Gastric inpatient - Not given insulin for 24 hours resulting in DKA

[noblehead]

This may be a daft question from an unmedicated Type 2, but if you are conscious and capable, why can't you manage your own insulin and glucose requirements in hospital? Is this not allowed?

You can (page 4 covers insulin users) as the following guidelines explain:

The guiding principle of this document is that people with diabetes manage their condition on a day-to-day basis when out of hospital, and should continue to self-manage during a hospital admission unless there is a specific reason why they cannot. The choice to continue to self-manage during admission, if well enough to do so, should be that of the patient. This document details how this decision can be integrated with the rest of hospital care to provide safe and effective management of diabetes in hospital. If ward staff are uncomfortable with the patient’s decision to self-manage, expert advice should be sought from the hospital diabetes team.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/Reports/67190-Self-management-in-hospital0312.pdf

The last few times I've been an in-patient I've administered my own insulin and carried out my own bg testing, all the nurses asked was for was to keep a note of the insulin doses, bg results and carb content so they could write them down in their notes.

Good luck @Tallgardener

 

[Tallgardener]

Crickey. How much do you think you can sue for? Apparently, you think it's enough to bankrupt a hospital. Compensation in clinical negligence claims in England and Wales is just that, compensation for losses suffered. So whatever losses claimed for are going to have to be proven by the claimant, claimant's don't get a blank cheque.

Who do you think pays the compensation? You seem to think it comes directly out of the pockets of the hospital if you think "suing them may result in the closure of the hospital". Have you heard of insurance? Luckily hospitals have.

Thanks for the back up! I doubt whether this case will bankrupt one of the biggest hospitals in the south west. When you're feeling rotten in a hospital bed and a nurse suddenly realises your blood glucose is 29, you feel like they're playing Russian roulette with your life. A piece of paper with 'sorry' on it doesn't cut the mustard.

 

[Tallgardener]

You can (page 4 covers insulin users) as the following guidelines explain:

The guiding principle of this document is that people with diabetes manage their condition on a day-to-day basis when out of hospital, and should continue to self-manage during a hospital admission unless there is a specific reason why they cannot. The choice to continue to self-manage during admission, if well enough to do so, should be that of the patient. This document details how this decision can be integrated with the rest of hospital care to provide safe and effective management of diabetes in hospital. If ward staff are uncomfortable with the patient’s decision to self-manage, expert advice should be sought from the hospital diabetes team.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/Reports/67190-Self-management-in-hospital0312.pdf

The last few times I've been an in-patient I've administered my own insulin and carried out my own bg testing, all the nurses asked was for was to keep a note of the insulin doses, bg results and carb content so they could write them down in their notes.

Good luck @Tallgardener

In the hospital I was in they kept all medications in a locked drawer by the bed. At medication time the nurse reads your drugs chart and administers them. For 24 hours they neglected to allow me to inject myself.

 

[Dodo]

This may be a daft question from an unmedicated Type 2, but if you are conscious and capable, why can't you manage your own insulin and glucose requirements in hospital? Is this not allowed?

My medication had been taken off me when I went to theatre for safekeeping. I was on a sliding scale when in CCU for 2 days but once back on the ward they wouldn't let me self medicate. I have done so in the past in my local hospital but the larger university hospitals seem to know best.

 

[col101]

This may be a daft question from an unmedicated Type 2, but if you are conscious and capable, why can't you manage your own insulin and glucose requirements in hospital? Is this not allowed?

When I was an impatient staff insisted insulin was kept in a locked cabinet that only they had a key to and would only let me access it at set medication round times and under their supervision.

 

[Robinredbreast]

Thanks for the back up! I doubt whether this case will bankrupt one of the biggest hospitals in the south west. When you're feeling rotten in a hospital bed and a nurse suddenly realises your blood glucose is 29, you feel like they're playing Russian roulette with your life. A piece of paper with 'sorry' on it doesn't cut the mustard.

It is so shocking, with type 1, our lives could well and truly be in their hands, frightening

 

[asparagusp]

I suppose they really have to be careful about the unsafe usage of the drugs. However surely by asking for your insulin yourself, they wouldn't deny you it.

 

[asparagusp]

It is so shocking, with type 1, our lives could well and truly be in their hands, frightening

As I said prior my grandmother was given an insulin overdose and died from it in hospital.

 

[Jaylee]

When I was an impatient staff insisted insulin was kept in a locked cabinet that only they had a key to and would only let me access it at set medication round times and under their supervision.

Yes, that don't surprise me.. When my father was in hospital there was a bloke (newly admitted.) in the bed next to him.
The guy had a box full of familiar diabetic paraphernalia. In fact he was sorting through it all for his stay. Just then two nurses appeared & took the guy's insulin pens away!

Providing one is capable of carb counting, dosing & blood tests. I can't understand why you can't carry on with the managment as normal? providing it's all recorded in the notes to liaise with the consultants...?

Just out of curiosity @noblehead regarding your hospital stay. Were you on a pump at the time..?

 

[Jaylee]

It is so shocking, with type 1, our lives could well and truly be in their hands, frightening

My T2 dad's bloods were in their teens during his stay.. I was told by the nurse that they were "good". After an enquiry & noticing he'd actually only had one BS test done all day. (Maybe they didn't wanna get him worried or obsessive over testing .? )

I also mentioned to the nurse she was also talking to another diabetic..

 

[noblehead]

Just out of curiosity @noblehead regarding your hospital stay. Were you on a pump at the time..?

It's around 5 years since I was last in hospital @Jaylee, only started on a pump in 2015 so the answer is no.

 

[Jaylee]

It's around 5 years since I was last in hospital @Jaylee, only started on a pump in 2015 so the answer is no.

OK. The reason why I asked was if you had been pumping at this time? They may have seen the "tech" as a "no go area" due to complete lack of training on their behalf...

 

[noblehead]

OK. The reason why I asked was if you had been pumping at this time? They may have seen the "tech" as a "no go area" due to complete lack of training on their behalf...

Right, I see what you mean