[Danny] Well, it looks we have a 64-year-old male
with decreased mental status and a history of diabetes.
We don't know if his blood sugar is high or low.
-[Laa] Correct. -They just said he's having
-unknown diabetic complications. -[Laa] Diabetic problems.
[Danny]
It can be a variety of things.
His blood sugar can be too high, too low,
or it can be something completely different altogether,
such as stroke,
or some other neurological problem
that we won't know until we get there and assess him.
[Danny] Seeing it's Friday night,
this dude called me earlier, like, super panicky
because he danced with this girl
and he saw that her friend that was with her
is friends on social media with his girlfriend.
"What if she tells her?"
That she danced with him?
I'm like, "You're acting guilty."
-[Laa] That's not okay. -That's a big deal?
If your girl danced with another dude,
you'd have no issues? None at all?
[Danny exhales]
[Laa] Random dude. She's just dancing.
Not dirty dancing, just dancing.
-I would not have a problem. -[Laa] No, you lyin'.
N-O. [Laa laughs]
[Danny] And the girls say, "Yeah, no. That's not okay."
-[Laa] How you doing, honey? -[man] Here, ma'am.
[Laa] Okay, all right.
-Hello. -[Danny] Hold up, hold up.
Hello.
[man]
[Danny] Okay. He responsive at all to you guys?
[Laa] Stop. Stop, stop.
[Danny] Don't worry, I'm gonna just try to get this IV first,
and maybe he'll come around more.
It's pretty common for diabetics with low blood sugar
to be extremely combative at times.
A lot of times they don't realize they're doing it.
Normal blood sugar range is from 70 to 120.
The brain needs sugar, and if that's not balanced,
then they typically, sometimes, act out.
So you came in and found him down or what?
[woman] I was gonna cook dinner to bring over.
They didn't respond, so I was like,
um, "Go check on him," and he was not responsive.
We just gave him sugar in his veins.
Hopefully, he'll respond. We'll go from there.
After giving him D50,
the patient doesn't respond at all.
He's basically presenting as he did initially.
He's still altered and combative, confused,
and I'm worried now, because usually
one amp of D50 would rouse these patients.
-[Laa] Stop it, baby. -[Danny] It's okay, my man.
[Laa] Let's not do that.
[Danny] Your blood sugar's low. We'll try to help. Just relax.
It's all right, it's okay, just relax.
Hey, look, your blood sugar's low, okay?
My name's Danny, a paramedic,
trying to get your blood sugar up.
Okay?
[Laa] I should go check.
[Danny] Yeah, let's double check.
This is surprising that he didn't come around to it.
Maybe just wanna give him more since he's not responding.
[Laa] Fifty.
[Danny] Crazy that it's still that low.
[Laa] If he took insulin two hours ago
and he's been sitting here...
[Danny] And hadn't eaten.
I'm pretty certain this second dose of D50 should get him up.
My partner and I are dispatched
to a male with altered mental status
with a history of diabetes.
I'm shocked that the patient does not respond
to the first dose of D50.
But I know I have more that I can give him
and see if he does respond.
How are you?
[man]
[Danny] You're in the back of an ambulance.
Your blood sugar got low. Your daughter checked on you,
found you passed out in your chair, okay?
We're the paramedics. We just gave you sugar in your veins.
I'm sure things are cloudy right now, but we'll take care of you.
I'll get you a cover.
[Laa] When was the last time you ate? Can you tell me that?
We had to give him two doses of sugar.
He's up and talking, coming around.
[woman] So you think you can leave him?
Considering it was so low that it took so much sugar,
he probably should be checked out in the hospital.
[Laa] What time did you take the insulin?
Every day at what time?
[Laa] Okay.
[Laa] How old are you?
[Danny] I got you.
[Laa] How many quarters make a dollar?
[Laa] All right.
[Danny] Hold still, okay? We'll take a picture of your heart.
[Laa] Try to sit as still as you can.
[Danny] We'll take you to the VA to get you checked out.
[man] Uh...
[Danny] Your blood sugar was really low.
And your daughter's outside. She's gonna meet us there.
[Laa] All right, baby.
-[siren blares] -[chatter over radio]
[Danny] Prick stick on your finger.
120. That's a good number for us.
What's your blood sugar?
120.
After the second dose of D50, it's like a light switch.
The patient immediately pops up, he's alert.
He's still somewhat groggy,
so we don't know if maybe he took too much insulin
or that he simply just didn't eat enough.
But it's important that he goes to the hospital
to be monitored.
If we leave him home, he may end up
right where he started, and eventually die.
[Danny] Yeah, you either took too much insulin
or just didn't eat when you took it.
[Danny] Most likely.