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Hypo Whilst Out Walking

timewind

timewind

Active Member
Messages
27
Location
Macclesfield, Cheshire
Good Morning all

I want to tell you a tale of woe. And how easy it can be to become complacent.

Yesterday afternoon. I took my dog "Ellie" for a walk. We left our car parked in a layby and went on our way. But. Halfway around my walk, I realized I didn't have my bottle of Lucozade with me. I shrugged it off, thinking I would be okay.

On entering a field, prior to exiting and returning to the car. I felt the signs of a HYPO coming on. And my goodness did it come on quickly. I couldn't stand or speak. I was in a very bad way.

I don't know how long I had been lying in the grass before a Dog walker found me. That was 18:15 Hrs. So I must have been there for some considerable time.

whether or not I passed out. I can't be certain. Anyway, the kind gentleman who found me quickly dialed 999 and I was able to give him my ID tag that told him. I was a T1 Insulin dependant DB.

When the Ambulance crew arrived. My BS was 1.5mml and my body temperature was only 35c

I was quickly brought round and when I could walk. I and my dog were taken to the ambulance for further assessment. and some much-needed warmth.

They took us both home.

Had it not been for the dog walker. I hate to think what would have happened. And this morning, I am going in search of him to thank him and give him a bottle of wine.

The moral to this story.

All ways carry Glucose with you. And also. Your mobile phone.

I am grateful to North-West ambulance service. And Ellie who stayed with me all through my ordeal. And. My good Samaritan whoever he was.
 
Yes you were a silly boy...lol...keep a packet of glucoze tabs in your pocket at all times...now that will go down as you needing assistance when having a hypo....just thinking of your driving licence. ...be careful u dont do it again...take care
 
WOW. Good story and VERY good advice there. I do hope you find the dog walker who found you. Are you going to do the Lottery this weekend?? If not couild you give me 6 numbers between 1 and 59 please :)
 
Thank you for the reminder @timewind
Always useful to remember how quickly things can go pearshaped!

We have a dog walking bag with a water bottle (for dogs), poo bags, etc. Then I slip my phone and car keys into it each time.
For a long time I used to carry an emergency snack bar too, but I have lapsed on that.

As I said, a timely reminder! :)
 
Hi @timewind Glad you're ok, that must of been a pretty scary experience for you.

I have to admit I always carry glucotabs in my pocket/bag where ever I go and more so when out walking/exercising as this is where my hypos tend to happen, glucotabs are great as they are in a plastic container so don't get wet if raining/sweating, Dextro tablets tend to disintegrate in the packet so can be useless when out and about. Only once I forgot my glucose when out walking but had my daughter's backpack with a banana in it and this worked just as well until I got to the pub when a much needed glass of wine and pork scratchings were ordered !
 
Being somewhere going hypo and having no remedial sugar or having used it up, dropped etc is my worse nightmare.
And as the Americans say 'Hindsight is 20/20 vision."
I must say I always check my blood sugar level before departure for exercise and top up with a little food if it is less than 6 mmol/l PLUS drop my insulin (the one(s) that will be acting for the next 12 hours after exercise. If it is 14 mmol/l or greater I delay exercise and give a correction dose, and if there is time, wait for my BSL to get done to less than 12 but > 6 mmol/l before some short, curtailed ( the exercise not the dog !) exercise. I check BSL before driving home ( and ensure it is 5 mmol/l or >) before heading off. Low doby temperature is a sign of hypo I believe, Not a cheery thought in cold weather !!
I go through a check and always carry a backpack. Glucose tabs, muesli bars, some water, spare pump supplies, insulin and pump battery or charger, money etc.
It becomes a habit, but despite the best-made plans of women, men and mice, things can still go wrong.
Maybe the dog needs to have a glucose container on his/her collar as a back -up ?
 
This is my biggest fear really, that a hypo could come on so quickly that it sounds like you would barely have had time to drink your lucozade. Would you mind telling us the details just prior to that afternoon, ie your last reading, lunch etc? sorry for being nosy but sometimes it seems that even when you have done everything 'right' and the same routine every day, it can still get ya!
 
So glad you are ok, and that you can find the kind dog walker who came to your aid. Only had a really bad unexpected hypo once, and it was horrible, luckily for me my dogs dragged (literally) home, so I always test before walking my dogs now.

Take care
 
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