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Information for friends?

Namitee

Newbie
Messages
3
Location
Suffolk
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi,

I've been diabetic for around 4 years now and the majority of my friends and family know I have it, but I am not too sure they fully understand it... and most importantly how to know when I am having a hypo and how to treat it.

I have had a few hypos over the years around friends, nothing ultra serious but I would loose focus, find it hard to think straight, get tired and clumsy, not talk properly and through no fault of their own they failed to pick up on it. Luckily I was able to manage it myself and get some sugar in my system before it got more serious.

I am just curious if anybody has any good information that I could send to them that can teach them what signs to pick up from seeing a hypo, and how to treat it. I do worry that they wont understand when I am having a hypo, as I have had conversations with them in the past whilst having a hypo and just talking nonsense, repeating myself and they didn't really notice anything wrong.

If anyone has any good links or simple information I could send them, just for a quick read so they know exactly what to look for and what diabetes entails then I would appreciate it!

Thanks!
 
Hi @Namitee !

This may help? https://www.diabetes.co.uk/Diabetes-and-the-family.html

I thing the first thing for you to do would be to recognise your own hypo/hyper signs. List these down so you know what to tell people to look for for example, my hypo signs are hot flushes, dizziness and clumsiness/trembling. My high signs are unquenchable thirst, but frequently needing the toilet! Tell them what happens to your body when it doesn't get enough sugar, and when it gets too much. This might take a bit or research.

Let them all know what to do if you ever need help - do you have a medical bracelet or anything? For example, if you are found on the floor unconscious somewhere, by friend or not, how are they supposed to act? Putting you in the recovery position right away ain't gonna cut it, but that tends to be people's first reaction. Telling you this from experience it needs to say to ring 999 and do as the operator says, identify yourself as a Type 1 diabetic. If you have any Glucogel (which i would recommend carrying with you at all times) direct them to that but to only apply at the operators instruction. For example:

(NAME)
Type 1 Diabetic
Glucogel in bag/pocket
If found unconscious, call 999 and tell operator i'm a T1D, then follow instructions
Emergency contact:​

I was in a similar position with my partner, he knew about it and helped when i went low but until i had a really bad hypo in the middle of the night, he didn't realise how serious it could be. He's a bit more clued up now

Hope this helps!
 
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