Supporting a Friend with Diabetes

How do I help a friend who has diabetes?

• Be understanding  when your friend needs to test blood sugar, give insulin, or eat something to prevent low blood sugar.  Be a good listener without trying to advise, criticize or control your friend.  Join your friend for exercise and regular meal times: it will be good for both of you!
• Learn how to treat low blood sugar.  Ask ahead of time where your friend keeps emergency sugar tablets and glucagon and have your friend show you how to use these.  More exercise than usual, less food, or other variables can cause low blood sugar even if your friend is careful with his or her insulin program.
• A low blood sugar reaction  may cause confusion,  stumbling, weakness or shakiness. Stay calm.
• Give your friend sugar. Glucose tablets,  sugared drinks, juice, hard candy  and even corn flakes all work fast.  But if you have only a chocolate bar, give them that.  Anything  with carbohydrate will work.
• Don’t argue about what they are allowed to eat.
• Don’t ask a lot of questions.  "Are you low?" usually brings an angry "No!"
• Just say "Here drink this and hand them a sugared drink."
• Call 911 if your friend is unconscious
• Give glucagon injection,  an emergency medicine if your friend has taught you how to give it.  Your friend still needs to be seen by medical personnel to evaluate the serious low blood sugar.