Guest guest Posted December 25, 2001 Report Share Posted December 25, 2001 I am writing because of a recent scare that my family experienced. My dad who is diabetic is also taking chemo because of prostate cancer. He is not eating as he should because he says nothing taste right and it makes him sick. Two nights ago my mother called me and was in a panic because she couldn't get my dad to wake up. When I arrived he was broken out in a cold sweat and would only respond with groans when I would try to wake him. The ambulance finally arrived after what seemed like forever and they checked his blood sugar and it was down to 47. When he came to himself he didn't know his name or what had happened. His heartbeat was also slow and his blood pressure was high. After an overnight stay in the hospital he got to come home but we are still having a problem keeping his surgars high enough. After eating a candy bar and drinking a coke it would only go up to 95 and start droping again. If anyone has any suggestions as to how we can better keep his sugars at a constant safe level it would be greatly appreciated. He had been on a pill to help control his diabeties but the doctor took him off of it for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 25, 2001 Report Share Posted December 25, 2001 flower30701 wrote: > If anyone has any suggestions as to how we can better keep his sugars > at a constant safe level it would be greatly > appreciated. He had been on a pill to help control his diabeties but > the doctor took him off of it for now. > Hi, Do you know which medication he is taking for his diabetes? Some oral medications can cause a low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) because they cause the pancreas to produce more insulin. If a meal, or a series of meals are reduced in quantity or carb content, the extra insulin circulating in his blood can cause him to go low. Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2001 Report Share Posted December 26, 2001 It sounds to me like some drug he is taking is working to lower his blood sugar - either by itself or in combination with another drug or just the way it works in his body. You might consult your primary physician, or do some research yourself at www.rxlist.com on all his medications, including the chemo drugs he is taking. Other substances that can reduce blood sugar are ginseng, alpha lipoic acid, chromium and magnesium. Other than that, if the low blood sugar problem persists, I'd try to get him to eat a little something every 1-2 hours that contains protein....not sugary substances. He may feel more like eating a little chicken soup, for instance, more frequently, than more of a big meal at a time. You could also do a search on the internet using keywords like " chemotherapy and diabetes " . Other diabetics have probably had this problem, it's just a question of tracking down the information. Glucose tablets (faster acting than food, and in measure quantities) are available in the diabetes supply section of super markets, super stores and drug stores everywhere. 1 tablet raises blood sugar approx. 20 points. The trouble with using food or juice for this is that too much is usually consumed, and the blood sugar will bounce way high again, produce too much insulin, and go way low again. Better to use glucose tablets and a little chicken soup or some other kind of protein like cheese. Barb > The ambulance finally arrived after > what seemed like forever and they checked his blood sugar and it was > down to 47. When he came to himself he didn't know his name or what > had happened. His heartbeat was also slow and his blood pressure was > high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2001 Report Share Posted December 26, 2001 >Hi Rick, He was taking Glyburide twice daily but his doctor has taken him off of it for now. We are watching him very closely. Flower > > If anyone has any suggestions as to how we can better keep his sugars > > at a constant safe level it would be greatly > > appreciated. He had been on a pill to help control his diabeties but > > the doctor took him off of it for now. > > > > Hi, > > Do you know which medication he is taking for his diabetes? Some oral > medications can cause a low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) because they > cause the pancreas to produce more insulin. If a meal, or a series of > meals are reduced in quantity or carb content, the extra insulin > circulating in his blood can cause him to go low. > > Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2001 Report Share Posted December 26, 2001 >Hi Rick, He was taking Glyburide twice daily but his doctor has taken him off of it for now. We are watching him very closely. Flower > > If anyone has any suggestions as to how we can better keep his sugars > > at a constant safe level it would be greatly > > appreciated. He had been on a pill to help control his diabeties but > > the doctor took him off of it for now. > > > > Hi, > > Do you know which medication he is taking for his diabetes? Some oral > medications can cause a low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) because they > cause the pancreas to produce more insulin. If a meal, or a