Was out doing an errand. My brother was driving. He was really spaced out. Turns out it was low

[applegrove]

blood sugar. We made it home and he got some sugar. Glad I was there. But I worry about him. Anybody else have family friends who have diabetes? How often do they suffer such low blood sugar events? My brother has been diabetic since he was 32 so I have not spent much time with him as he manages it. I was really worried.

[Enrique]

1. can i ask how he diagnosed the low?

did he do a meter reading or did he just know?

[applegrove]

2. He was really confused in the car. Really. I suggested it was low blood sugar and he said maybe.

We went to his house and he got out his meter. It was 2.something.

[Enrique]

3. thanks

I have a couple of relatives with type 2 but I'm not familiar with their day-to-day coping details.

[applegrove]

4. He has type 1. I've once been with him when he said oh my blood sugar is low and he had some sugar

right away. This time he kept saying - I'm really tired or I'm in a mood. And I asked him a question 5 or 6 times and he could not think of an answer (it was having to do with work). I said "Is your blood sugar low". He said yes. Took him a while after he had some sugar to get back to normal.

[RobinA]

6. I Do Not Have

Diabetes, but am subject to low blood sugar. Yes, it's been tested. You can tell when you know what is happening. There are times when I have to have a snack before leaving work so I can drive home. Unfortunately, telling a Dr. isn't very helpful, because they just tell you to eat more small meals. Which is fine when you are home, but not particularly helpful when you are touring the Grand Canyon.

There are certainly worse conditions, but it can be a hassle.

[murielm99]

10. I have the same complaint.

Not diabetic, and I have been tested. I carry peppermint candies at all times.

Once, I became confused and dizzy in the grocery store. I grabbed a peppermint patty and ate it. I made sure the clerk knew what was going on, and I paid for it immediately. Another time, I became ill while shopping for clothes. The two clerks brought me a candy bar and some pop. They made my day. I wrote a nice letter for their store manager.

Those incidents cured me. I always carry something to bring up my sugar.

[handmade34]

5. it is cause to be worried...

I have been involved with a number of people with diabetes... including 2 times when the person I was with had a diabetic coma... serious diabetes takes constant monitoring and can cause many problems... a diabetic that is prone to low blood sugar should always carry juice, sugar pills or such with them and know when to drink/eat.

my late husband had troubles monitoring his blood sugar at times and I kept mace by the bed... he was a veteran and if he experienced low blood sugar he would become somewhat delusional and had flashes of being in combat...

an older woman friend lost her legs due to diabetes

unchecked diabetes is cause for concern

there is so much that a person can do though to work with it and even end it if diligent enough... exercise, stop eating processed foods and research a few supplements that can help... there is good medication out there is one cannot control it otherwise

[malthaussen]

7. The data are all over the place.

It's really a highly individualized problem. I've been hit by low blood sugar about 4 times in two years, and paradoxically they have all been while I'm eating, which should not happen. But my numbers are all near-normal, and tend not to fluctuate much. OTOH, I also follow a diet that most people would find difficult to endure (from preference, which makes it no struggle to keep it up). Other diabetics of my acquaintance have a much more volatile profile. In any event, it is always a good idea to keep something around in case one needs a quick carb fix.

The symptoms are distinctive, but the event slope can be very steep (ie, it can strike without warning). Since there is far less wriggle room at the bottom of the scale than at the top, low sugar needs to be addressed immediately. Even something as simple as a roll of Life Savers can be useful (provided one can keep from snacking on them betimes).

-- Mal

[applegrove]

8. Thanks.

[GOLGO 13]

9. Always keep some candy nearby

Not that sugar free stuff either. OJ is good to have on hand as well, it absorbs easily.