• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Dangers of hypoglycemia

Makes me wonder if it isn't worth getting one of those medi ID tag things, didn't particularly want to show the world I'm diabetic, but it's frightening to think that paramedics could make an assumption of being drunk :(
 
It's good to see someone incompetent being struck off and quite rightly so. In every profession you get a minority who give the rest a bad reputation. I have confidence that there are many brilliant paramedics working out there doing their job properly every day. Both my father and father-in-law have had the need to call an emergency ambulance in the past year (not diabetes related) and on both occasions they were helped in a professional and respectul manner.
 
but it's frightening to think that paramedics could make an assumption of being drunk
Click to expand...
as I posted in another thread this morning my card (in French) says
I am a diabetic
If I'm behaving in a unsual way, if I appear to be drunk or if I am unconcious this may be an insulin reaction.I'm not drunk. Call a doctor or the emergency services. If I am capabale of swallowing. please give me something sugary (sweet fizzy drink, sugar, orarnge juice, sweets)

The problem is would you think to show the card if you were too hypo to think straight?
 
It's wise, especially if using hypo causing medication, to carry something which will help the emergency services to help you.Of course a paramedic shouldn't make that kind of mistake, but they probably see many more drunks than hypoing diabetics.
i have a bracelet. I don't use hypo inducing medication, so I'm not really at a very great risk. BUT it might be needeed. In addition, I'm usually with people who know and I carry glucotabs.
Hana
 
Wow
Thats one scary paramedic!
A check of someones bag will surely quickly identify they are diabetic (I have insulin and BG monitor with me most of the time)

I dont carry medicalert stuff but I have a card too, in my purse but surely it wouldnt take much to find out its a diabetic problem! In saying that, being drunk (major prob in serious hypos) might sway it a bit in terms of just guessing
 
Hi,

I would just like to say that I am really suprised a paramedic made such an error as to not check a patients blood sugar. This procedure is routine on people including those that have a lowered level of consiousness, confused or appearing ethanolic unless the patient refuses or the paramedic feels it would be dangerous to carry out.
As a paramedic and also a type 1 diabetic, I understand the worry of having a hypo, all 999 calls are taken seriously and a blood sugar reading is taken on most patients unless there is a very good reason not to.

Hope this helps.

:)
 
Hi all,

Since being diagnosed T2 about a month ago, I wear a medi tag bracelet. I work on consruction sites and my dad said he would not rest until i got one.

Its stainless steel and quite stylish. It has the medic logo on top and is engraved underneath with my details and doctors contact.

My work colleagues change daily as i travel from site to site usually on my own so people around me don't know about my condition.

It gives my family peace of mind and i would hope that if i was unfortunate enough to have an accident or go hypo that someone would see the bracelet and look after me.

It sounds like the medic in this case deserved being struck off. Terribly unproffessional.

Carl
 
Back
Top