MovieChat Forums > Doc Martin (2004) Discussion > Dangerous diabetes inaccuracy

Dangerous diabetes inaccuracy

posted 8 years ago by nancyluzer
8 replies | jump to latest

As the parent of a son with Type I diabetes, I feel I have to point out a potentially dangerous inaccuracy in the episode "Other People's Children" (Season 7, Episode 6). The boy named Jake exhibits the signs of undiagnosed diabetes on the school camping trip, wanders off, and is found unconscious. Doc Martin tests his blood sugar, finds it is 29, and administers 10 units of insulin. A blood glucose reading of 29 would indicate dangerously LOW blood sugar and should never be treated by administering insulin. In fact, injecting 10 units of insulin into someone with a blood sugar reading of 29 would likely kill him. It is very unlikely that an undiagnosed diabetic would ever have a low blood sugar reading. It would be very, very high -- in the 600 range, in which cast the administration of insulin WOULD be appropriate.

[–] apriceaboverubies29 8 years ago

Thanks for posting this. And you are exactly correct. My son also has Type I diabetes and my mouth dropped when I watched that scene. Someone on the show did not do their homework before writing that part of the script.

"Peggy, this isn't China. There's no money in virginity."

[–] herscimitar 8 years ago

You obviously live in the US.

In the UK, blood sugar level is measured in Millemoles per Litre (mmol/L) while in the US, you use millegrams per 100 millilitres (mg/dL).

To convert from mmol/L to mg/dL multiply by 18. A blood sugar of 29 on a UK machine would be equal to 522 on a US machine.

The diagnosis was spot on.

[–] mssmssmssmss 8 years ago

Thanks for the explanation! I had wondered! :o)

[–] UncleRob 8 years ago

her -- well done!

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You have meddled with the primal forces of nature, and YOU ... WILL ... ATONE!

[–] buxtehude99 8 years ago

Thank you! I almost lost my faith in the show.

[–] karpizan 8 years ago

Yes, it's amazing, isn't it? There really is life outside the USA.

[–] louiseculmer 8 years ago

Some confusion here I think. The numbers are different here in the Uk than in America. here 29 is very high. Normal blood sugar reading is between 4 and 8.

[–] doug65oh 8 years ago

Yes, it's merely a difference in units and density as I understand it. A 29 reading using the UK formula would be equal to about 522 according to US monitors. Herscimitar explained it above. Multiply or divide by 18 to properly convert.