurse wanted to give me a cup of milk when blood sugar 1.9 and have argument about me wanting to take Lucozade. She insisted this worked for her type 1 diabetic child. I ignored her and took lucozade. Consultant laughed when I told him and said she would have to put some sugar in the milk.

Extremely worrying. I was let out of hospital a day early after my triple heart bypass, as the nurse in charge wouldn't give me my basal insulin as I'd had a mild hypo which had been dealt with easily. When my blood glucose was too high the next morning she got the Diabetic Consultant to come and have a word. I explained my basal had been withheld to which she replied that they can't do that. I won't repeat my response but within 15 minutes she'd spoken to my heart specialist and he told me I could go home and sort myself out!

A few weeks later I told my local Diabetic Consultant about it and he laughed. He just replied that it didn't surprise him. So worrying going into hospital and having to give them control of your medication.

 

[dbr10]

Went for a cataract op recently. BS fine pre op but was down to 58 (which is about 3.0 in English!) post op. In the recovery room the hospital orderly arrived and asked if I wanted a coffee. "Yes please" I replied "with plenty of sugar, because I'm a bit low". "You're a diabetic, so I can't give you any sugar". He gave me an extra sachet of sweetener.

H*ll's bells. Unbelievable.

 

[therower]

It beggars belief sometimes.
I would have said " fine forget the sugar but please take me to the nearest A&E and we'll discuss it there "
OR
" give me some ******* sugar before I turn green and cause chaos, with you to blame "

Other options are available.

 

[Madmaureen]

Someone needs to educate that lot!!!!

 

[phdiabetic]

All these stories are very scary. I'm glad I've never been in hospital while I've been diabetic, but I do have a friend who is a nurse. This is the conversation we had when I told him I was diabetic. At the time I was eating lollies since I was in the 4's and drifting down

Him: Why are you eating lollies?
Me: Oh my blood sugar is a bit low
Him: Are you diabetic?
Me: Yes
Him: Poor thing. Oh wait, you shouldn't be eating lollies!
Me: But my blood sugar is low
(Rinse and repeat)

I should ask him where he works and make a mental note to avoid the place at all costs.