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Bittersweet Success
Fun: (2.74)
Difficulty: (1.59)
Puzzle ID: #31199
Submitted By: FreddyPharkas Corrected By: FreddyPharkas
Submitted By: FreddyPharkas Corrected By: FreddyPharkas
Science
Science brain teasers require understanding of the physical or biological world and the laws that govern it.Science
Fred, a recently diagnosed diabetic, started to feel very dizzy and faint. "I don't know what to do," he slurred, "I've used my insulin like the doc said and I didn't eat anything since breakfast, never mind anything sweet." His friends couldn't agree what to do. Jim suggested giving sugar as he was sure he'd heard that before. Mike disagreed. He knew diabetes caused high blood sugar, so suggested giving Fred another shot of insulin. Who was correct?
Hint
This probably wouldn't have happened before he was diagnosed. What does his insulin treatment do?Answer
Jim was correct, though he didn't know why. Fred was experiencing diabetic hypoglycemia (UK - hypoglycaemia), low blood sugar. The body releases insulin to store sugar as required but this doesn't happen in a patient such as Fred. He artificially introduced insulin when he hadn't even eaten, reducing his blood glucose to dangerously low levels. Giving glucose would be the fastest treatment, as it is quickly absorbed without digestion.Fred needs to eat regular, balanced meals whilst using regular insulin to avoid this recurring. Mike's suggestion to give further insulin would have just made things worse, probably inducing coma (which would have made it impossible to give the glucose) and possibly leading to death.
As it mentions in the hint, if Fred hadn't been treated for diabetes his blood sugar would have been consistently high, so hypoglycemia would not happen.
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Comments
This is the first teaser I've had accepted. Hope you like it.
Very informative. I like it.
Good teaser! I have to admit I knew the answer since our son is a diabetic! But, I'm sure it will make a LOT of people think! Congrats!
People who are not in medicine or haven't known a diabetic might not recognize hypoglycemia, but we've all probably seen someone going through it. Thanks for bringing this potentially deadly & fairly common condition to our attention, Mr. Pharkas. Nice job!
u did goodat giving info good
I figured his sugar was low rather than high, but I didn't know all the science behind it. I know several diabetics and found this very infomative. Great teaser!!
eh
Great teaser, i got the answer because i know about diabetes, how many teasers have you submitted?
oh, and great title too
I'm really sorry to say this, but I found the answer to this very obvious. Insulin reduces blood sugar levels, and if someone who had not consumed food took insulin, we would expect that their blood sugar was too low. But great effort!
Thanks for all the positive feedback.
To Schoo, I had three or four rejections before this was accepted.
To Barrom, they're all easy if you know the answers but I know what you mean. If I'd made it too complicated it probably would have been rejected.
To Schoo, I had three or four rejections before this was accepted.
To Barrom, they're all easy if you know the answers but I know what you mean. If I'd made it too complicated it probably would have been rejected.
This is more of a general knowledge question than a teaser, but good anyway.
If you know that someone is diabetic and in trouble, but you don't know if they are hypoglycaemic (low sugar) or hyperglycaemic (high suger) always give suger. If they are hypoglycaemic suger will make them feel better. If they are hyperglycaemic the abount of suger you give them will not make it any worse, Its like adding a teaspoon of suger to a mountain of suger, not much difference.
If you know that someone is diabetic and in trouble, but you don't know if they are hypoglycaemic (low sugar) or hyperglycaemic (high suger) always give suger. If they are hypoglycaemic suger will make them feel better. If they are hyperglycaemic the abount of suger you give them will not make it any worse, Its like adding a teaspoon of suger to a mountain of suger, not much difference.
weird
I knew that cause I once had a diabetic cat...
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