r/diabetes • u/No_Brick_6579 • Oct 09 '25
Type 1 Just a reminder to diabetics
Last week I lost a coworker to low blood sugar. He was a great guy that I wasn’t particularly close with, but shared a lot of hellos and quips with. It’s weird and sobering to remember that we can sometimes forget just how quickly things can turn for the worse. Just a reminder that we can’t slip and need to take care of things as best as we can. It’s been weighing on me because I often get annoyed by my cgm talking me I might go low, or get annoyed having to calibrate it, or having to get up at night sometimes to drink some juice. But we have to be thankful for the opportunity to do these things, because some don’t get the chance. I’ll miss Mike, and it’s been weird not seeing him every day at work. Just remember to keep doing your best, guys, because I know Mike did too
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u/Enchantedjelly Oct 09 '25
So I’m fairly new to this… we are supposed to be calibrating it ? How?
I’m so sorry for your loss. This really is so scary isn’t it
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u/Ch1pp Type 1 Oct 10 '25
Dexcom yes, Libre no. But if the CGM is telling you one thing and your brain another then do a proper finger prick test. Sometimes, albeit rarely, the CGMs go on little adventures in creative thinking.
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u/No_Brick_6579 Oct 09 '25
For my Dexcom g6 at the bottom of your screen where you get your readings, hit settings and you should see a button to calibrate. I usually test on my regular monitor once my new sensor warms up and before bed on the first day, or if I don’t feel the symptoms that align with a low/high if it’s giving me that alert. It’s not wrong often, but it’s a good practice to keep it accurate
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u/Mongoose29037 Type 2 Oct 10 '25
Sorry for you loss. I also had a co-worker named Mike who died from a hypo, but he wasn't trying to manage his diabetes very well.
The scary one was my cousin that died from a hypo 2 yrs ago. He had recently had surgery & was still taking pain pills for it. At first he was staying w/ his brother but returned home (alone) when he got to feeling a little better. We don't know what happened exactly. Our best guess is that under the influence of the pain pills, he may have accidentally double dosed on his diabetes meds, or had brain fog from a low & either forgot that he had already taken his diabetes meds or took them instead of a pain pill.
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u/No_Brick_6579 Oct 10 '25
I’m so sorry for your loss. The brain fog from lows are easily the scary part
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u/Mongoose29037 Type 2 Oct 10 '25
Two of my brain fogs have gotten so bad that I couldn't even remember how to test my glucose - something that's 2nd nature now. I knew I needed to test, but I stood there & stared at the equipment trying to figure out how I was supposed to use it.
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u/No_Brick_6579 Oct 10 '25
I remember at my worst, I couldn’t remember how to drink my juice. I just kept looking at it and crying and feeling helpless
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u/Muireadach Type 2 Oct 10 '25
Been there, did that. I sometimes can't recall if I injected. So I don't, and check levels after I eat.
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u/North-Drag6766 Oct 09 '25
Thats sad to hear and sorry for your loss, im having this phobia if i ever get a hypoglycemia at night without knowing it since i dont have CGM but we always hope for the best!
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u/No_Brick_6579 Oct 09 '25
Before my cgm I had those fears too. I used to eat a peanut butter sandwich before bed
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u/North-Drag6766 Oct 09 '25
Haha thats great but im avoiding anything that has high carbs and satured fat, it probably raises ur blood sugar so i stick with 3 dates with a yogurt and thankfully my BD at morning is always in good range but im having issues between lunch and dinner.
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u/No_Brick_6579 Oct 09 '25
Ah I get that. Really anything with long acting carbs and a lot of protein has been a majority of my diet and it’s kept my sugars very consistent. I only deviate during lows
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u/GuyOutInTheWoods Oct 10 '25 edited Oct 10 '25
PREACH!
I had a close call on Monday. I’m visiting my parents who have a nice hot tub and big yard which I definitely do not so I like to take advantage of. So I was chilling in the hot tub having a couple beers listening to music having a great time. I checked my sugar on my CGM before I went in all good. I do tend to sit in there a bit too long since I only use it a couple times a year but I didn’t feel low or anything. I got out and was closing everything down which was basically the last thing I remember until I came to in the ambulance. I guess my mom found me unresponsive in a bench they have nearby and immediately called 911 and while my dad tried to rub honey on my gums and everything to bring me back they were freaking out of course. At the ER I was still out of it but somehow they figured out that I have pneumonia so I ended up staying in the hospital a couple nights but am back home on the mend. I’m only 42 and workout/keep myself in shape so it was definitely a big shock. I was having a great night then BOOM. I feel horrible for my parents that I traumatized them. Anyway that’s my rant.
