Weird Question

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Weird Question
7
Fri, 09-28-2007 - 12:29am

I know low BS in diabetes can cause major disorientation, but can it also cause psychosis?


Monday evening, we had an attempted car-jacking/murder happen just a block & a half down my street from home.  As if that's not bad enough, one of the cops investigating supposedly wandered off, walking almost 12 blocks to a local Quik-Trip.  There he shot and severely wounded a truck driver making deliveries (apparently without provocation), then wandered off again only to be found several blocks away sitting on a curb, having a conversation on a cell phone with no one at the other end of the line.  He is currently hospitalized and the police spokesperson is blaming all this on his not having eaten all day nor taking his meds properly!?!


Is this at all possible? Or is the PD trying to cover up a possible mental breakdown?  Those with mental illnesses have enough stigma on them due to the violent actions of a small minority and I'd sure hate to see the same kind of thing happen with diabetes, too.


An inquiring mind wants to know,


Marci

Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: kcisis
Fri, 09-28-2007 - 7:52am

Marci, I don't know.


Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: kcisis
Fri, 09-28-2007 - 9:18pm

Marci,


Are you saying that the cop has diabetes? I think the stress of the situation is probably the cause of his strange behavior.


But there is a situation in diabetes called hypoglycemia unawares or neuroglycopenia where the body doesn't recognize that the blood sugar has dropped to a very dangerous level, usually under 40. When this happens the person can become quite combative and do really strange things. This syndrome is more common in type 1 diabetics than it is in type 2 diabetes. This is obviously an emergency situation and needs immediate medical treatment. Sometime cops have to be called in to help control the person.


What I find is that I can get pretty nasty when my blood sugar is too low. A hungry diabetic is like a hungry lioness! Get out of the way and feed them. I also can't make decisions and so my husband has learned to not try to make me decide anything. But my goal is to have this happen as little as possible.


I hope all the stress that occurred didn't bother your blood sugar. Stress can do a real job on your blood sugar. If I didn't understand your question please clarify it for me. I am so glad that you are safe.





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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
In reply to: kcisis
Fri, 09-28-2007 - 11:45pm

The spokesperson said he had diabetes, but didn't elaborate on type

Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: kcisis
Sat, 09-29-2007 - 8:11am

I totally understand the wanting to commit murder about your strips!!!


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
In reply to: kcisis
Sat, 09-29-2007 - 6:31pm

Have to make a comment here. I have no idea any more what the original script was for, and had just decided i would bite the bullet and pay for the extra's. Then I realized the differnce in cost between the 50 strip box and the 100 strip one something stupid like $50 for 50 and $60 for 100. at that point they only permitted 1 month supply at a time. I called the INSURANCE company and said it made no sense to me for them to be paying $100 for 2 boxes of 50 inste of $60 for one box of 100. i was just asking them to figure out a way I could get the 100 box strips instead, even if it meant buying only every other month. The insurance rep said it made no sense either, and instead SHE just authorized a change to I think it says 4 X a day, and I just get one 100 strip box a month. I guess it works out to less than 4 a day...but it has worked out for me. I have got a couple boxes ahead since at some point i fear the new not very nice insurance is gonna try to mess it up but am guessing somehow the insurance co worked it out with the drs office or something. Of course now the price difference also is quite a bit higher between the 2 sizes...but that just grated on me before!!

I wonder with the cop if this is a case of a previously diagnosed diabetic or a case of them discovering after he did what he did. I do question anyone who wears a gun going the whole day without eating if they are diabetic!! Hopefully that was an exageration. Or he is a recently diagnosed one who has not been taught the risks of not eating regular.

I also wonder at times since people do get hypoglycemia problems before they become diabetics, if this same kind of thing could happen with them? I sm noy sure they often get that low, but who knows!!

Auntydoxzz

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-18-2007
In reply to: kcisis
Sun, 09-30-2007 - 4:27am

Maryfances


I too can be

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: kcisis
Mon, 10-01-2007 - 12:22am

Hi Catcount,


My husband has been diabetic more than 20 years and I have been diabetic about 17 years. So yes, I have a lot of experience with our disease.


I am appalled at some of the stupid things I have done when my blood sugar is low, like driving home on the freeway because I decided I would feel better at home. I am not afraid to tell people that I am diabetic. I know there are times when I need others to help me and I am not afraid to ask or to receive the help. This has been especially true since I started on insulin.


I guess I look pretty awful when my blood sugar gets too low. I haven't programmed my brain to look in the mirror! Both my boss and my husband have told me this. My boss will tell me to go home but I have been smart enough to tell her that I can't drive until I get my blood sugar back up. It isn't really fun driving a car even in a small town at low speeds when your blood sugar is in the 50's.


My problem is that I have to be constantly vigilant because when my blood sugar gets in the very 100's and 90's it will drop quickly down to 60. In a matter of 30 minutes or less it will drop. I wish I could afford a continuos meter but they are just too expensive. I was having this problem in the middle of the night which is my we changed my Lantus injection to the morning. Now it happens most frequently around lunch time. I am also on Symlin and Januvia which means that I can't absorb by carbs very quickly. It will take me the better part of an hour to get my blood sugar to come back up. I know I just have to wait it out but it gets pretty frustrating. Sometimes I don't feel like I have an hour to wait.


I do hope that the cure for our disease comes in the next decade as predicted.