series of > meals are reduced in quantity or carb content, the extra insulin > circulating in his blood can cause him to go low. > > Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2001 Report Share Posted December 26, 2001 Thanks Vicki, I am going today to get him some glucose tablets. That will probably be easier for him to take than having to eat something at times when he is to sick to eat. Blessings, Flower > I generally advise diabetics to take glucose tablets to raise BGs because > they work quickly (don't have to be digested) and generally raise BGs about > 20 points per tablet. You could try this and it may work. Check BG then give > tabs accordingly...assume 20 points per tab. They work pretty quickly but > test after 25 minutes. If BG is still low, take more. The glucose tabs are > available at drug stores with the diabetic supplies. They don't require a > prescription. There are a couple of different kinds, but I think the ones > that are disk shaped, about an inch in diameter taste best...they come in > grape, raspberry and orange. I prefer the raspberry or orange. They taste > like candy. > Vicki > In a message dated 12/25/01 9:18:28 PM EST, flower30701@y... writes: > > << After > eating a candy bar and drinking a coke it would only go up to 95 and > start droping again. If anyone has any suggestions as to how we can > better keep his sugars at a constant safe level it would be greatly > appreciated. He had been on a pill to help control his diabeties but > the doctor took him off of it for now. >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2001 Report Share Posted December 26, 2001 Thanks!! I'm off to do some reading now! Blessings, Flower > > > Hi Rick, He was taking Glyburide twice daily but his doctor has taken > > him off of it for now. We are watching him very closely. Flower > > Hi Flower, > > Thanks for letting us know which medication he was on. Glyburide is a > medication which is classified as an " oral hypoglycemic " . This means > that it is intended to cause a reduction in blood glucose levels, rather > than addressing " insulin resistance " . Here is a link to the Rxlist site > that has information about medications, including Glyburide: > > http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/glybur_cp.htm > > Take some time to read through the material there. It will give you a > lot of information about the medication. > > Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2001 Report Share Posted December 26, 2001 >I'm hoping that you and your family have a diabetes testing monitor for dad.. >... i'd keep glucose tabs, as well as some of that glucose gel, around so >that if he starts to feel bad, >and his bs reading is below a set amount, you can give him a tablet, and >or the gel. Definitely agree with all that but would also strongly suggest you request a prescription from your doctor for a glucagon kit for emergency purposes . .. . such as if your dad should become unconscious, semi-conscious or cannot be roused enough to ingest fast-acting sugar by mouth during a hypo reaction. In such cases, " feeding " him anything could result in choking or at least in sugar not getting to/through the stomach quickly enough. (Besides, glucotabs are quite hard and can be difficult to bite/chew/process if you're " not quite with it " as is common during a hypo.) The glucagon kit is an emergency injection that is VERY fast-acting and is what EMT's carry (and lots of T1's have available) for such purposes. If not treated quickly enough and bg continues to drop, regular symptoms of a hypo can lead to loss of consciousness, convulsions and, if low enough, death with no glucose getting to the brain. It is not a situation to fool with -- better to be prepared. Good luck -- Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2001 Report Share Posted December 26, 2001 >I'm hoping that you and your family have a diabetes testing monitor for dad.. >... i'd keep glucose tabs, as well as some of that glucose gel, around so >that if he starts to feel bad, >and his bs reading is below a set amount, you can give him a tablet, and >or the gel. Definitely agree with all that but would also strongly suggest you request a prescription from your doctor for a glucagon kit for emergency purposes . .. . such as if your dad should become unconscious, semi-conscious or cannot be roused enough to ingest fast-acting sugar by mouth during a hypo reaction. In such cases, " feeding " him anything could result in choking or at least in sugar not getting to/through the stomach quickly enough. (Besides, glucotabs are quite hard and can be difficult to bite/chew/process if you're " not quite with it " as is common during a hypo.) The glucagon kit is an emergency injection that is VERY fast-acting and is what EMT's carry (and lots of T1's have available) for such purposes. If not treated quickly enough and bg continues to drop, regular symptoms of a hypo can lead to loss of consciousness, convulsions and, if low enough, death with no glucose getting to the brain. It is not a situation to fool with -- better to be prepared. Good luck -- Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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