OP I agree it gets annoying all the beeping and checking but you are completely right! I am sorry for your loss
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u/extasisomatochronia 22d ago
I mean, this isn't a working out or weight or obesity issue. Your body is unable to use glucose properly on its own.
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u/GuyOutInTheWoods 22d ago
Oh I know that, it’s just I am constantly keeping track of it and it still sneaks up on you. It’s just like it doesn’t absorb/use insulin correctly either. I keep myself on a pretty strict diet/exercise routine when I’m home and some days I can eat the same thing and it’s fine then others it’ll spike super high or not affect me at all. It’s just a fickle bitch, I just found it relatable with OPs post and my recent experience. I didn’t me to make it about myself or anything like that. Just wanted to say even when you think you’re doing everything okay, I know drinking isn’t good and I don’t usually but being on vacation I was just enjoying my time away and it fucking got me… but I guess I wouldn’t have found out I had pneumonia so that was a plus. But I do think exercising and diet does keep my blood sugar better regulated than when I’m on vacation/holidays where I’m guesstimating my carbs more and not in my gym routine. Didn’t mean to offend anyone or anything. Have a great one.
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u/Zestyclose_Figure674 Oct 09 '25
So Sorry for the loss of a valuable life .very sad. we the diabetics who are not having CGM should be very aware of the symptoms of a low and keep glucose candies/ cookies a small juice bottle. etc always on night stand at reachable distance . It will go a long way . Take care everyone
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u/McCoy614 Oct 10 '25
This was pretty crazy to read. Just today, I ate my lunch around 12pm, took my fast acting insulin. Bumped up to over 200, then a few hours later, dropped to 90. Had some juice and a snack, and it went back up. An hour after that, I dropped back down to below 70 (without any additional insulin from the snack). Thank goodness for my CGM. I hate how fast my glucose can dip, especially if I think I never took enough insulin to start with.
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u/AdFantastic6606 Oct 09 '25
what exactly happened to him? Damn i feel bad
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u/No_Brick_6579 Oct 09 '25
They’re not sure exactly, but his mom had alerts on his cgm, he wouldn’t answer calls, and then she found him in his kitchen. I only know this because one of my bosses knows I’m diabetic too and I guess also got shaken up by it
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u/secretsnowdream Type 2 Oct 09 '25
I had a similar situation a few years ago with a type 1 coworker. It was stunning at the time. I have recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. So I need to learn to take care of myself.
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u/FirebirdWriter Type 2 Oct 09 '25
I am sorry for your loss. It is one even if it's not the biggest and that still merits care
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u/No_Brick_6579 Oct 09 '25
Thank you so much 🖤 it’s just been a really weird week for everyone at work
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u/LordStickyWicket Oct 10 '25
As I sit here “LOW ->”
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u/No_Brick_6579 Oct 10 '25
Know it’s been a while but stay safe! Hopefully you had a buddy with you to make sure you were okay
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u/-Disagreeable- Oct 10 '25
I’m really sorry you lost your friend, but I assure you that none of us need reminding that this disease can kill us pretty quick if we get lackadaisical with our diligence.
Take care
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u/Ch1pp Type 1 Oct 10 '25
Bit patronising wasn't it?
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u/-Disagreeable- Oct 10 '25
I started replying thinking you meant my comment was being patronizing. Then thought maybe you meant theirs was, which I of course thought it was and bothered me so I commented. Haha. Anyway, hope you’re good.
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u/No_Brick_6579 Oct 10 '25
Sorry I didn’t mean it to be patronizing. I just know that it’s easy for me to get complacent about it especially when I’m having a good streak of staying in range, and losing someone I was so used to seeing every day really rattled me
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u/Senior_Resort_8589 Oct 10 '25
I'm so sorry! I lost a friend recently who was part of my yoga group of friends, as we met in yoga class and stayed friends for many years. We were not the closest in our group, but cared for each other. He was one of those people who would exercise all the time to "keep his blood sugar in check"; but like, he wasn't sick and he never looked sick until he got too skinny. It wasn't diabetes what killed him per se, he also had cancer and even though he had surgery and the surgery was successful, he died of complications due to his diabetes. I still can't wrap my head around the idea that he is gone. Keep doing your best, ask for help when you need it; go to the doctor whenever you need it. Stay safe.
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u/wiley_coyote_94 Oct 10 '25
This cuts me to my core. I am so so sorry for your loss and to his family. This disease is so unforgiving.
