Diabetic Coma

Description

A diabetic coma is a life-threatening disease that causes loss of consciousness. If you have diabetes, dangerously high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can lead to a diabetic coma.

If you go into a diabetic coma, you're alive, but you can't awaken or respond purposefully to sights, sounds or other types of stimulation. If untreated, a diabetic coma can result in death.

The idea of a diabetic coma can be scary, but you can take steps to help prevent this. One of the most important is to follow your treatment plan for diabetes.

Symptoms

The symptoms of high blood sugar or low sugar in the blood, usually develop before a diabetic coma.

High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)

If your blood sugar level is too high, you may have:

  • Increased thirst
  • Frequent need to urinate
  • Blurred vision
  • Tiredness or weakness
  • Headache
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Shortness of breath
  • Stomach pain
  • Fruity breath odor
  • A very dry mouth

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

If your blood sugar is too much Iw, we have:

  • Tremors
  • Anxiety
  • Fatigue or drowsiness
  • Weakness
  • Sweating
  • The hunger
  • A tingling sensation on your skin
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Headache
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Blurred vision
  • The confusion
  • Loss of consciousness

Some people, especially those who have had diabetes for a long time, develop a condition known as hypoglycemia unawareness. That means you do not have warning signs that signal a drop in blood sugar.

If you have any of the symptoms of high or low blood sugar, test your blood sugar immediately. Based on the results of the test, follow your diabetes treatment. If you do not start to feel better quickly, or you begin to feel worse, get medical attention immediately.

When to see a doctor

A diabetic coma is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms of high orw of sugar in the blood and believe that you can pass out, call 911 or your local emergency number.

If you're with someone with diabetes who has passed, call for emergency help. Tell the emergency responders that the unconscious part of the person has diabetes.

Causes

Blood sugar that is too high or too low for too long may cause the following serious health problems, all of which can lead to a diabetic coma.

  • Diabetic ketoacidosis.If the muscle cells are starved for energy, your body may begin to break down fat to the energy. This process forms toxic acids known as ketones. If you have ketones (measured in the blood or urine) and the high sugar in the blood, the condition is called diabetic ketoacidosis. If not treated, it can lead to a diabetic coma. Diabetic ketoacidosis is more common in people who have type 1 diabetes. But it can also occur in people who have type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes.
  • Diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome.If your blood sugar level rises above 600 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 33.3 millimoles per liter (mmol/L), the condition is known as diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome. When the blood sugar is too high, the excess sugar passes from the blood into the urine. That triggers a process that attracts a large amount of fluid in the body. If it is not treated, it can lead to life-threatening dehydration and a diabetic coma.
  • The hypoglycemia. Your brain needs sugar (glucose) to function. In severe cases, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can cause you to faint. Low blood sugar can be caused by an excess of insulin or it is notd'oh food. Exerting too much force or drinking too much alcohol can have the same effect.

Diabetic ketoacidosis. If the muscle cells are starved for energy, your body may begin to break down the fat into energy. This process forms toxic acids known as ket,dear. If you have ketones (measured in the blood or urine) and the high sugar in the blood, the condition is called diabetic ketoacidosis. If not treated, it can lead to a diabetic coma.

Diabetic ketoacidosis is more common in people who have type 1 diabetes. But it can also occur in people who have type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes.

Diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome. If your blood sugar level rises above 600 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 33.3 millimoles per liter (mmol/L), the condition is called diabetic hyperosmolar down syndrome.

When the blood sugar is too high, the excess sugar passes from the blood into the urine. That triggers a process that attracts a large amount of fluid in the body. If it is not treated, it can lead to life-threatening dehydration and a diabetic coma.

Risk factors

Any person who has diabetes or is at risk of a diabetic coma, but the following factors can increase the risk of:

  • The insulin delivery problems. If you are using an insulin pump, you need to check your blood sugar frequently. The administration of insulin may stop if the pump fails, or if the tube (catheter) that is twisted or falls out of place. A lack of insulin can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis.
  • A disease, trauma or surgery. When you are sick or injured, blood sugar levels can change, sometimes significantly, increasing the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis and diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome.
  • Poorly managed diabetes. If you don't control your blood sugar properly or take their medications as directed by your health care provider, you have a higher risk ofveloping long-term health problems and a higher risk of a diabetic coma.
  • Deliberately skipping meals or insulin. Sometimes, people with diabetes who also have an eating disorder choose not to use the insulin as it should, with the hope of losing weight. This a dangerous, life-threatening thing to do, and raises the risk of a diabetic coma.
  • The consumption of alcohol. Alcohol can have unpredictable effects on the blood sugar. The effects of Alcohol can make it more difficult for you to know that when you are having low blood sugar the symptoms. This may increase your risk of suffering a diabetic coma caused by hypoglycemia.
  • Use of illegal drugs. Illegal drugs, such as cocaine, can increase your risk of severe high blood sugar and the conditions attached to a diabetic coma.

Complications

If it is not treated, a diabetic coma can lead to permanent brain damage and death.

