Avoiding arrest... or abuse?... due to hypoglycemia

I've been reading a lot about cops hurting a diabetic during a hypo due to not knowing they were ill and thinking they were drunk, etc. I understand that the cops don't know, I know that to prevent this from happening we must stay very concious of our bg levels before driving. I also know that you can test before you drive and end up hypo 20 minutes after without warning if the situation is right. Personally, I keep a can of pop in the car and loads of glucose on my person, BUT I have ended up hypo without feeling it while driving on one occasion. This is when I started looking into this topic.

I am SCARED of going hypo without warning and end up being abused by a cop. I am a law abiding federal employee with a clean criminal record and I could still be tasered, forcefully restrained and perhaps dead because of a hypo. I take every possible precaution but reality is, it can still happen! I don't blame the cops, they are doing their jobs and it's impossible to know that a person is hypo and not drunk or on drugs.

I am considering a tattoo on my wrist and never wearing long sleeves, but what if it's cold when it happens? They still won't be able to see it. Perhaps a sticker on my car? It's not the general publics business... there is no answer from what I can see.

Please tell me what you think... how do we avoid this issue? It's very important to me to figure this out and I would love the assistance of my fellow diabeaters!

For your reference, here are links to the articles I speak of:

http://www.policeone.com/officer-misconduct-internal-affairs/articles/1737014-Cops-mistake-diabetics-low-blood-sugar-for-drunkenness-suit-alleges/

http://cbs4denver.com/watercooler/cops.tase.diabetic.2.884588.html

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/94250.php

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/20/diabteic_tasering/

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article472087.ece

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/19/slain-dad-spoke-very-poor-english/

9 months ago
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  • Brittany

    You should have a medical ID tag thats around you neck. That  is one way to let the cops know. I was thinking of getting a tattoo also, but I don't think that cops or medical care people are taught to look for tattoo's as medical ID tags. I think if someone was able to start it would be to get some sort of team together to educate the cops so they are taught what to look for.

    7 months ago

  • Mistik

    I do have a medical ID... around my neck and on my wrist! I think in one of those articles one of them too was wearing a med ID tag... that's my fear, that they won't see in time!

    According to a friend of mine (ex-cop from Boulder, CO) they do train the cops on the medical issues. His arguement for the police is that they can't tell until they see the med ID, so it's on the person involved to communicate the issue. That became a VERY heated discussion... you can imagine! Public safety over personal safety, got it copper!

    Perhaps a tattoo on the forehead and forego any possible issues?

    7 months ago

  • Brittany

    A tattoo on the forehead would probably alert the cops, but I dont think that it would be attractive! ha.  I love how you said "Its on the person involved to communicate the issue" As if when theres maybe a diabetic shock going on that there is no response! I had a medical ID tag on my necklace and than I have I.C.E on my cell phone as the number one caller. I haven't had any problems so far ((Knock on wood))

    7 months ago

  • Mistik

    Okay, perhaps I got a bit fatalistic then! I will hope for the best and keep my ID's on me! What's I.C.E.???

    7 months ago

  • chelle

    I have ICE too on my phone.  In Case of Emergency.Something for people to look for if you have nothing else on you. ID tag necklace and Med ID card in my purse as well.  I have a penicillin allergy too so i have to be really careful.

    6 months ago

  • Mistik

    Ah, I have my husband as AShawn, so he's at the top of the phone list, but will go back and make it say ICE by his name! Thanks for that idea ladies!

    6 months ago

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