what do you do if someone is having a diabetic fit???

Question

because nearly all my family are diabetics and well i mite have it but the type 2 but i want to no i what shall i do if there on the floor fitting because i think i should now this but i watch people doing it but i cant actually take it in sooo..... yer

Answer 1

As a long time type 1 diabetic, I'm deeply disturbed by many of these answers.

Hypoglycaemia literally means "low sugar in the blood". The brain runs exclusively off glucose. It cannot use anything else for fuel. Therefore when the blood sugar level is low, the brain is starved of fuel. In its earliest stages this causes confusion, aggression, irritability, truculence and may of the other, sometimes seemingly comical, actions of hypoglycaeimc persons. As the level of fuel deprivation progresses the brai nsimply shuts down, causing unconciousness. If fuel is still not returned to the brain, its electrical activity can become highly disordered resulting in a tonic-clonic seizure, or fit. This involves rhythmic jerking of muscles. The person may bite their tongue and may be incontinent. Make no mistake that this is serious. After a very prolonged period without fuel, bra damage and even death can occur.

The seizures experienced by people with diabetes are identical to those experienced by people with epilepsy who have tonic-clonic seizures. The seizures in epilepsy are not specific to epilepsy. Epilepsy is defined simply as the tendency to have recurrent seizures of any type (and there are several)

As to what to do: the bottom line is that you must restore blood sugar levels. Do not panic about knowing what the starting level is. In a known diabetic always suspect low blood sugar. Even if their level is high, the sugar will do no damage in the short term. High blood glucose levels take a long time to cause serious problems. It is much better to be safe than sorry.

In stage one when the person is conscious, give them something sweet to drink. A drink is preferable as it is absorbed more quickly and a disorientated and uncooperative person may find it easier to drink than chew. Avoid chocolate as the high fat content slows down absorption. Glucose gel is also great. Be prepared for combative resistance, but persevere. However, when the person feels better - listen to them. They know their body and their condition and what they do or do not need to do next.

As son as someone is unconscious, DO NOT GIVE ANYTHING BY MOUTH. They may choke and die. If you can obtain a emergency kit of glucagon to inject, use this. If you are worried, call an ambulance. They will never mind being called to a unconscious diabetic. Always lie an unconscious person on their side and stay with them if at all possible.

If someone is actually fitting, give glucagon if possible. Move furniture etc away so they do not hurt themselves. Do not try to restrain a fitting person, or put anting between their teeth. Call a ambulance. When the fitting stops, lie the person on their side, and stay with them. Give glucagon at this point if it was not possible before.

If in doubt, always give sugar if conscious, glucagon if unconscious and call an ambulance. If you tick to that, no one will come to any harm.

Answer 2

Diabetic Fit

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

2

Answer 5

Firstly, diabetics can and do have fits! The brain needs 3 things to function and if starved of any one of these, it cannot work properly! One of these 3 things is glucose!! Each diabetic is different and each hypo can be different for the same diabetic, so those saying diabetics do not have fits are just lucky enough to have not had one or have known someone who has. I called the ambulance for my partner as he started fitting in his sleep, he was unresponsive but showing all the other signs of being low. The paramedic told us that it is electronic pulses being sent through the body due to the brain being starved of glucose! He has only fitted twice from a hypo and both times it has been during his sleep. Anyone still wanting to tell me that diabetics do not fit can come take a look at the bedroom wall from where his hand was jerking and he cut his knuckles.

Answer 6

It seems that some people are not as aware of diabetes as they think they are.

Diabetics can, and do, fit, but this is usually only when their blood sugar level is extremely low.

First of all, if you're referring to a 'fit' as a hypoglycaemic attack (low blood sugar), and the person is conscious, the correct thing to do is to give something sweet ... i.e., glucose drink, chocolate, sugar in water, etc.

When they are unconscious, do not attempt to give anything orally. This can be dangerous. If they do have a glucagen kit (an injection of glucagon, where you mix sterile water with a powder ... both of which are contained in the kit), you inject it into a muscle ... either the upper arm or thigh are the normal injection sites for this.

