When I was a Kid my parents constantly reminded myself and my sister as to the signs of low blood sugar and what to do if we suspected it in someone

I thought that was just something "everyone knew". Of course we were taught it because of the couple dozen close family members that were Diabetic - once I got out into the world as a teen and young adult I quickly realized that most people knew nothing about Diabetes much less treating low blood sugar or how to detect it in the first place

Joyce's question is valid but when do we reach information overload and what should be taught?

I have some statistics from a single Coroner in Ontario who looked at 523 deaths where 122 were investigated to see if the "premature" death was drug/treatment induced

As most could likely suspect 50% of the cases were Opioid Overdoses - there is some public education and at least in Canada, you can find a Naloxone kit just about everywhere (in fact I can get one "free" to keep at home if I want)

(surprised me) a further 24% of deaths were due to overdose of Anti-Depressants - I have never heard the alarm raised, wouldn't have a clue what say a "deadly" SSRI Overdose looks like or even where to start to try and give first aid

And way down at the bottom at 7% of deaths are those that died of insulin overdose - pretty much the only way that any of us would ever experience a truly "deadly low"

(sulfonylurea's are the only other med that could "easily" kill you - most anti-diabetic meds would take a "massive" overdose to cause a dangerous low)
So out in public a "dangerous low" would most certainly be the result of in Insulin/SU overdose - we don't get deadly low "all by ourselves" enough to even be a rounding error statistically, so dangerous low is most certainly "drug induced = mild to major Unintentional overdose

So Joyce I am on the fence with your question

Should all the people who regularly interact with a Diabetic who either has a history of low blood sugar or is an insulin or sulfonylurea user be "completely aware" that if "Uncle Bob start slurring or looks disoriented you should suspect low blood sugar and this is what you do" - ya I can buy that one

But should "everyone" in the general population know what to do?

Not so much

Where's the line??

Do we also teach how to handle an epileptic seizure?

What about anaphylaxis? should adrenaline kits be part of first aid kids at retail stores as an example with training for all how and when to use an epi-pen?

What about someone having a panic attack?

And I could list two dozen others

At least in Ontario where I live, low blood sugar is so "uncommon" that even most Paramedic's who staff the ambulances do not know how to recognize low blood sugar and they don't even look for it unless alerted by a (bystander) because it is just that "uncommon"

@A DiabetesTeam Member you nailed there

As a Type 2 Diabetic who also has hypertension and anaphylaxis to Tree Nuts I have those three pieces of information on my Medic Alert (Necklace in my case)

We have a responsibility to convey our "immediate" possible needs if a first responder comes across us incapacitated and we should have the remedy "on our person" if it's something that needs immediate attention

If you experience lows you should carry glucose tablets, anaphylaxis = an epi- pen or whatever you are capable of carrying

At work we have a Naloxone Kit in case of a Opioid Overdose and we have a AED Portable Defibrillator in case of a Heart Attack and I have to be honest here

Despite Standard First Aid and CPR training, and I am the Safety trainer where I work, I "personally" would not use either the Kit or the AED - not a chance - even with the Good Samaritan laws I would NOT personally intervene on someone that I "did not know AND/OR was Not important to me"

If someone dies I don't want any fingers pointing my way - don't need to spend years in court because some family member believes I did something wrong, even though you would likely win in the end - don't need the hassle - that's what 911 is for

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A Diabete...

You have a valid point Graham. That's why medical alert bracelets, necklaces or every what you choose to wear should be worn to show your condition. Like diabetic, peanut allergies, epileptic, so forth and so on. My brother has seizures, so of course the family knows how to deal with seizures. If the stranger hadn't been available to help when I collapsed from sulfonylrea I don't think I would be here today.

Yes Joyce586...I agree with you 100%. I believe every disease on the book should have some kind of education program, so we can help each other at least until the ambulance gets to the person in need. Have a blessed day 🙏.

Thank you for sharing that @A DiabetesTeam Member, and @A DiabetesTeam Member

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A Diabete...