Death from Pump Malfunction
I just saw this on my Facebook feed and I thought it should be shared here. For those who do not want to read bad news about diabetes, please stop reading here.
KOMO-4 News in Seattle, Washington is reporting that their new weekend anchor, Joel Connable, a diabetic, died on Tuesday from a pump malfunction. He had called off on Monday and when he didn't return phone calls on Tuesday, his employer asked the police to check on him. They found him dead on his apartment floor.
The New York Daily News speculates that Connable may not have known his pump was malfunctioning and this malfunction continued until he began to experience seizures.
During this national Diabetes Month and leading up to World Diabetes Day, I hope this is a reminder that though insulin is a miracle, our lives are still held in a precarious balance every day. Over the 19 years, 8 months that have passed since my diagnosis, I have known many people with diabetes and many of those I knew in the early days have now died. As grateful I am for insulin, I would much prefer a cure!
Angela
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clare on -
That is just horrible. But at the same time one has to wonder. Didn't this person check his blood sugar ? I mean if I were a pumper, and I am not, I would be checking my blood sugars regularly. And I agree after 37 years, 6 months since my diagnosis, I would certainly prefer a cure, but as grateful as I am for insulin, I do realize that it can also be a deadly drug.
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Permalink Reply by AngelaC on -
Apparently, he went DKA fairly quickly, if the reporting at local10.com is to be believed. I don't doubt it, as I've seen it happen, though I do know it is unusual.
Don't get me wrong, I am quite grateful for insulin. But when I read someone getting excited over the latest bg meter or dm management ap for their iPhone, I'm reminded of the fact that all these "things" are just pretty trappings to make what really is an ugly disease more palatable. :~
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Permalink Reply by Betty J on
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I'm sure we all would prefer a cure. I knew from the beginning that Diabetes can be a killer and also the same for insulin. At 16 I went into DKA and when I came to I realized what I had could kill me and as the years (53) have progressed I knew that insulin's side effect could also be death but since I'm dependent on it to live I continue to live. In my later years I learned to use the pump and have loved every moment of pumping. I know that what ever happens that Diabetes might be the source of my death but I still continue to live.
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Permalink Reply by Timothy on -
It would be a rare thing if this happened the way it was presented. Usually pump malfunctions cause the pump to stop instead of delivering more than wanted.
I have had an Amnimas pump and a minimed. Ive seen both fail a few times but generally just lock up and stop delivering. i heard one story where it was reported a pump spontaneously delivered the entire cartridge into the patient, but that story was found to be untrue. That person kept bolusing over and over thinking his pump was not delivering, but it was. So he killed himself really.I am always wary of stories about diabetics in the news because it happens so often to be totally wrong. Like someone died from too much sugar instead of too much insulin. Somehow reporters get this backwards a lot.
I googled this story and did not find other than the story posted. I am very curious to learn what actually happened, as I am a pumper, I have never worried about this possibility before.I wish they would go into more detail about the malfunction.
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Permalink Reply by MegaMinxX on -
I agree Tim, and also googled for more details.
I found the following reported as being posted on FB by family:
"The lead line was disconnected without his realizing it."
http://www.local10.com/news/Former-NBC-6-Anchor-Joel-Connable-dies-...
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Permalink Reply by jrtpup on -
'lead line'. Sorry, but my inference from that is that someone's got something wrong. If 'lead line' means tubing, he would have gotten NO insulin if it were disconnected from either end. They don't say if he went hypo or hyper. I can't imagine someone with D as long as he had it going THAT high without knowing something was wrong, and checking...?
Of course there's a risk with anything mechanical delivering something that can be deadly. It's something I'm aware of with my pump, but honestly not concerned about. I've also heard of people forgetting they've taken their insulin and double dosing.
Waiting for the whole story :) TG for insulin. Whatever the cause, it's very sad ;(
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Permalink Reply by Sue59 on -
Or taking the wrong insulin and going into insulin shock (been there done that). I took 20 units of Humalog instead of Lantus, went to sleep and ended up in the ER and almost died, per the nurse.
I thank God for insulin, but also for my pump. There's no chance I'll take the wrong insulin again as long as I'm on the pump.
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Permalink Reply by AngelaC on
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While the details might be off (here's another source for the death announcement: 1ocal10.com), there is one thing that is certain: He did die.
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Permalink Reply by AngelaC on
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Wonderful attitude, Betty. :) Better to light a candle than curse the darkness, eh?
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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on -
Which brand of pump was it would be the $64 question!
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Permalink Reply by Zoe on -
Has anyone seen the commercial where they say, "If it's on the internet, it must be true"? Don't believe it. I do think urban legends have gotten more interesting in the age of technology.
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