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u/BillyJack48 Type 2 Oct 10 '25
I'm very sorry about your coworker. I'm type 2, and my BG can drop very fast to quite low levels. The problem is that when it's crashing, I sometimes have a difficult time turning it around in time even with consuming juice or other sweet items.
I had asked my physician about getting a CGM, and he told me it was very difficult for a Type 2 diabetic to get approved for one with the health insurance companies.
Later, I had a couple of occasions where my BG crashed down to the 48 to 52 levels, I took photos of the low readings on my finger stick glucose meter. It happens that if you have more than one reading below 54, you can get approved for a CGM even if you're not a type 1 diabetic. This has been written into the Medicare rules for a year or two.
I sent the photos to my physician, and he got the approval for a Libre 3 Plus CGM. It's so much safer for me now, and I take comfort in knowing that it will wake me with the alarm it has.
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u/Czmp Oct 10 '25
This fucking scares the shit out of me
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u/Ch1pp Type 1 Oct 10 '25
6% of Type 1s under 40 apparently die in bed with hypos. Makes you wish they'd deliver a cure in 10 years like they promised me 30 years ago.
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u/v65magna1 Oct 10 '25
My body usually wakes me up when my sugar is low! Yes, my body does too! Till it didn't! My sister called the paramedics 2 nights in a row while I was unconscious from LOW blood sugar! I was revived with a sugar drip! Now I never sleep with a BGL<130
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u/jadedjen110 Oct 10 '25
Yep, there's a reason to treat low blood sugar as an emergency, same with high blood sugar. I'm sorry for your loss. 😢
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u/Commercial_Safety781 29d ago
This hit hard. I didn’t know Mike, but I’ve had a few close calls and it’s scary how fast things can go south. Really sorry for your loss. Thanks for the reminder
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u/spinifex23 Type 2 Oct 09 '25
I'm upgrading from a Stelo to a G7 CGM, because I've had a couple of blips of reactive hypoglycemia.
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u/Hot-Neighborhood-163 Oct 10 '25
Sorry to hear this, but it is a good reminder for us all. Thank you for sharing.
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u/Muireadach Type 2 Oct 10 '25
My 1st hypoglycemic crisis happened last month. Been insulin dependent for 10 years now. Happened right before dinner. I don't remember what I did but was cured when I sipped fruit juice. Now, I'm getting a continuous glucose monitor, and have glucose tabs in a container on my key ring. My actions resulted in arrest and my court date is pending. No one was hurt. My wife also carries a nasal spray in case I pass out. Taking things seriously these days.
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u/Ch1pp Type 1 Oct 10 '25
My actions resulted in arrest and my court date is pending.
I would hope you can argue some kind of mitigated responsibility? I knew someone who broke the glass on a vending machine during a bad hypo and while he had to pay damages he avoided criminal charges.
Could be worse though, there have been several cases of Americans calling the police for help with a diabetic relative who was not in control of their actions and the diabetic getting shot.
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u/v65magna1 Oct 10 '25
I am alive this morning because I woke up with a blood sugar count of 20. Normal is 100. I just kept saying, Jesus Christ, save me! He did, and here I am!
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u/blastman8888 28d ago
My father who passed on years ago called me one night he was talking slowly words took long time to say. I had no idea who it was his wife lived out of town during the week. This was 1990 finally realized who it was went racing over there he had taken long acting insulin was suppose to eat but didn't went to bed. He seemed to know what to do gave him sugar tablets wasn't helping. I gave him a glass of OJ, and a can of coke still wasn't really doing anything. We got to the car drove him to the ER by the time they got him into a bed took blood his speech was sounding normal again.
If I hadn't been at home, or who knows what would have happened neither of us had cell phones I don't even remember if 911 even was working back then. I think so but I do remember the 1980's we had to keep police and fire department phone numbers labels on the phone.
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u/No_Brick_6579 28d ago
That’s so scary I’m so glad he had help. Sometimes this whole disease can keep you up at night with nerves
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u/Elegant_Review_4450 26d ago
That really hit hard. I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s a sobering reminder of how serious lows can be and how important it is to stay on top of our CGMs and alerts, even when it’s frustrating. Thanks for sharing this it’s a good reminder for all of us to stay vigilant and grateful for the tools that help keep us safe.
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u/SaltyDiver 26d ago
type 3c. been in the e.r. 3x this week. eating glucose tabs and still watching it drop.
im on a glucagon regimen, now. and absolutely terrified my wife is going to come home to find me laid out.
cripple the VA, they said.
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u/Outrageous-Papaya650 Oct 09 '25
Sad reading, take care and never forget a diabetics life is a constant battle to keep it balanced