New ER RN job/ worried because of my random hypoglycemia.

brainkandy87 · Jan 28, 2012

I was dx as a non-DM hypoglycemic when I was a kid and I was worried about it when I started clinicals in nsg school. The last thing you want is a hypo fit and not even be able to create a sentence while caring for a pt. Anyway, some stuff I've found helpful...

Not having time to sit down and have a regular lunch is actually beneficial. I've always eaten several small meals/snacks throughout the day to keep my sugar stable and you can apply this while working. Bring yourself plenty of food/snacks to eat throughout the day. Every couple hours, take a few minutes to eat a snack. Fruit cups, snack bars, etc. Even in the ER, there's time to take a couple minutes to grab a snack, especially if it going without means possible detrimental care to the pt.

Keep some glucose tablets around. While you never want to get to the point where you have a hypo attack, it does happen. Still happens to me every now and then. I just get busy and eating is the last thing on my brain. Having glucose tabs around when you have a hypo attack is a lot easier than trying to find some juice and cookies, especially in the middle of the ER.

Good luck!

EDRN10 · Jan 28, 2012

jdion,

While i'm not hypoglycemic I don't think you'll have any problems. Even in the busiest of ER's it is possible to take a couple of minutes every hour or two to get a quick snack down. Always remember that you have to take care of yourself first. If you can't take care of yourself then you can't take care of any patients.

EDRN10

TinyRNgrl · Jan 28, 2012

I agree with brainkandy, I have the same problems of periods of low BS even though I am non diabetic. I too keep glucose tablets in my work bag. (super cheap at wal-mart, like 98 cents for a little roll of them) Keep snacky foods that can be "eaten on the run". Trail mix, peanuts, apple slices, ......you get the point. I also keep a jar of peanut butter in my locker when I really need something for in my gut to eat with graham crackers.

ER is crazy at times. But even in the craziest of nights I always find time to run into the breakroom for a few minutes and "snack". Otherwise, I would be useless as a nurse in a bed myself getting a amp of d50 through my IV.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jan 28, 2012

I just make sure I have protein bars and shakes with me -- they usually contain some carbs, plus protein to keep me evened out just fine. :) One time I chugged a protein shake when we had two codes coming in by rescue and it came right back up about 10 minutes later, I had to hand over bagging one of the codes to someone else and run for the bathroom. Hahaha. I've learned not to slam those things!

Footballnut · Jan 31, 2012

I don't think anything will last you for 12 hours. There's a reason snacks abound in the ED. People are using a lot of energy working. I try to keep healthy snacks close like nuts and fruit and try to avoid the quick sugar. I notice when I get low I almost cannot avoid sugar/chocolate if I don't have something good to replace it.

I recently read an interesting study about your ability to make decisions and your current level of fuel for your brain. Check it out:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/magazine/do-you-suffer-from-decision-fatigue.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&ref=general&src=me

The study talks about decision fatigue and the role of maintaining constant stores of energy from nutrition to make decisions. I figure I make about a million decisions a day in the ED so I use up my stores continually. It's just good nursing practice to keep the fuel for the brain coming all the time.

jdion · Jan 31, 2012

great advice. i just purchased some glucose tablets, just in case. . .

Vespertinas · Feb 1, 2012

Me tooo! Yeah, protein bars and shakes. Though I don't know WHAT you're talking about though when you say "last you the whole 12 hrs" cuz you DO still need to eat a real meal or 2.

jdion · Feb 1, 2012

if you had read the post, I said I eat about every two hours. I'm not looking for one meal/ or one shake that is going to last me 12 hrs, clearlly. thanks

jdion · Feb 1, 2012

I mean we both have degrees, right? your degree is in stating the obvious, but hey. . .

Vespertinas · Feb 3, 2012

You said you "typically" eat every 2 hours so it sounded like in this case you were looking for something to last you 12 hours since it's possible that at this new job you can't accommodate your eating schedule.

Yes, I have a degree in nursing. Maybe a minor in caps lock, but you shouldn't misinterpret that as a nasty attitude.

miss_vtRN · Feb 4, 2012

I have the same problem! I keep a little stash next to my computer: water bottle, 2-3 energy bars and a banana or clementine. They are my emergency snacks! Kidz Clif bars and LARABARS seem to work best for correcting my blood sugar- both a packed with fiber and nuts so they don't cause a sugar spike/drop. It takes 30 seconds to scarf one down and I don't have to worry about when my break is. :-)