I have been diabetic for 45 years, I am on insulin pump. My last A1c was 5.9 I maintain good control ,however,I do have insulin reactions and my wife of 56 years is affected by this so much that she is becoming wary of situations she always calls the rescue squad. It doesn’t affect me as much or very little. I am more affected now. By the way she reacts. She tells me that with the pump I shouldn’t be having any insulin reactions. I have taken since I’ve been diabetic for 45 years a more blasé attitude, but I can’t make her change and she shouldn’t have to be so upset and her older years. What steps or advice can you provide with me that I could correct the situation?
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Type 1 Diabetes wife reaction to low blood sugar
- Thread starter Flash007
- Start Date
Mark Rawlinson
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 794
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Can she go with you to your next nurse appointment ?
having them explain it may help her fears
having them explain it may help her fears
- Messages
- 10,534
- Location
- New Zealand
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Pump
- Dislikes
- hypos and forum bugs
(Disclaimer: using US units for benefit of OP who is in the US)
Hi @Flash007
I was moved onto a pump two years ago because of hypos and it has helped enormously. Just how low are you going when your wife calls the emergency services? Are you still hypo aware?
Been T1 since 1970 and unfortunately have lost hypo awareness at various stages of my life (usually when I was keeping my bg low and had too many hypos) but got it back when I raised my bg a bit. Before the pump I was at risk of hospital calling hypos whenever my hba1c went much below 7%, and 6.5% was quite risky.
I have my pump alarm set to 4.4mmol/L (80 mg/dL) so while I still go under 4 (72) sometimes it very rarely goes below 70, and my records say that I'm at zero severe lows.
My husband is currently overseas but pre-pump wouldn't have been able to leave me "home alone" for a week, for fear of hypos. (His first experience of a really bad hypo was at night in 1991 when I was pregnant with our first child and he genuinely thought I might be dead. I think hypos are very scary for our partners.)
Hi @Flash007
I was moved onto a pump two years ago because of hypos and it has helped enormously. Just how low are you going when your wife calls the emergency services? Are you still hypo aware?
Been T1 since 1970 and unfortunately have lost hypo awareness at various stages of my life (usually when I was keeping my bg low and had too many hypos) but got it back when I raised my bg a bit. Before the pump I was at risk of hospital calling hypos whenever my hba1c went much below 7%, and 6.5% was quite risky.
I have my pump alarm set to 4.4mmol/L (80 mg/dL) so while I still go under 4 (72) sometimes it very rarely goes below 70, and my records say that I'm at zero severe lows.
My husband is currently overseas but pre-pump wouldn't have been able to leave me "home alone" for a week, for fear of hypos. (His first experience of a really bad hypo was at night in 1991 when I was pregnant with our first child and he genuinely thought I might be dead. I think hypos are very scary for our partners.)
Tony337
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,120
- Location
- Milnrow UK
- Type of diabetes
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- Not being on holiday....
Hi @Flash007
Type one of 51 years married for 25 so she has only known me as a diabetic......
Since i got the libre i have better control than ever with my last hba1c being 39 or 5.7.i'm MDI
The problem with that is i run low sometimes however i have never passed out or called for an ambulance.
Bless my wife she has no idea about insulin but she does the basics which are.....
1. If i ask for help she passes the jelly babies.
2. If the libre alarm goes off in the night she makes sure i have heard it.
3. We have demonstrated the glycogen kit with out of date ones as obviously i have never needed one.
4. She is a good driver but prefers me to drive when together and she has my mobile on her lap every time.
She is my lover not my mother...........is her philosophy
I am not saying this is what your wife should do i am saying this works for us.
I wish you well
Tony
The glycogen kit is an interesting one as it tells the user to inject the fluid into the vial with glycogen and shake the vial with needle still inside the vial.
I tell her to remove the needle shake it well then put the needle back in the vial and draw the solution into the syringe.
I wish you well
Tony
Type one of 51 years married for 25 so she has only known me as a diabetic......
Since i got the libre i have better control than ever with my last hba1c being 39 or 5.7.i'm MDI
The problem with that is i run low sometimes however i have never passed out or called for an ambulance.
Bless my wife she has no idea about insulin but she does the basics which are.....
1. If i ask for help she passes the jelly babies.
2. If the libre alarm goes off in the night she makes sure i have heard it.
3. We have demonstrated the glycogen kit with out of date ones as obviously i have never needed one.
4. She is a good driver but prefers me to drive when together and she has my mobile on her lap every time.
She is my lover not my mother...........is her philosophy
I am not saying this is what your wife should do i am saying this works for us.
I wish you well
Tony
The glycogen kit is an interesting one as it tells the user to inject the fluid into the vial with glycogen and shake the vial with needle still inside the vial.
I tell her to remove the needle shake it well then put the needle back in the vial and draw the solution into the syringe.
I wish you well
Tony
