Florida proved Bush a winner
Ask ambulance service about standard of care Most ambulance services in this area adhere to a standard of care whereby diabetic patients have their glucose checked with a glucometer by the treating ambulance service prior to receiving any medications. This is also performed in the hospital’s emergency department.
Most of the patients themselves have their own glucometers, which some have even obtained free of charge and only the test strips need to be purchased.
In the event of an unconscious patient, the patient is routinely given a drug called D50, which is 50 percent dextrose. This drug is given intravenously. Generally a glucometer would be used to make sure that the patient’s condition was caused by hypoglycemia (low blood glucose).
If the patient’s condition were caused by hyperglycemia (high blood glucose), the administration of D50 to this patient could actually be harmful and possibly make their condition worse causing a state called ketoacidosis, a very harmful condition.
In West Virginia glucometers are mandatory on all ambulances. There are some ambulance services in our area that do not adhere to what is now a regional “standard of care.”
I am an insulin dependent diabetic myself and I can’t help but continue to wonder why in a county with so many diabetics, some ambulance services choose to ignore the standard of care.
If you are a diabetic or care about someone who is and believe you deserve the best treatment, ask the ambulance service that services you if they have glucometers. If they don’t, perhaps your care is not their top priority.
Stanley Coffey Jr., EMT/paramedic
Mill Run