Diabetic Recipes
My girlfriend's calling me a diabetic angel, and not to brag, but I kind of feel like one. I experienced some kind of intervention yesterday, or at least something bigger than me, that connected me with a stranger.
I was on my way to go see my grandma. I was driving on a secondary road, a short-cut to pick up the highway and not many people use it. I came across a car that was parked, literally, in the middle of the road. I had seen a car ahead of me drive around it without so much as slowing down, but I thought it was unusal, so I stopped to check it out. I pulled alongside it, rolled down my window and said, "Hey, you're in the middle of the road, is everything ok?" In my gut, I can't explain it, but I had a feeling I knew what was wrong. He looked at me and he just looked like he was so out of it. His eyes were dazed and his face flushed. I walked around to the driver's side of the car and reached out my hand to touch him and his skin was cold and clammy. At this point, I don't know why, but I just knew that this man was probably diabetic and he was suffering from hypoglycemia. I asked, "Are you diabetic?" It was weird because that was the only question that actually made sense to him, and he looked at me with those lost eyes and said, "Yes," clear as day.
I could immediately relate to this man. I reached into my pocket and pulled out some glucose tablets and handed them to him. At first he refused the offer, but I finally was able to get him to eat them on his own. I then put the car in park. (He was sitting with his car in drive, turning the wheel as if he was still driving.) I got him to get out of the car and sat him on the tailgate of my truck. I got into his car and parked it on the side of the road and turned the flashers on. Then, I called 9-1-1. I looked over at him and noticed he was wearing a medical alert necklace that read, "Type 1 Insulin Dependant Diabetic, Call 1-800 ... if found". My intuition was confirmed.
The paramedics arrived less than ten minutes later. They tested his sugar and it was 32 mg/dl. This was fifteen minutes after I had given him those tablets. I can't even imagine how low he was when I first saw him. The paramedics told me that by stopping and giving him that sugar, I saved him from being hooked up to an IV, a trip to the hospital, and who knows what else. I can't help but think of all the things that could have happened.
I can't explain how close we got through this experience; I bonded with him the moment I pulled up next to his car. It took about a half an hour for him to come around. When his sugar was high enough to carry on a conversation, I learned so much about my new friend. Mike is a 61 year old man who has been living with Type 1 since he was five. He was just in town visiting a friend. Now I have Mike's phone number and we've already had a conversation. He continues to express his sincerest appreciation to me and told me he's alive and well thanks to me. What an amazing feeling!
This is the most humble that I can ever recall being. The funny thing is I wasn't having a very good day before that. He says I helped him, but in a way this whole experience has helped me. I truly believe this was more than just a coincidence.
Love ya Mike,
Your "Diabetic Angel," Andy ;)
What a story! Kudos to you for stopping, this man likely was on his way to a Really bad day... strong work Andy!
Wow, Andy! What an amazing story. You may be too humble to tell the local media, but this would make for a great newspaper story. Great job!
Thanks Scott and Carey. I appreciate it :)
Andy, Have you read or heard about the book "When God Winks" by SQuire Rushnell? It's about how the power of coincidence rules our lives. It's truly amazing. This is exactly the kind of story you would find in that book. You're right...this was definitely more than a coincidence.
No I haven't...but I'll look into it! Thanks Michelle :) -Andy
That was so uplifting to me!
Thank you for sharing Andy!!!!
Thank you shanteldc3 :) I appreciate it. I has been uplifting me ever since it happened I was very fortunate to have such an experience. I hope karma is good to me.! -Andy
Thanks for sharing this Andy - what a great story that I'm sure you'll remember for the rest of your life.
Absolutely skjohn8. I know it will be something I'll never forget. I really thank you for your comment. I was a little leary in sharing this story, due to privacy of the individual I assisted. I know he is ok with it though. He is a very sweet man. thanks again and all the best. -Andy
this is a great feel good story...... I believe that you are this special angel..... it is good to know that their are still angels out around who will stop and help someone in need!!!!!!this has made me smile today!!!!!!!!!
The more I've lived through, the more I am convinced that every trial we go through in our lives is meant to prepare us for the times the Deity (or Deities) require(s) us to act as His/Her (Their) Agent, to be able to help someone else. You were there because your life experiences made you uniquely able to assist Mike at a time he needed the help. And you behaved in a way that you, accepting diabetes and its effects as "normal", would have considered unextraordinary. This is the way the Deity (or Deities) work(s) miracles... not by Signs and Wonders, but by signs and wonders.
