My wife was recently diagnosed with diabetes. I need to know first aid for hypoglycimic attack.?

Question

If my wife's blood sugar spikes extremely high or falls extremely low, I understand that this is an extremely serious condition requiring immediate action. What are the symptoms of very high / very low blood sugar? How will I know if she is in danger? And what do I do?

Answer 1

You should have a Glucagon Emergency Kit it for use in very low blood gluclose situations when she cannot drink or eat. If she is below 40-30 depending on the person don't let her eat any hard candies often they have a hard time knowing what they are doing and can choke. Another thing to know is if she eats a jellybean or two (something that is easy to carry) it will raise her when she is going low and she should also crush one and put it under her tounge as it disolves it enters her blood much faster than throught the stomach. Also in an emergency you can put honey under her tongue if she is unable to swallow.

Some of the early warning signs of low blood glucose are feeling weak, dizzy, shaky or sweaty also irritable (she may snap at you out of the blue) rapid heartbeat, pale, clammy skin and confusion. If she is extremely low she may get confused and not know what is wrong or can't verbalize it. You will have to step in, in that case and help her drink some OJ or other sugary drink.

If she eats her meals on time and is careful with her meds she may never experience any of these problems. Only one time in my husbands 11 years with diabetes has he had a low so bad he had to go to the hospital and I will tell you those 15 mins waiting on the amubulance in the mall parking lot were the worse and longest 15 mins of my life. I wish I knew then what I know now because I would have had an emergency kit on me, instead I was slowly dripping Dr.Pepper onto the inside of his cheek and rubbing it in - it probably saved him from a coma.

Answer 2

Unfortunately the symptoms for low and high blood sugar are almost the same, including shakiness, sweating, light headed, thirsty, disorientation etc. The best thing for you to do is get a blood sugar monitor to let you know whether she is high or low when she's feeling bad. If she happened to be pretty low the first thing you have to do is give her a quick acting sugar, like orange juice, honey or glucose tablets, they sell these in any pharmacy, this will bring her sugar once the sugar starts to climb have her eat a small meal, something substantial to stabilize her blood sugar levels. Keep a close eye on her and periodically check her sugars until she seems to have some back t normal. If her blood sugar is high she may just have to wait it out, though some physical activity will help p bring it down. Also if she is high have her drink lots of water, because frequent high blood sugar can cause dehydration. As with low blood sugar keep monitoring her sugars until she in back in the normal, which for most people is between 80 and 120. However if you notice her sugars are extremely high she may nee to go to the ER.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I am a diabetic on insulin. She should have meter and be checking her blood glucose levels. Short of that, you should be asking her when did she checked last. Yes, it's annoying but something you should be doing to help her situation. In cases of low glucose, there are sugar "pills" at the drug store for diabetics that desolve quicky and raise the blood sugar level about 20 points. Short of that, there's orange juice, crackers, candy, etc. The problem with these is that they will raise the blood sugar level high is too much is taken at one time - orange juice is about 1/2 cup, about 4/5 crackers, 1 or 2 pieces of candy. It's all a small amount to raise the blood glucose up but not thru the roof. You should check out the above reference sites and books at library on diabetes and speak to your doctor/endocrinologist for more information. Once again, if she is unconscience, call 9-1-1 immediately. Otherwise, watch for the signs as mentioned already.

Answer 5

My endocrinologist gave me a prescription for an injectable form of glucose in case I'm passed out. Some one around me has to be trained a bit in how to give an injection similar to an insulin injection. In 38 years I haven't had anyone give it to me! Type 1 diabetic. Otherwise now they don't recommend hard candy but liquids with lots of sugar. High blood sugars are better than really low blood sugars for a short time so don't worry about how much sugar is given. Good luck with the low blood sugars and watch them all the time. I check mine 4 or 5 times a day. You have a PC, you can get a program for your meter that you can download the information and keep a close eye on how blood sugars are doing with time, meals, stress, medications or just about any other variables you can throw in.

Answer 6

You really need to get a monitor to check how low she is and also get glucose tabs from the local pharmacy and keep on hand they work the best and the fastest than can take a low blood sugar level up within a minute to stable blood sugar level so if you need to call the 911 you atleast gave her the best chance and they can dissolve right in her mouth if she is not able to respond or is not able to chew or drink and that is the safest to do in a low blood sugar situation

Answer 7

Keep some type of candy at hand in case it drops. You can always use the cake icing in the squirt can because that will melt in her mouth and will get in the blood stream faster. Be sure and get a glucose checker and check the Bld. sugar.

For it being to high she will have to watch her sweet intake and take her meds.

Answer 8

She should be monitoring her glucose levels. You can test it, if it is her glucose is too low, and she is conscious, give her some orange juice or a piece of hard candy.

If she appears to be mentally altered, and you are scared, do not hesitate to call 911. Do not hesitate. If you know her glucose level, tell them.

They are trained for this. They will help.

Answer 9

i don't know many, but i have a friend with diabetes and she always carries around a pack of candies just incase. Whenever the person is feeling weak after normal activity, or if they feel like fainting, that's always a warning sign

Answer 10

You should get a blood tester for that but I know that orange juice and such can help with those attacks I would go ask my doctor or you can always research it online as well.