My best friend is diabetic. We were working a few days ago (fairly physical work...) and when the day was over, I stayed at his place for supper. While preparing supper, he mentioned that he felt extremly tired and weak. While we were eating, my friend seemed to be REALLY out of it. It got worse. Soon he wouldn't respond to anything...he would just stare blankly looking really confused. His step dad gave him a coke, and he had to basically yell at my friend to drink it because he wouldn't respond at all...he looked terrified. After he drank it, he started twitching alot...and eventually (5 min later) he was completly normal. I was so scared. He told me that it happened because his blood sugar was really low. I don't ever want to see him like that again...it was that scary.

Anyways, I would like to know more about why that happened. How dangerous is it? I mean, what if that happened when no one was around...if he was alone somewhere? how soon would he need medical attention? would something like that happen when he's sleeping?

His mom told me that it has happened a few times before...and my friend says everytime it has happened, he kinda felt symptoms and knew that he had to get sugar right away...but this time, it happened unexpectedly...

can someone tell me more about this?

Perfectlizard -
Your friend was having a hypoglycemic reaction (low blood sugar).

Most people don't realize that, as the blood sugar starts going too low, a whole variety of things can happen to a person that makes it difficult for him/her to treat himself/herself.

For example, low blood sugar can cause confusion, because the brain cells aren't getting enough sugar to function well. You mentioned that you and your friend were doing some heavy physical exertion...sometimes this causes the blood sugar to drop so quickly that, before one is even really aware of the symptoms, the blood sugar is so low that one is, indeed, getting very confused. And, while your friend had already started eating, he obviously hadn't yet ingested enough simple carbohydrates to raise his blood sugar.

Best thing you can do for your friend is to be aware of the sypmtoms of hypoglycemia (confusion, inappropriate giggling, inappropriate anger, unresponsiveness to questions, etc.) and try to get him to test his blood sugar immediately; if he's low, treat it with about 4-6 ounces of a soft drink (NOT sugar-free), 4-6 ounces of juice, about six lifesavers or other similar candies, etc. Then your friend should wait about 15 minutes and test again to make sure his blood sugar is up to at least 80. Also, if he's not going to be eating a meal right then, he should have something containing protein (like peanut butter crackers), so that his sugar won't just drop again before he has a chance to eat a meal.

Juice and soft drinks, because they are liquid, get into the system very quickly, but you can use almost any simple carbohydrate to treat a low...crackers, candy, fruit, even sugar packets if necessary.

You are a wonderful friend to be so concerned. Lows can, indeed, be scary, but unfortunately there's no way to completely avoid them unless you let your blood sugar run too high all the time, and that has major consequences in the long run.

Thanks for the reply. From now on i'll make sure there's some sugar loaded drinks around every time we work. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Perfectlizard -
Does your friend keep his blood glucose meter with him? It's a good idea to encourage him to test if you think he's having a hypoglycemic episode. The reason is that if the blood sugar is not actually low, then treating it will send his blood sugar soaring.

However, if there's no meter available and he's exhibiting those symptoms, it's far better to treat than to wait.

I wish all my friends were as concerned and sensitive as you!

He usually carries the blood glucose meter with him. I don't recall any time when he didn't have it...

The problem is, he sometimes forgets to check his blood sugar levels. I didn't see him check that day. So, i'll be sure to remind him next time we work.