Thank you tmana for your comments. I appreciate your insight on the experience I had the other day. Thanks again. -Andy
VERY GOOD STORY..IT WAS A WAKE UP CALL FOR ME..HAVE NOT BEEN TAKING AS GOOD OF CARE FOR MYSELF AS I SHOULD HAVE ....THANKS ANDY
Im glad it helped kingfish7. let me know how things go. -Andy
Thank you 7223grays! Im glad this made you smile!! -Andy
WOW all I can say is that God is an awesome God to have sent you on that road at that time to help this man you are God,s chosen angel make no mistake you are a special person to have stopped to help Bless you aloha janet
God intervenes at times. Not everyone would have known what was wrong with this mad. But a diabetic would. So God lined it all up so that you could help him! I'm happy for him and for you.
Hey Andy. I too am diabetic and your story is so similar to a situation where I was the one who was visited by an angel. I was coming home from a sunset with my 2 (very) young children when my blood sugar dropped drastically. I couldn't remember how to get home (less than a mile!) & just stopped my van in the middle of the road. Cars also just went around me & ignored me until one stopped & a girl approached asking if I was alright. I was able to tell her I was diabetic & (it seemed) immediately she had a short cup of oj. She later told me her mother & brother were diabetic & that's how she was able to help me. I never saw her again until years later, I was offered the opportunity to speak at my community college graduation for occupational therapy assistant. I was petrified to get up & speak in front of hundreds of people, but something urged me on. There sitting on the podium next to me was the president of the class, a young(er) graduate. While they were announcing grad names for diplomas, somehow we got to talking & she told me her mother & brother were diabetic. It took only another 30 seconds to realize that this was my angel in the flesh, & this was why I was chosen to speak at graduation! I admire that you had been given the opportunity to help another in distress -- it just shows how much we all need one another.
Thank you all janet707, cerichards21, and jekyllks for sharing your thoughts and stories with me and everyone out there! Life is so interesting sometimes, I have heard it said, (and im kinda believing it) "their is no such thing as a coincedence". I really appreciate everyone's feedback. Your friend, -andy.
I hope someone is there to help me if I am ever in such a situation! Although I have been diabetic for over 35 years now, I have never passed out, nor have I been all that close to passing out. I know though that it can happen, especially now while I'm trying to get my HA1Cs in tighter control. One of the reasons that I have fear of passing out is that people will just keep on going or will be asking all sorts of dumb questions to me like "Ma'am, do you know where you are?" instead of just pitching in & helping me out of my crisis. When one's blood sugars are that low, it's hard to speak, nevermind think or answer questions. So many people out there are so afraid of getting sued. I just hope that my angel comes to my aid like you did for the sweet lady!
Hi,my name is Lisa Crace,my daughter Allison has type1, she was diagnosed at age 13,she is now 18. I have a similar story, my daughter was at a college seminar, A lady sat down and introduced herself,she said my name is Lisa, my daughter dozed off, the lady tapped her on the shoulder and said, are you ok? To make the story short Allisons sugar was low thank God for the lady that sat down beside of my daughter and sensed something was wrong. Lisa
Andy, you are angel. I have met several of your kind driving here in Sarasota,Fl. I am type 1 pump user who has his cell phone set to ring at 10am and at 2:15pm to remind me to eat a snack (so important) but for some reason my BS will drop very low ( 30s and 40s)
before it's snack time and I get into trouble.
I have been found in the middle of the road or off on the side many times by angels who have called 911. They come and get me back on my feet with an IV and call my partner who comes and gets me after my BS is above 70.
Now I make sure my BS is above 100 and I have a snack in the car and I will not be gone for no more than 1 hour. This is not easy at 55 years old!! My diabetes is very unstable!
After 5 years of working with all kinds of Drs. But I can't let it get the best of me!!
Thank you for being there for that gentleman.
You should be commended for your actions.
John
Thanks John :) I appreciate it. But WE GOT TO figure out what's going on with your lows.!!? I too have alarms set on my phone. thank goodness for modern tech. and for people ("angels") who stop and give you a hand. keep up the good fight buddy, talk to ya soon. -Andy