Hi everyone! I’m wondering if anyone has used an EpiPen for allergic reactions to bee stings? I ask because last night my 14 year old son was stung twice by wasp(s). He’s been stung before, with mild reactions- just pain and itching, but this time the reaction was more severe. He broke out in hives all over his body. I gave him Benadryl, Tylenol, and used Benadryl cream on the rash and sting sites. I was closely monitoring him to be sure the reaction didn’t continue to get worse. He did not have any breathing difficulties at all, and the redness started to fade shortly after taking the Benadryl with no new hives appearing. Thankfully he’s much better today with only a little soreness. I’m thinking he may need an EpiPen just in case next time the reaction escalates even more. I wanted to check to see if anyone on the forum has information on if/how epinephrine affects BG levels?
Sorry to hear about your son’s sings, and I’m glad he’s okay. Keep in mind that epipen must be prescribed - usually by an allergist. They should know how it affects glucose although your endo will likely advise on exactly how to manage the effects.
@WarriorMom13 if anything, epinephrine will raise blood sugar, but if he can’t breathe, then take care of that first, and blood sugar second. good luck!
You need to have him tested by an MD, board certified in Allergy Medicine by American Board of Allergy and Immunology (https://www.abai.org/). A full blown anaphylactic response to another bee sting can be fatal in less than 6 minutes caused by the airway swelling.
This is a MISSION CRITICAL situation. Act now. Also, both the bee sting and diabetes need to be in his §504 plan for school. With the bee sting Epi Pen and his diabetic supplies, they need to be within arms reach at all times. Think LOCK DOWN. If the epi pen is in the nurse’s office lock down, it won’t move.
Read on
Lockdown or evacuation can occur any time, any place, & brings a first responder acronym to mind. The acronym is ASAP, Always Suspicious, Always Prepared.
Parent Assignment: Google or watch original NCIS Season 1 Episode 1 entitled YANKEE WHITE to grasp what President’s Nuclear Football is. The student’s kit is their football. It needs to be within arm’s reach at all times. What should be in a student’s football?
- A 3-5 day minimum of the following Diabetes Management Supplies
- Treatment for hypoglycemic events – dextrose candy & protein bars
- Meter with supplies as ordered by prescriber.
- Glucagon, etc for unconscious hypoglycemic events
- Pump site set change supplies.
- CGM change supplies.
- Additional supplies as agreed upon by parent, prescriber, & school staff.
- Simplified copy of DMMP – written grade specific for student or peer. RATIONALE: If in lockdown, having written instructions a teacher or classmate can follow is potentially lifesaving. After all, a child is able to use a Gvoke pen.
Where should the student’s football be kept? -
The question has been raised here and in a few other places. Some LEOs (law enforcement officers) familiar with lock down, be it school, business, or other places, shared about a diabetic student’s supplies. -
Once a lock down is activated, the only thing that moves is air in and out of lungs. The nuclear football is never any further away than a bathroom stall door from the President. The child’s diabetic football should never be more than 2 arms lengths away from the student and it accompanies them everywhere, restroom, school office, lunchroom, etc. -
The football may be a backpack. It carried from front door to front door of their home, on the school bus, class to class, and everywhere at school -
When the child moves, the football moves, is the ideal. -
Now, the ‘how to’ is reality fine-tuned to real world?
Where should the student’s football not be?
-
In the nurse’s office. -
In the school ‘front office’. -
With the school secretary.