Prevention

Good day-to-day control of your diabetes can help to prevent a diabetic coma. Keep these tips in mind:

  • Follow your meal plan. Consisting of snacks and meals can help controlyour blood sugar level.
  • Keep an eye on your blood sugar level. Frequent testing of blood sugar can know if you're keeping your blood sugar level in the desired range. It also can alert you to dangerous high or low. Check more often if you have exercised. Exercise can cause blood sugar levels to drop, even hours later, especially if you do not exercise regularly.
  • Take your medicine as directed. If you have frequent episodes of high or low sugar in the blood, tell your health care provider. You may need to have the dose or schedule of the medication adjusted.
  • Have a plan for when you are sick. The disease can cause an unexpected change of sugar in the blood. If you are sick and cannot eat, your blood sugar can drop. While you are healthy, talk to your doctor about how to better manage your blood sugar levels if you get sick. Consider storing at least a week of supplies for diabetes, and a extra kit of glucagon in case of emergencies.
  • Check for ketones when your blood sugar is high. Check for ketones in the urine when the blood sugar level is above 250 Milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) (14 Millimoles per liter (mmol/L) in more than two consecutive tests, especially if you're sick. If you have a large amount of ketones, call your health care provider for advice. Call your health doctor immediately if you have any level of ketones and vomiting. High levels of ketones can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, which can lead to coma.
  • Is the glucagon and fast-acting source of sugar. If you take insulin for diabetes, have an up-to-date kit of glucagon and fast-acting source of sugar, such as glucose tablets or juice of orange, available for the treatment of low levels of blood sugar levels.
  • Consider the possibility of a continuous glucose monitor,especially if you have problems maintaining stable blood sugar levels or you do not feel the symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia unawareness). Continuous glucose monitors are devices that uses a small sensor inserted under the skin to the monitoring of trends in the blood sugar levels and send the information to a wireless device, such as a smart phone. These monitors can alert you when your blood sugar is dangerously low or if you are dropping too fast. But you still need to test their blood sugar levels using a blood glucose meter, even if you are using one of these monitors. Continuous glucose monitors are more expensive than other glucose monitoring methods, but they can help you control your blood sugar the best.
  • Drinking alcohol with caution. Because alcohol can have an unpredictable effect on the sugar in the blood, grab a snack or a meal when you drink alcohol, if you choose to drink at all.
  • Educate your loved ones, friends and coworkers. Teach loved ones and other close contacts of how to recognize the early symptoms of blood sugar ends, and how to give emergency injections. If it happens , someone should be able to call for emergency help.
  • Wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace. If you are unconscious, the bracelet or the necklace it can provide valuable information to your friends, co-workers, and emergency personnel.

Consider the possibility of a continuous glucose monitor, especially if you have problems to maintain stable blood sugar levels or you do not feel the symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia unawareness).

Continuous glucose monitors are devices that uses a small sensor inserted under the skin to the monitoring of trends in the blood sugar levels and send the information to a mobile device, such as a smart phone.

These monitors can alert you when your blood sugar is dangerously low or if you are dropping too fast. But you still need to test your blood sugar levels using a blood glucose meter, even if you are using one of these monitors. Continuous glucose monitors are more expensive than other glucose monitoring methods, but they can help you control your blood sugar the best.

Diabetic Coma

Diagnosis

If you are experiencing a diabetic coma, it is very important that they are diagnosed as soon as possible. The emergency medical team will do a physical exam and may ask those who are with you about your medical history. If you have diabetes, it is a good idea to wear a medical id bracelet or necklace.

Laboratory tests

In the hospital, you may need lab tests to measure:

  • Your blood sugar level
  • Your level of ketone
  • The amount of nitrogen, creatinine, potassium, and sodium in the blood

Treatment

Diabetic Coma requires emergency medical treatment. The type of treatment depends on whether your blood sugar level is too high or too low.

High blood sugar

If your blood sugar level is too high, you may need to:

  • Intravenous fluids to restore water to your body
  • The potassium, sodium or phosphate supplements to help your cells to work correctly
  • The insulin to help your body to absorb the glucose in the blood
  • Treatment for any infection

Low blood sugar

If your blood sugar level is too low, you may be given an injection of glucagon. This will cause your blood sugar level to rise quickly. Intravenous dextrose may also be given to raise the levels of glucose in the blood.

Preparing for your appointment

A diabetic coma is a medical emergency that you don't have time to prepare for. If you feel the symptoms of extremely high or low sugar in the blood in it, call 911 or your local emergency number to make sure that help is on the way before that happens.

If you're with someone with diabetes who has passed or is acting strange, possibly as if you have had too much alcohol, immediately call for medical help.

What you can do in the meantime

If you have no training in the care of diabetes, the wait for the emergency team to arrive.

If you are familiar with the care of the diabetes, the test of the unconscious part of the person's blood sugar and then follow these steps:

  • If the blood sugar is less than 70 Milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) (3.9 Millimoles per liter (mmol/L)), give the person an injection of glucagon. Do not attempt to give liquids to drink. Do not give insulin to someone with low blood sugar.
  • If the level of sugar in blood is above 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) wait for medical help to arrive. Do not give sugar to someone whose blood sugar is not low.
  • If you called the health care, tell the emergency care team about diabetes and what are the steps that I have taken, if any.
Symptoms and treatment of Diabetic coma