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Diabetic emergency leads California man to $1M lottery prize

By Ben Hooper
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Dec. 13 (UPI) -- A California man who won a $1 million lottery jackpot credited his good fortune to an unlikely source -- a diabetic emergency.

Jose Rodriguez, 45, of La Puente, told California Lottery officials he and his girlfriend were driving to his aunt's 80th birthday party in Indio when he started feeling the effects of low blood sugar.

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"I'd just recently started taking Insulin [to help treat diabetes]," Rodriguez said. "We were in a hurry that morning, so I didn't have time to eat. On the way, I noticed my blood [glucose] level dropping, so we had to stop at a Circle K in West Covina so I could get a couple of candy bars and a drink."

Rodriguez said he also decided to buy a $20 Winning Millions Scratchers ticket, which turned out to be a $1 million winner.

"I'd never even been to that store before," Rodriguez said. "I always buy my Scratchers closer to home, but we had to stop because of my low blood sugar level. I go inside, buy a couple of candy bars, a drink, a Scratchers and I won! Ha-ha. Crazy, huh? All because I needed a candy bar, which I never buy!"

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Rodriguez said he bought a California Black Premium Scratchers ticket after his aunt's party and ended up winning an additional $20.

"I'm still in shock," Rodriguez said. "I still haven't figured out what I'm going to do with this money."

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