Essential Safety Measures for Insulin Users
Something we all need once we start using insulin
is a quick fix if our blood glucose goes too low.
If you're a type 2, and on oral meds, diet and exercise, your blood glucose may
go low occasionally. However, when you start insulin, you'll experience more
severe lows, that have a sudden onset, and you may not have the physical
strength and presence of mind to deal with it, if you fail to prepare
ahead of time.
One item you must have on hand is glucose tablets.
There are several brands, but I find the least expensive and most widely available brand is Dex4.
You can buy Dex4 in large jars of 50, which will treat about 15 lows, and there are also 10 tablet tubes. The tubes will only treat 3 lows or possibly 4. The larger bottles are more economical.
There are other brands of glucose available, these are simply the brand that I prefer, as it is easy to find, and not as expensive as the other ones.
You should always carry glucose tablets with you when you go out,
even in your own backyard. You should keep some in a small jar in every
room of your home too. They should be easy to see at a glance, and easy
to reach from whatever chair you normally sit in. For example, you
should be able to reach them at your desk, your living room chair,
kitchen table, in your car, your place of work, and where you sleep.
They should never be out of reach!
Take the time now to break the
seal on the bottle and open the lid, then screw it back on just enough
to close, so its not tight. You need to keep moisture out, but have the
lid loose enough for a weakened person to open in an emergency. If you go low, you will be weaker than normal, and probably confused as well.
If you take the time now to put at least 6 to 8 glucose tablets in
small jars, label them, and put one in each location, it could save your
life someday. It will certainly give you some security, knowing that you're prepared for the lows that will occur.
Why got to all this trouble you ask? Well, when a real low strikes, you may be too weak to walk, let alone hunt for
and open a new, still sealed jar. You may not even have the strength to
open a lid if its screwed on too tightly. Confusion is part of extreme
low blood glucose, so be prepared now, so you can deal with it when it
strikes.
Family members need to know what and where your glucose tablets are
too. They need to know how to help if you get so low you can't even
think of taking glucose tablets.
Here's a handy product that can be used to carry them when you're away from home, at work, etc.
This is the Quick Fix Key Chain for glucose tablets. The Dex4 tablets fit into these perfectly.
I rotate mine, as they do absorb more moisture when stored in these key-chain holders. You can find this product at Quick Fix Key Chain
I've also seen these on Amazon.com
Dex 4 is available in tablets, gels and liquid form. The 50 count jar
of tablets is the most economical form, and easier to find too. Other brands may be more readily available in your part of the world. The important thing is to get some, and have them on hand, where you'll need them, not stuck in the back of a cupboard somewhere, collecting dust!
Take the time now to get some glucose tablets and put them where you can easily find and use them, when the need arises.
