I read a few different Ambulance Service blogs and come across several stories relating to diabetic patients and
Hypoglycaemia. I have come across a few of these jobs and I am in definite agreement with the other blogs...................... they are generally a good feeling job
We have 3 treatment options for these patients, glucose gel (awful sticky stuff that sticks to everything) given when someone is conscious enough to not choke,
Glucagon injection given to help release glucose stores and 10% Glucose solution. As a Technician I can administer the first 2, the solution is given by IV drip and is a paramedic intervention.
Everybody coming out of the school counts off their 'firsts' and giving your first injection is probably one of the more nerve wracking ones.
My first encounter with a hypo job was in my first week on the road, the paramedic I was working with made it clear I would be giving the
Glucagon injection and arguing wasn't an option.
The patient was unconscious, he was a known diabetic and this had happened before, his wife hadn't been able to get a response from him so called for an ambulance. So while the paramedic was getting IV access to give glucose I was instructed to 'jag him'. It was probably the best time to do it, early in the road so I couldn't over think it and the patient unconscious enough to not fight me. All went smoothly and he came round fully. We left him with a mug of sweet tea and toast, in the capable hands of his wife.
The amazing thing with these jobs from a learning point of view is different reactions of people to a 'hypo attack'. Also you can play 'Signs and Symptoms Bingo', this is where the patient is displaying a textbook presentation of the condition, it doesn't happen to often but makes some things unmistakable.
Another case I went to was during the well publicised diarrhoea and vomiting outbreak. We attended several diabetics during this time who had been struck down with D&V and hadn't monitored the affect on their blood sugar. This particular patient was a gentlemen in his mid 50's and when we arrived he was doing forward and backward rolls on his bed, he couldn't sit still and even took to bouncing on the bed as well, his son was in the room trying to get him to settle but the Father was trying to get him to join in his game!
Aftersuppressing giggles we eventually managed to get the drugs and some food into him and 20 minutes later he was apologising for his behaviour and thanking us for our help as we left.
These are extremely satisfying jobs and really very simple. You can see a patient go from unconscious to normal in a relatively short space of time and 9/10 times will be thanked for your efforts and be able to leave the patient at home with a bit of advise knowing they will be
ok, o f course if there is anything odd or
unusual and we feel that a check up with a doctor is needed we will take them but generally this is a 'See and Treat' protocol that we are happy to do.
We have 3 treatment options for these patients, glucose gel (awful sticky stuff that sticks to everything) given when someone is conscious enough to not choke, Glucagon injection given to help release glucose stores and 10% Glucose solution. As a Technician I can administer the first 2, the solution is given by IV drip and is a paramedic intervention.
Everybody coming out of the school counts off their 'firsts' and giving your first injection is probably one of the more nerve wracking ones.
My first encounter with a hypo job was in my first week on the road, the paramedic I was working with made it clear I would be giving the Glucagon injection and arguing wasn't an option.
The patient was unconscious, he was a known diabetic and this had happened before, his wife hadn't been able to get a response from him so called for an ambulance. So while the paramedic was getting IV access to give glucose I was instructed to 'jag him'. It was probably the best time to do it, early in the road so I couldn't over think it and the patient unconscious enough to not fight me. All went smoothly and he came round fully. We left him with a mug of sweet tea and toast, in the capable hands of his wife.
The amazing thing with these jobs from a learning point of view is different reactions of people to a 'hypo attack'. Also you can play 'Signs and Symptoms Bingo', this is where the patient is displaying a textbook presentation of the condition, it doesn't happen to often but makes some things unmistakable.
Another case I went to was during the well publicised diarrhoea and vomiting outbreak. We attended several diabetics during this time who had been struck down with D&V and hadn't monitored the affect on their blood sugar. This particular patient was a gentlemen in his mid 50's and when we arrived he was doing forward and backward rolls on his bed, he couldn't sit still and even took to bouncing on the bed as well, his son was in the room trying to get him to settle but the Father was trying to get him to join in his game! Aftersuppressing giggles we eventually managed to get the drugs and some food into him and 20 minutes later he was apologising for his behaviour and thanking us for our help as we left.
These are extremely satisfying jobs and really very simple. You can see a patient go from unconscious to normal in a relatively short space of time and 9/10 times will be thanked for your efforts and be able to leave the patient at home with a bit of advise knowing they will be ok, o f course if there is anything odd or unusual and we feel that a check up with a doctor is needed we will take them but generally this is a 'See and Treat' protocol that we are happy to do.