"I need to eat, I'm a diabetic!"

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2014

When you want free food, any excuse will do.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Nov 14, 2014

Meanie. LOL!

allnurses Guide · Nov 14, 2014

"I need a sandwich 'cause I haven't eaten in 24 hours". Of course he had money enough to get drunk last night, spend the night in the ER, leave in the morning and get more alcohol throughout the day,,,,, but no food. After all, the Hotel Hospitality & Drug Spa will provide!

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Nov 14, 2014

The cafeteria is open until 2am and I will be happy to point you in the right direction.

HikingEDRN, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2014

One of my ED docs remarked dryly: "That's the problem, not the solution" when I told him the patient wanted to eat because "I am diabetic." Like the OP, sugar over 200.

ButterflyRN90, ASN, RN · Nov 14, 2014

I get a little tired of patients and their visitors demanding food because "I'm a diabetic". Last time that line was used on me by your typical overweight type 2 diabetic, I took his blood sugar. It was over 200 of course. I told him that, you only HAVE to eat when your blood sugar is low, and no, I'm not getting you a sandwich, your blood sugar is actually high. This was an ER patient with a minor complaint.

He's going to be hungry. Polyphagia is a symptom of hyperglycemia. You don't have to be condescending. As a type 1, I've told a nurse in the hospital that I was hungry. She commented the same, rudely, to which I told her: "Are you diabetic? No? Ok then. Iknow my blood sugar is 300. I'm not going to eat, but understand the incessant hunger and thirst I feel and try to not be condescending."

roser13, ASN, RN · Nov 14, 2014

My all-time fave:

"Ah am a diah-BET-ic and the last thing Ah ate was this mornin when Ah ate mah breakfast doughnut!"

MunoRN, RN · Nov 14, 2014

There are certainly times when a patient doesn't actually have to eat, but for many diabetics it is actually true that they may need to eat even though their blood glucose is over 200 due to regular fluctuations in BG. I have had patients who have sudden drops in BG at certain times of day, and yes, if they don't get some form of glucose prior to that they'll drop below 50 even if their BG is 300 shortly before that.

It's also important to remember that ketosis can occur due to lack of energy intake just as easily as lack of insulin. This is why type one's in particular should be on D5 when NPO regardless of whether or not their BG is normal or not.

SoaringOwl · Nov 14, 2014

He's going to be hungry. Polyphagia is a symptom of hyperglycemia. You don't have to be condescending. As a type 1, I've told a nurse in the hospital that I was hungry. She commented the same, rudely, to which I told her: "Are you diabetic? No? Ok then. Iknow my blood sugar is 300. I'm not going to eat, but understand the incessant hunger and thirst I feel and try to not be condescending."

Exactly. Just because there's sugar in the blood doesn't mean there's sugar in the cells.

toomuchbaloney · Nov 14, 2014

We have to keep in mind that nurses are being asked to be customer service representatives for the hospital in those moments, not nurses. At the same time, those nurses, frustrated with this change in their role and focus while being given no additional resources to do BOTH the customer service AND the nursing duties begin to blame and judge the patients. It is decidedly not a very professional stance and most patients are aware that they are being judged. After they experience that sort of uncaring appraisal and dismissal of their needs, feelings, wants a couple of times many develop a compensatory attitude to get them through the health encounters.

Bad attitude on both sides of the chronic health care issues, in my opinion.

Emergent, RN · Nov 15, 2014

As far as how I spoke to the patient, no, I was not condescending. I used it as a teaching moment that only low blood sugar requires immediate food intake. I was very polite. I'm known for my bedside manner, I'm always tactful.