Lack of Blood Sugar Testing Likely Led to Death of Diabetic Immate

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve RRR on November 13, 2007 at 8:07pm

This is very sad. Even sadder is the fact that this happens from time to time in the US.

IMHO, one of the best things the ADA does is to mount legal cases like the one described in the Sept 2003 Forecast article below about the Philadelphia jail system.

What if you were arrested and not given access to your insulin?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Emily Whiting on November 18, 2007 at 12:04am

I was recently in jail sitting out traffic tickets they let me keep my pump although I was there for 2 days and was told I could only test once a day. But in fact I was only allowed to test once the whole time I was there. and that was because when I went to go see the judge he saw my insulin pump (he was a diabetic) and asked me when I last tested I told him a couple hrs before I came in. He was sooo mad he cussed out the warden but that just made things worse. I was supposed to be in there for a week but the judge came back after 14 hrs and let me go. He apologized and even walked me out to my car (my dad came and picked me up) to when I check I was 71. He told me that he would make sure changes would be made. Hopeful they well be.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve RRR on December 2, 2007 at 5:03pm

Thanks for your story, Emily.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Karen on December 3, 2007 at 12:10pm

That is a horrible outcome for that inmate. I know they say that our jails are overcrowded and may be understaffed too, but there are people jailed everyday with health issues. I say that jail nurse was negligent on the job. I hope that case gets looked into more closely. Diabetes is just not taken seriously by all people. Especially people out there in facilities like the jails. Also work places. My son was out in the work force a few years ago and wasn't given the necessary allowances at his job to be able to do his diabetic monitoring of blood sugars, have snacks etc. He was told that he would have to do it on their say so and not his. This resulted in that particular work place calling an ambulance for him as he passed out on the job due to a low blood sugar. That is just not right.

▶ Reply to This