Diabetes brings with it the risk of hypoglycemia, low blood sugar. Most often the result of imbalance between food, exercise, and medications, a "hypo," a low blood sugar reaction, can cause disorientation, unconsciousness, and sometimes, death. We're all at risk; those who use insulin are at greatest risk of a "low."
Sometimes a diabetic can miss the signals, for whatever reason, and can drop so low as to become incapable of taking any corrective action. The ambulance can become necessary -- assuming someone is there to call for it.
The trick is to never get that low.
Some of us need some help. There is a condition called "hypoglycemia unawareness," in which a diabetic loses the ability to tell that he or she is going down -- and the next sound you hear may be a siren.
What many of us need is an alarm, a device to warn us we're going low, when we cannot tell for ourselves. There is now such a device -- FDA approved.
Diabetes Sentry Products, from Bellingham, Washington, offers the Sleep Sentry, a wrist watch-sized device that sounds an audible warning whenever the wearer’s blood sugar drops too low. Not a blood glucose monitor, this noninvasive device meters changes in body temperature and sweat consistent with hypoglycemia, and sounds a warning in time for you to take action. It's like an "idiot light" for your body instead of your car.
The Sleep Sentry is completely noninvasive and continuous. There are no needles, wires or patches, and the only thing you'll need to replace is the battery, every few months or so.
The Sleep Sentry costs $399, shipping included, and may be ordered from: Diabetes Sentry Products Inc., 1200 Dupont St., Suite #1D, Bellingham, WA 98225; telephone: 1-866-270-5675; Web site: www.sleepsentry.com