(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",nw} 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.

"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!

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.

Copyright 2017 by United Press International