Police Officer's Quick Thinking Saves Subway Passenger with a Bottle of Yogurt

A Police Officer Saves a Type 1 Diabetes Patient
with a Bottle of Yogurt at a Subway Station

The story of a police officer who saved the life of a type 1 diabetes patient who lost consciousness and collapsed at a subway station with a single bottle of yogurt has drawn widespread attention.

A police officer purchasing yogurt at a convenience store. 'Korea National Police Agency' YouTube

On June 10, a video titled "A police officer bought yogurt while on duty? What happened" was posted on the official YouTube channel of the National Police Agency. The video shows a woman staggering down the stairs at a subway station in Seoul last April, unable to keep her balance.

Alarmed by her condition, citizens tried to help the woman and also reported the incident to the police. However, by the time the police arrived at the scene, the woman was repeatedly collapsing and was unable to communicate.

Using a portable fingerprint scanner, the police identified the woman and, after contacting her guardian, learned that she was a type 1 diabetes patient. Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the beta cells of the pancreas are destroyed, preventing the body from producing any insulin. It is completely different from type 2 diabetes, which is mainly caused by lifestyle factors, and its cause is unknown. Because blood sugar levels can fluctuate rapidly between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, patients must frequently monitor and manage their blood sugar, and external insulin administration is essential for survival.

After hearing from the guardian that the woman appeared to be experiencing hypoglycemic shock, one police officer suddenly seemed to remember something and quickly ran off somewhere. The officer's destination was a convenience store. The officer purchased a bottle of yogurt to raise the woman's blood sugar and handed it to her. After taking a few sips, the woman soon regained consciousness. At the time, her blood sugar level had reportedly dropped to 30 mg/dL, a level that could have been fatal.

Thanks to the police officer's prompt action, the woman's condition improved to the point where she was able to respond to questions when the 119 emergency team arrived. She was later transferred to a hospital, where she received treatment and reportedly regained her health.

Viewers who watched the video left comments such as "A decision that saved a life" and "Impressive quick and calm response," expressing their gratitude.