No Insulin

[catswhiskas]

My husband has the odd episode where he takes himself off to bed for a few hours.He says he is fed up with everything and there is no reason to get up,I dont know what to do there is no family or friends around.He last took his insulin sun night at 6pm,I am really concerned nothing i say makes any difference.

[woofgang]

Can you speak to his GP or diabetes nurse?

[kvalidir]

Has he checked his blood sugar, is he type 1 or type 2 and has he eaten?

[catswhiskas]

It is too late to speak to anybody now,he would be very cross if he thought i had gone behind his back,he is overweight and this is one of his problems,just have no idea what to do.

[catswhiskas]

I told him he needed help but he said ,hes not going potty !

[catswhiskas]

Kvalidir,no not done that for a long time,type1 not had anything since last night but is drinking water.

[woofgang]

Well he can be cross or ill, if it was me I would at least be getting advice from the emergency services if you are concerned and he won't listen to you.

[catswhiskas]

How long can he go on for without insulin has been diabetic for about 8 years ,i need to be prepared

[woofgang]

will he let you do his bloods?

[catswhiskas]

Woofgang,you would not believe how difficult he is being,hes hardly speaking to me says he is thoroughly p@@# d off and i dont know where this is all going

[kvalidir]

Probably quite a while actually, however you need to call 111 because if he falls into a coma and died then they would probably want to know why you hadn't. I'm diabetic and I do sympathise with him, I get into stupid strops and swear i'm not going to inject myself occasionally, but it's horribly unfair on those around us, so talk to 111 and get advice at the very least.

[Mamyalynne]

I know little about Diabetes but as the others have said, at least get advice - sounds like it's all become too much for him to cope with, and you need help to cope with him.

[catswhiskas]

Thanks kvalidir will keep an eye on him.

[woofgang]

keeping an eye is not going to help....at least get some proper medical advice....not to pile the pressure on (except it is of course) but how will you feel if he goes into a coma and you did nothing? Much better that he should stay alive and well enough to be cross with you don't you think?

[woofgang]

oh and yes I would absolutely believe how difficult he is being.

[catswhiskas]

Thanks everyone i know the onus is on me.

[Sqad]

I am not sure that there is much that you can do.
Diabetic coma comes on gradually, sometimes over weeks or months, so you have plenty of tome to play with.
If he took his insulin last night at 6pm and it is a long acting one ( even if it isn't) and he is drinking plenty of water, then there is no need to panic.
Monitor the situation over the next week and see how he explains his attitude.
He won't die of diabetic coma in that time.

[murraymints]

if he refuses to take his insulin , as time goes by he may start talking nonsense..seeing things that are not there etc etc... he will fall into a coma which he may not wake from eventually.. he will have a diabetic nurse/clinic that he attends, can you phone them for advice ? perhaps he will speak to them ? the problem is if you call for ambulance he can refuse to go if he is in such a state of mind..and they will not force him to...unless he is unconscious....

[jennyjoan]

my mother many years ago - did go into a coma too - boy it was frightening - hallucinated in hospital. Saw my sista as a fairy. Saw a lady across the ward as a male neighbour of hers who was taking down his trousers. It was awful.

Police came to my door at 3.00am and told me I had to go to the hospital - this was in 1970s - they (hospital) couldn't calm her down until she saw me - she thought bad things were happening to me. At 3.30am I was going to do bad things to her - believe me. LOL

[Sqad]

cats, this is a case for psychiatric evaluation rather one for the Diabetologist.
Diabetes is very common in diabetics.
Don't worry about him going into coma, that is extremely unlikely, but try to get him to see his GP for his obvious depressive illness.

[pastafreak]

Sqad...did you mean to say " depression is very common in diabetics " ?