Big Brother - Hypoglycemia Seizure

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If someone is having a seizure as a result of hypoglycemia, wouldn't giving them something by mouth be a risk for aspiration? I'm asking this because I was watching Big Brother the other night and on of the contestants had a seizure and then the nurse was putting something in her mouth, is this what you normally do? I'm currently in nursing school and we just studied diabetes and hypo and hyperglycemia but we didn't really touch on what you would do if they were having a seizure.

I just started a paramedic program, so we havent learned our pharmacology yet, but ive heard several stories of administering drugs rectally during a seizure, i didnt see anyone mention this? is this something only used in the field?

i don't know the answer to your question.

but i too, have filled a syringe w/thickened, sweetened liquid and administered it rectally.

leslie

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
as for the whole amanda thing, i know that it sounds horribly cynical, but i suspect that she may have let her sugar go that low on purpose to regain the good will of the house.

i know that i am a suspicious person, but we will all have to see what happens tonight on the show.

no more suspicious than i am! i said to dh that i think she was hoping to pass out (not to seiz) on purpose to gain sympathy. i do believe that. how stupid is that? i don't think it will save her only make her more likely to be voted out so she can get the food that she needs and not be subjected to slop. in the early years it was mandatory pb & j. i could live with that. hey and there's your protein and sugar. they may rethink it after this happened.

i'm dying to know what allison reacted to??? she said she usually has an epipen, obviously she has a hx.

what is slop made out of anyway? i used to know.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
i just started a paramedic program, so we havent learned our pharmacology yet, but ive heard several stories of administering drugs rectally during a seizure, i didnt see anyone mention this? is this something only used in the field?

i would think if a person was seizing, mouth clamped shut, no iv access, that would be the route used, not necessarily the route of choice. ;)

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I thought if in doubt, & no way to check quickly, you treat it as hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia comes on fast. Hyperglycemia is slower and you have more time to react and realize what is going on.

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Specializes in private duty/home health, med/surg.
I just started a paramedic program, so we havent learned our pharmacology yet, but ive heard several stories of administering drugs rectally during a seizure, i didnt see anyone mention this? is this something only used in the field?

The medication is called Diastat--it is basically a preparation of diazepam for rectal administration. Parents who have children at risk for status epilepticus often have this available.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, ED.

i was interested in the show myself, having seen the ads for the 'medical emergencies'.

I think the nurse did great, and she even managed not to get bit when the pt seized. I did think that maybe giving the pt a drink was bad timing though, as I worried about aspiration too.

I wonder why both of them came back to the house the same night and didn't stay for observation?

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Amanda is not a diabetic, she just is hypoglycemic (I am as well). She knew her sugar was low and was walking to the diary room to ask if she could eat some fruit or something when she passed out. She was awake when the RN put the gel in her mouth, and even sat up. I think the RN did a great job!

If you watch the episode (it's online on the BB website) she passes out and then wakes up and is moving around--I'm not sure that she had a seizure. She has hypoglycemic jerky movements and confused as hell, but I'm not seeing a seizure.

Allison, the girl who had the allergic reaction said later on when someone asked her what an epipen was that is was insulin....lol, anyone else notice that? I can't remember if it was on the show where she said that or BB After Dark on Showtime but I started laughing when she said that. She also mentioned she never had an allergic reaction like that before.

And ya, I think she might have made her sugar low on purpose.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
I thought if in doubt, & no way to check quickly, you treat it as hypoglycemia?

Correct.

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no more suspicious than i am! i said to dh that i think she was hoping to pass out (not to seiz) on purpose to gain sympathy. i do believe that. how stupid is that? i don't think it will save her only make her more likely to be voted out so she can get the food that she needs and not be subjected to slop. in the early years it was mandatory pb & j. i could live with that. hey and there's your protein and sugar. they may rethink it after this happened.

i'm dying to know what allison reacted to??? she said she usually has an epipen, obviously she has a hx.

what is slop made out of anyway? i used to know.

i've never watched this show either and my mom sent me a link to a house video to ask my opinion. this chick was in the kitchen minutes before she passed out, filing her nails talking to someone about how she needs sugar. the woman she is talking to is eating a cookie, there is peanut butter on the counter....she has a medical condition she is aware of but does not have glucotabs or even life savers with her glucometer..... what the??? this is why i don't watch these reality shows.

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Specializes in EMS, ortho/post-op.
i would think if a person was seizing, mouth clamped shut, no iv access, that would be the route used, not necessarily the route of choice. ;)

sure, you can do that, but you could also attempt to get an iv or give glucagon im. i started an iv on a very combative patient a few days ago without a problem. 1 attempt, got a 22 in the left wrist and managed to draw labs, flush the iv, secure it, and get saline connected and flowing well while she was actively fighting me. honestly, it wasn't that difficult. this girl was unresponsive and ended up having a stroke and was decorticate before we left the scene. it took about 15 seconds from looking at her wrist to find the vein, wiping the site with the alcohol prep, and sticking her with the needle to get the iv and probably a minute to get everything else done. you can't convince me that rectal drugs would be faster.

even if you waited until the seizure was over, d50 would be absorbed way faster than rectal glucose.

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I believe you can tell the difference b/w hypo and hyper states w/o a finger stick. Hyper will come on slowly, fruity smelling breath, before the episode there would be excessive thirst and urination-this would be true with both DKA & HHNKS. Hypo would leave the pt confused, tachy, sweaty. If you don't know you treat as hypo. The average layperson giving sugar to someone whose BS is already 580 isn't going to make much of a difference.

Also, honey or other thick sugars can be very effectively administered buccally with little risk of aspiration for the unconscious or semiconscious pt. What a fun job to be a nurse on a reality show, or for some adventure race.

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Specializes in med-surg.
I've never watched this show either and my mom sent me a link to a house video to ask my opinion. This chick was in the kitchen minutes before she passed out, filing her nails talking to someone about how she needs sugar. The woman she is talking to is eating a cookie, there is peanut butter on the counter....she has a medical condition she is aware of but does not have glucotabs or even life savers with her glucometer..... What the??? This is why I don't watch these reality shows.

I agree. I did not see the show, so I won't make the accusation of chicanery, but the network had been advertising the 'drama' the last few days. I've gotten jaded on all of these reality shows. Once a diehard Survivor fan, I actually groaned when I heard a new season was starting.

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