hypoglysemic seizure

[masma]

In the early hours of yesterday morning Mr M suffered a seizure due to very low blood sugar, he's type 2 diabetic. He was in hospital all day while they got his sugar level's sorted out. This is the first time anything like this has happened in the 20+ years of him being diabetic. He knows just what caused it, he took his fast acting insulin in mistake for his slow over night one. Now... my question is - will he be able to drive, the hospital were unsure and he's in a bit of a panic about it as he needs the car to get to work. Looking forward to your repies -TIA x

[quincyqqq]

i always thought t2 do not take insulin

[bednobs]

you need to contact dvla. My friend had a one off seizure from a known cause (car crash) and the dvla took medical reports then let her drive

[evedawn]

they do - but in tablet form not injection form

[marie26]

I agree, contact the DVLA fo their advice, he had a 'hypo' as opposed to a seizure from any other cause.
T2 diabetes is also known as late onset DM, and if control is not achieved with oral medication, then insulin is necessary.

[masma]

Thanks for all your replies - he was on tablets when first diagnosed but they didn't bring his sugar levels down sufficiently. He was then put onto 2 injections a day which also didn't suit him, he now injects every time he eats, sometimes 4/5 times a day along with his slow acting insulin which he take before going to bed This has suited him fine untill yesterday when he accidently took the fast acting daytime insuline instead of the slow acting night time one. Fingers crossed this "accident" will be taken into account when they decided if he can drive, or not. Thanks again xx

[Hopkirk]

Are the hospital telling the DVLA?

[Jemisa]

Knowing he'd made a mistake he should have kept monitering his sugar levels all evening. Especially before bed, WHAT was the reading then??
He should have had a couple of 'Rich Tea' anyway, to be a little too high in the morning wouldn't have been a problem he could control that during the day. Always make sure his reading is 5+ before bed, if lower- - 2 rich tea. (you don't have to tell the DVLA) Its not a continuous thing, Just a one off.
Hope all is fine now. Good Luck.

Jem

[mike11111]

I was diagnosed with type2 2 years ago but must be lucky as I don't have to take any medication at all. Apart from the very occasional heavy sweating from the head I don't seem to suffer any ill effects and can eat pretty much what I like. In fact I hardly think of myself as diabetic. My mother was diagnosed with type1 at the age of 40 and for 30 years had to inject twice a day. I became quite used to the hypos and could detect the warning signs so I could get some sugar into her. I'm thankful that I've been spared all that.

[carlton23]

I am also on one tablet per day (Finestride) and would like to know what is considered `high` as I am not very careful with what I eat, being sweet toothed all my life. I stick to `Everything in moderation` but occasionally can`t resist the odd thing.

[ethandron]

evedawn - insulin can't be taken orally, the tablets are completely different and designed to do a different job in the body.

[masma]

Jemisa - his last blood test before going to bed was 7.2, he'd had his evening snack and just needed to do his slow acting injection before going to bed. He's got two insulin pens of different colours, one for fast and one for slow acting. For the first time in 20+ years he made a mistake and not realising it he went to bed. I was woken up by him having a violent fit, when the paramedics got to him and tested his blood sugar there wasn't any reading because it was so low. He's absolutely fine now and has put his 'pens' in different rooms so as not to make the same mistake again.
Hopkirk - not sure if they are telling the DVLA or not but the sister at the hospital told him that someone will ring him today to say if he'll be able to drive.
Thanks again to you all xx

[looobylooo]

glad to hear your husbands ok now masma, what a worry! fingers crossed he will be ok to drive.

(hi bill, good morning, how are you? with regards to your question to masma, do you check your sugar readings? i remember you saying you like to have cereal at night for a snack. cereals can send your sugars high, depending on the portion size)

[ethandron]

my youngest has type 1 and had two early morning seizures with two weeks when he was having a growth spurt at 18. fortunately we had some glucagon injections in the house and i was able to administer one of those while my husband held him down. it worked successfully but made him vomit. our gp came out on a house call later in the morning and administered another injection to stop the vomiting. my son had passed his driving test shortly after his 17th birthday and drove himself to school but at no time did anyone suggest contacting the dvla so we never did.
if these episodes are a regular occurence then for your own, and others, safety it makes sense to ask yourself should you continue to drive. as a one off i really wouldn't be concerned and see no need for you or anyone else to contact the dvla.

[marie26]

Hi,
All people who have a diagnosis of diabetes, and take Insulin are required by law to inform the DVLA, and if they have had more than one 'hypo' in a 12 month period. Diabetes UK have excellent advice on this issue.

[masma]

Thought I'd let you all know that the doctor from the hospital rang and after giving some advise said he's ok to drive being as this was human error rather than a full blown siezure. Thank you all for your replies I do appreciate it xx