Ok my fellow parents, opinions needed

[hughsfan30]

Most of you read my thread on Jacob's seizure. Well FINALLY the dietician emailed me back after still not returning a phone call. Mind you I wrote her a week ago! Anyway, I emailed her about my confusion with the Dr saying that Jacob would come out of a seizure on his own, when I have read nothing but he opposite,
This was her response:

"What Dr. Rice explained to you is true. The counter-regulatory hormones secreted during hypoglycemic seizures do raise the blood glucose levels. Some parents test their children after a seizure to find it in the normal range. This does NOT mean, however, that you should not treat the hypoglycemia with glucagon or with sugar-containing thick substances like frosting or honey, etc. inside the cheek wall. It is too important for the glucose levels to rise to leave it to chance.
ALWAYS use these measures to ensure that the levels will rise. Coma and death would only occur if there were no stored glucose or if no glucose could enter the body.

Using the glucagon on a frequent basis can deplete the glycogen stores in the liver and make it less effective or ineffective. The same thing can happen in a seizure if the liver is depleted and not able to release the stored glucose. The most effective thing to do is to do insulin adjustments to prevent the hypoglycemia from happening. This is not always possible but should be the goal. "

I am still at a loss, there is way too much conflicting info!!!

[Heather(CA)]

This is what I thought to be true...What info do you feel is conflicting:confused:

[hughsfan30]

Just research I have done on the internet, but perhaps like what ScottB said, I shouldnt research so much on the internet :(

[Hollyb]

Well this kind of jives with what I've read about why alcohol-induced lows are especially dangerous. Apparently alcohol impairs the liver's ability to release glucose, so that if you go low in the night after a bout of drinking your body may be unable to "rescue" you.

And then, if a person were going low every night without knowing it, maybe thinking they were high in the morning due to Dawn Phenomenon and needed MORE insulin, then maybe the glycogen stores in the liver would be depleted and one night not able to cope...

I think the bottom line is, it's reassuring to know the body has this capability (especially for those of us whose kids are older and not always sleeping at home!) but ain't foolproof and you can't count on it.

[Momof4gr8kids]

If the liver has no more stores to release the bg will not rise with it's own hormones or glucagon.

[Schpoodle's Dad]

You probably already know this, but this is the way I can relate to it :

The liver stores glycogen that it will release in episodes of hypoglycemia. Either the body will do it automatically or you can prompt it to happen by giving glucagon. It's like an emergency gas tank available when you need it.

But, if the tank is empty, either through repeated lows or by giving glucagon repeatedly, big problems can occur. There is no reserve.

What your endo is telling you is to give glucagon and sugar. That way you have double coverage - either the liver will dump it's glycogen or you will have provided glucose to get out of the low.

Also, once the tank is empty, you need to fill it back up. Another reason to give extra glucose.

[Nancy in VA]

We're fortunate enough to have not suffered a seizure yet (knock-on-wood). I think all they are really saying here is that even IF you see a reasonable number after a seizure, go ahead and treat with the glucose.

I would always rather have highs that lows - so if in doubt, I OVERTREAT and then deal with the high later.

[Mama Belle]

Also, always call 911 (and tell them you have a type 1 diabetic in a seizure), even when administering glucagon. If the glucagon doesn't work then they can administer a shot of glucose directly.

[hughsfan30]

Oh absolutely, hopefully though we wont need to go through this, but the education is always good in my book ;)

[ScottB]

I'm going to send you a PM on this.

[hughsfan30]

I'm going to send you a PM on this.
I got your message, messaged you back, no worries! :D;)

[wilf]

my only further comment is to get a good reference text (or two!) - there is so much misleading tripe on the internet (this site excepted), and it is hard at first read to differentiate the tripe from the good info.