The Hamilton Spectator

Diabetic lesson

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I recently came back from the Dominican. One evening, a woman I met briefly at the pool came into the lobby and asked if she could sit with me. We were having some good conversati­on, but after a half-hour she became very strange. Slurring her words, teetering on her chair and not making sense. Initially I wondered, did she take drugs? She became progressiv­ely worse. I noticed this very pretty necklace around her neck and instinct took over. I read diabetic. As she was slipping off the chair I yelled at her what do you need? She slurred “sugar.” I ran to the bar screaming and shoving people aside that I need orange juice now and no alcohol and said diabetic. The bartender instantly got me what I needed and with the help of some nurses around the bar and a doctor they were able to get her stable. I could have easily walked away. But my hunch was to look for a clue. Please, if a stranger or anyone acts odd do not assume too much alcohol. Look for anything such as that Medic Alert necklace. Judy Fernandes, Hamilton

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