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Have you ever asked a stranger in public for help with hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia (for example, asking someone for a snack, to stay with you, or help in some other way)?
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SkinTac on the adhesive part of the patch and as long as it’s not on a jiggly body part, it stays just fine!
No.
Twice in my 48 yrs with T1d. Once, many years ago, I was out walking, obviously ill prepared for a low. I had no money on me. Stopped in a small restaurant, explained my need and asked for a sugary drink. The young guy didn’t seem too happy about it but brought out a small plastic cup of some kind of soda. It didn’t seem like much but it was enough to get me home.
Another time, out walking with my husband, again ill-prepared, I was feeling low. I thought I could make it home, but my husband flagged down a police car passing by and asked the officer to drive us home. He wasn’t happy about it either but did oblige.
Since then I’ve been more careful to always have extra snacks/glucose tabs with me.
Once at Powell’s City of Books – a huge and wonderufl bookstore. Anyway, although I always make sure I have some fast-acting sugar source with me, the store is huge and I wandered around too long. I say down in one of the seating areas, and grabbed on of those liquid glucose drink things. I coudln’t get the damn thing open! The “security” wrap at the top was defeating me. I turned to a woman I was seated next to and asked for help. She opened it, and sat by me until I assured her I was fine. Now, I peel off the security wrap before putting it in my bag.
I do the same thing with the glucose shots and Baqsimi tubes … remove the outer wrapper ahead of time because the last thing I need to be doing is fumbling around with a “secure” security wrapper when my BG is tanking and I can’t think straight!
No. I am a diabetes nerd when it comes to carrying extra stuff like snacks, glucose gel, back up insulin and extra pump supplies with me all the time. I have a carryall that I carry with me whenver I leave the house.
Yes. In the beginning I asked someone for hard candy.
No, but a couple of times people I didn’t know have come to my assistance when I was in need – both memorable times while traveling and I was fumbling about trying to open my emergency packet.
I didn’t ask but some kind stranger saw me in the Atlanta airport taking many glucose tablets and only getting worse when she asked if she could assist me. I mutter, “Coke,” and she ran to the nearest place, got a coke at no charge to bring back to me. As I was getting better she told me her husband was diabetic so she was somewhat familiar with what had happened. She offered to miss her flight to stay with me. I never even got her name!
I had something similar happen to me at work years ago. But, the Coke he gave me was Diet Coke. (funny).
Yes. Just a few weeks ago, I was working in my yard, feeling like I had to go in and get a snack. My neighbor asked me to go over to his house to help him with something. I told him I needed some juice. He didn’t understand that I needed it IMMEDIATELY. We were talking and I collapsed, I kept saying that I needed juice. He helped me up and escorted me home, where I immediately drank juice.
I’ve had several experiences over the years where I helped other diabetics who were having reactions from low blood glucose. But, that’s another question to be asked.
About 20 years ago, I was in the Atlanta airport and I was completely lost and I couldn’t understanding where I needed to go to catch my flight. I said to the man standing next to me, “I think I must be having a low blood sugar attack,” and he sprang into action without me asking and bought me a coke. Ever so grateful, I asked for his business card and sent him a gift. I felt blessed I was standing next to such a good Samaritan.
Just once, back in the old R/NPH days. Got hit with one of those out-of-the-blue hypos, a bad one, while driving home from a gig and didn’t have any emergency carbs with me. Yeah, it happens. Also no money on me. Tried to get some help from a clerk in a convenience store but he didn’t understand me. I eventually just drove home VERY carefully (wasn’t too far) and took care of it there.
Although I said no, the most memorable and frightening crash was in Uraguay about ten years ago. After a long trip from Rio, my husband and I took a nap at our new hotel. I woke up drenched, ran a blood sugar that was 53. There was a lovely restaurant downstairs, so I wasn’t worried until we got downstairs.
Closed on Sundays, which it was.
Panicky I asked the desk where the nearest food was. We were told “just up the hill.”
Turns out Avery steep hill. Arriving drenched, winded, and barely able to see from the flashes of light, an odd blow back from retinol repair. When my blood sugar is critical, all I can see is a giant patch of light.
On the counter, there was a glass pitcher of orange juice, illuminated by the weird light.
I didn’t ask. No Spanish! With shaking hands I poured a large glass and drank it. The entire restaurant watched. I figured we’d straighten out the amenities later. That beat the hell out passing out.
While they were puzzled, we’re not going back any time soon.
I have had strangers help rescue me in catatonic low situations in public more than once. And I have asked for candy or juice from people out in public too, sometimes they offer it free sometimes it’s something I must pay for at the establishment.
More than once in the past 68 years I’ve needed help because of a sudden low. Several times assistance came from people who didn’t know me well, but were not complete strangers. As a college student on a field trip I was rescued by the Professor when I mumbled to a classmate that I needed sugar to be able to get off of the bus. He handed me a peppermint hard candy to suck on, as we both learned that the other lived with T1. He stayed with me while everyone else got off of the bus. Then kept a watchful eye on me during our time visiting an artist’s studio. As the field trip extended much later than I had expected, I also ended up using his extra syringe and NPH insulin before getting a dinner sandwich. I also got assistance while taking my Graduate Records Exam from the proctor who “broke the rules” and brought me a cup of Coke from the vending machine outside of the exam room. We didn’t know each other, but she had a cousin who lived with T1 and fortunately knew what I needed. I wasn’t allowed any extra time on the exam.
You were blessed and lucky in all those incidents.
No, but I should have.
I crashed in the grocery store parking lot and a lady and her husband assisted me, got me home , and took my husband to my car. I had just moved to KCMO.
I answered no, but now I remember I did twice, many years ago.
I don’t remember ever asking a stranger for help. But when a bg dropped so slowly I was not aware, strangers must have called 911. Next thing, I knew I was upright, and I proceeded on my way, aware that something must have happened in the last few minutes but unable to remember exactly what. This happened about 3 times in over 6 decades. The other times I knew who had helped me recover. No blackouts of any sort have occurred since I started wearing a CGM. I only tried a soft drink once to raise my bg and it didn’t work, but some candy did, so I’ve never tried soft drinks since then to raise a falling bg.
There have been at least 2-3 times since our daughter was diagnosed with T1D 8 years ago when I’ve been close to yelling out in a public place if anyone has any candy or juice for a potential urgent low. Managed to stay ok both times but I hated how scared I was to ask…
I’ve required and have benefited from the kindness of strangers for severe lows on multiple occasions. However, it’s typically my husband doing the asking. I’m not usually with it enough to ask. Thank you for the carb donations, strangers!
My eye doctor appointment this month
Once I acknowledged every insulin dependent diabetic (and on specific meds) has a risk of the severities of hypoglycemia it’s also more freeing. Yeah now I always carry something with me all the time, have my favorite (inexpensive lemonade?) next to me as needed. But before that point a dentist staff got candy, pharmacist brought glucose tablets. Living alone is fun though.
I normally have glucose-tabs on me. If I am ever in a situation where I do not have anything on me, there are stores everywhere. If I am confused and acting erratic, someone will offer to help me, and it is rare I have had a situation where someone does not call 911 or have a diabetic in their family. I do not like to depend on other people but there are good people out there.
I have not asked a stranger for help, but I have been approached and offered help by strangers when experiencing a low blood sugar.
Not really strangers, but acquaintances at the office and/or the assisted living facility where my loved one lives. This has only happened a couple of times in 56 years with this disease. As a child and young adult, I wasn’t always good about having something with me all the time. Now, that I’m more “seasoned” in my older years, I have a food bag all the time.
Never voluntarily, no. Had many provide help, but never by my request