If the glucagon does not bring the person round, or the person is truly 'fitting', you must dial 999 and request an ambulance as this is a true emergency.

Please believe me, there is a vast difference between having a hypo (hypoglycaemic attack), even if consciousness is lost, and having a fit.

Addendum:

I agree that most diabetics do not 'fit' when they have severe hypoglycaemic reactions, but I beg to differ with modeller_db that "A diabetic does not get fits." I have been admitted to hospital on a number of occasions due to me 'fitting' during a severe hypoglycaemic episodes.

Answer 7

Hi, yeah it's a good idea for everyone to know what to do. The first thing is to call an ambulance - they will hopefully talk you through the rest but the main thing is a glucogen injection. This is NOT an insulin injection like they normally take!!! You should ask them all where they keep them (mbe in the fridge or in a handbag etc.) and to show you how to use it. It's an injection that makes your liver release glucose into your blood. If they are fitting stay away from their mouth (cos they might bite you by mistake!) and don't put anything in their mouth incase they choke. But if they have stopped fitting and are semi-awake it might be possible to give them something sweet to eat like honey or syrup (again so they don't choke on anything too runny or too solid - some sugar can be absorbed through the skin in your mouth so swallowing is not essential). Don't worry if you can't do anything other than sit with them untill the ambulance arrives - just move stuff out the way so they don't hurt themselves if they are fitting.

Thanks for your question - it'd be great if more people were interested - it could save a life - hope you don't ever have to xxx

Answer 8

Guess you've worked out that no two diabetics are the same?!

When I hypo I start off getting a bit confused, repeating myself, unable to complete sentences, then I get a sudden hot sweat - if I have failed to do anything about it after about 15 minutes - I may start "fitting" All that happens is that I lose control of my muscles and they start to do their own thing.
I guess I am lucky that after having type 1 diabetes for >40 years I still get plenty of warnings about hypos!
Best thing for me is a swig of lucozade (I have a bottle in the bedroom and one in the kitchen), this brings me back within 5 minutes - but it then has to be backed up with a longer acting carbohydrate such as wholemeal toast.
One answer on here was good - stay calm, don't appear threatening (I react as if anyone being assertive is threatening me & trying to kill me!) and just keep things normal.
MOST unlikely you should need to call medics - although if the hypos start to happen too often & for no reason - the diabetic may need to get help to get the condition back under control

BTW - has anyone ever had anyone say "Really? You don't LOOK like a diabetic!" ;-p

Answer 9

I think what you are referring to is a HYPO. It is when the blood sugar drops and is too low.

I have been type 1 diabetic for 22 years now, I don't always get warnings about hypos but people at work and at home know what to look out for, here's what they tell me lol

I start off waffling, mixing up words, which will get worse slowly, I get argumentative especially if someone says I think your hypo eat something ! I worked a way round this and keep a pack of choccy biccys in my drawer which they are to pull out with a coffee and eat them with me. If my hypo isn't caught soon enough my legs get week and I can't stand and have trouble focusing on things. I have had an actual fit during the night, but only the once.

Ask your friends or relatives what they like to take for hypos, I won't take fizzy drinks coke etc as I know not to drink them usually and get stubborn when hypo so flattly refuse them! I know Im hard work haha.

no hypo is the same, warning signs differ, speak to the people involved, it's their diabities they will be able to help you best.

Answer 10

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The word "fit " is no longer used. Your Mom had a diabetic seizure. You need to learn to use a glugagon kit for very low sugars and she needs to check her sugars much more than she is doing now. You can diet with diabetes but you need to change your insulin dose to match the food you will be eating. Help her to learn to count her carbohydrates. That is the gold standard in diabetes care now. Is she seeing an endocrinologist ?If not, make sure she gets to one soon. Diabetes is way too diverse for a GP to handle. Good luck