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Permalink Reply by Denise on June 8, 2008 at 2:06am

No advise, just been in that boat--I don't feel mine coming on...others tell me when I start slurring words like I am drunk..Hoping for CGMS soon to help.

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Permalink Reply by saundra barragan on June 8, 2008 at 2:19pm

Hi Lauren,
When you are low in public I think you would be surprised at how many diabetics are around you at any given time and are willing to help. because they recognize what is going on. I run into trouble mostly around family and friends. Weird huh?
Anyway, take along a little "insurance" wherever you go. I always keep some nuts on hand to snack on or cheese sticks (my favorite) or anything that will get you through until the next meal. If repeated lows are a problem, think about cutting back on your rapid acting insulin just by 1 unit or so until you get things worked out better. Each meal time watch the amount of carbs and concentrate on getting a protein in you of some sort. They will carry you longer. If those don't work, figure out what it is that is the fastest acting to bring you out of your lows and keep some of that with you at all times. It is different for each of us. Practice and trial and error are the things that teach us the best. Good luck. Sometimes people around us at work are really "uninformed". I wish you well helping them to learn.

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Permalink Reply by Ela on June 8, 2008 at 2:51pm

I've had a CGMS for the past three months and it is wonderful. Although, on weekends, I turn it off so that I can sleep :)

Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by DiabeticizME on June 8, 2008 at 2:54pm

Lauren-

I have had a few lows in public. I had one experience when I was out shopping with my 2 yr-old. I popped 3 glucose tabs in my mouth and 15 minutes later I was fine. Do you have a medical id bracelet?? if you don't you should prob look into getting one just in case you pass out in public.

Cherise

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Permalink Reply by Sagwabetes on June 8, 2008 at 3:26pm

If glucose tabs aren't fast enough for you, they have little "liquid shots" of glucose now (almost like the little nipper bottles of liquor) you can get these at walmart or walgreens and they cost about 2-3 dollars each. also glucose gels are good. gatorade and powerade also contain glucose/sucrose syrup instead of plain sugar... and work really quickly.

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Permalink Reply by saundra barragan on June 8, 2008 at 9:34pm

My daughter just told me tonight about those little "liquid shots". She said she saw them at Walmart. I am going to look for them and pick up a couple to keep on hand for both of us. They sound like they would be faster acting for me than the glucose tabs. Thanks for the info.

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Permalink Reply by Betty J on June 8, 2008 at 9:43pm

Hi Lauren! I don't know if Canada has Diabetes educators but I think they have an equivalent. I've lived with T1 a lifetime and experienced serious lows in the 1990s. I told my specialist and he referred me to an educator who helped me gain tighter control of my Diabetes which helped with my lows. Mention to your healthcare team the problem you are having and they should be able to help you.

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey on June 8, 2008 at 10:37pm

I think that's one of the things you just have to work through. I know I hate getting low in public for fear of passing out or potentially having to ask for help, but in order to have the better control it's something you deal with. Just carry glucose tabs or hard candy and you just look like any other person eating a mint/snack.

I have had several pretty bad lows where I've fainted or at least hit the floor because I was so weak. Luckily, I always had someone there to help. But now that I'm out on my own, it's definitely a constant reminder to have things with me just in case.

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Permalink Reply by rainbowgoddess on June 8, 2008 at 10:43pm

Having been T1 for 35 years, I have had lows everywhere you can think of. I just deal with them. After all this time, I really don't care about what I look like in public, just like I don't care about testing my blood sugar or doing shots in public. I just deal with it. Either I grab the glucose tablets from my bag, or I buy some fast-acting sugar at the store (this is the one time I allow myself to have regular, non-diet Coke.)

At school and work, I will test fairly frequently, and will eat or drink something if my blood sugar gets below 5 mmol/l in order to prevent a low.

And really, it's quite likely that there will be people around who are willing to help. Believe it or not, the kindness of strangers really does exist.

The only other thing I can suggest, if you are really worried, is look into getting a service dog. These are becoming more common, from what I've heard on the news, especially among people with hypo unawareness. You can get a dog that can tell when your blood sugar is low, even before you can, and the dog will alert you in time for you to treat yourself before you get to the "passing out" level.

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Permalink Reply by Lauren on June 8, 2008 at 11:39pm

Thanks for all the advice everyone.....i was actually hypoglycemic before becoming diabetic..so i guess lows in public aren't completely new to me...its just that now im more shaky/sweaty...n i guess i'd be embarrassed to have a major low in public....but i guess it comes with the territory....oh..i have another question for u all regarding lows...how many of u wake up from a low during the night..i dunno if i'm the type to wake up from a low or slip into a coma...my dad is also a type 1 who luckily wakes up at least most of the time...howz a bout u?

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Permalink Reply by Betty J on June 9, 2008 at 9:22pm

I'm one who wakes up if I'm low and also if I go high.

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Permalink Reply by Steve RRR on June 8, 2008 at 11:41pm

I hate having a low in public too. I always carry a blood sugar meter (and use it often). I always have a tube of 10 glucose tabs in my shirt pocket. I always wear a medical ID on my left wrist (except when I'm told to remove for airport security). I use a CGMS now too. I do not want to be a type 1 who dies from a low, as does happen sometimes.

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