For those with diabetes, hypoglycemia is an ever present anxiety as it can arise with little to no warning at the worst of times.
Today, we have the story of Robert Cranshaw, a football fan and type 1 diabetic. He had travelled to Liverpool to watch the match and as many do, he indulged in a couple of beers throughout the day.
The day soon took a turn for the worst when Robert decided it was time to go home. Without realising it, his blood sugar had dropped too low so he became disoriented and boarded the wrong train. This mistake could quite easily be noticed by others as just a drunken error, as the symptoms of hypoglycemia are very much like those of being drunk.
Robert finally realised his error when the train announced that the next station would be Ipswich when he was trying to get to Leeds. He managed to hop off the train in Sheffield, very far from home and feeling very confused.
Robert happened to be wearing his Liverpool football shirt and could have easily been confused by many as a drunken football fan returning home after the match, when this really was not the case.
As time went by, Robert’s blood glucose levels continued to dip due to his earlier alcohol consumption and he collapsed at the entrance to the train station. In a miraculous stroke of luck, a passerby stopped and noticed that Robert was wearing a Diabetes.co.uk Alert ID wristband and proceeded to assist him.
Thanks to the 24-hour phone service provided by Alert ID, the passerby was put through to Robert’s girlfriend and an ambulance was immediately called to help and all the necessary medical records were available through Alert ID for the emergency services to assess his condition and give him the care he had set out in his crisis plan.
Robert was transferred to Sheffield General Hospital where he was kept in overnight.
In what could have potentially been a real disaster, Robert had a very lucky turn of events and now says “he daren’t ever take off his wristband”.
Many people with diabetes aren’t aware how alcohol can affect their blood glucose levels. If you’re planning on having a drink, take a look at our page on Alcohol and Diabetes so you don’t end up in a similar situation
And for that extra layer of protection in case something bad does happen, why not take a look at our selection of diabetes identification?
