Handling Diabetic Emergencies
Hypoglycemia- When a patient experiences a sudden drop in blood glucose levels, it leads to hypoglycemia. This situation is also called insulin reaction or insulin shock. Hypoglycemia is often associated with symptoms including extreme appetite and thirst, sweating, hostile behavior, dizziness and disorientation, pale look, palpitation, numbness in hands and feet, blurred vision and unconsciousness. Not every symptomis noticeable in all patients. However, you can follow these tips to help the victim get through the situation.
In many patients blood sugar levels fluctuate frequently. So, it is highly advised to keep a glucometer in your home at all times.
You should give the patient some sweetened drink like fruit juice, glucose water or chocolate drinks. This will help to restore blood glucose levels and should make the patient feel better within a few minutes.
When the patient becomes considerably stable, you can feed him/her some solid foods like rice, bread or even short snack items like biscuits.
If the patient falls unconscious, make sure that the patient is allowed to lie down comfortably and call a physician right away.
In case of unavailability of a physician, the patient should immediately be taken to a hospital without any delay.
Hyperglycemia- On the other hand diabetic patients may also experience a sudden rise in their glucose levels, known as hyperglycemia. This condition is also known as diabetic coma and is often characterised by breathlessness, recurrent urination, nausea and vomiting, dry mouth and palpitations. Usually, a discontinuity in diabetic medications may put a person at risk of hyperglycemia. Moreover, eating too much of sugar rich foods and intolerance to the prescribed blood sugar medication may also put a person in such a situation. In case of hyperglycemia, one can go with the following first aid procedures:
Administer the required diabetic medication immediately.
Give the patient some sugar free fluid.
Monitor the victim’s breathing rate, pulse rate and the level of responsiveness.
Immediately call your house physician.
Tips for diabetics when travelling: Patients suffering from diabetes should always carry some form of identification that also reveals the presence of diabetes. In case of an emergency, this will alert anyone who provides assistance about the situation and it will also ensure that any attending medical professionals are aware of the special requirements of the patient.
In many patients blood sugar levels fluctuate frequently. So, it is highly advised to keep a glucometer in your home at all times.
You should give the patient some sweetened drink like fruit juice, glucose water or chocolate drinks. This will help to restore blood glucose levels and should make the patient feel better within a few minutes.
When the patient becomes considerably stable, you can feed him/her some solid foods like rice, bread or even short snack items like biscuits.
If the patient falls unconscious, make sure that the patient is allowed to lie down comfortably and call a physician right away.
In case of unavailability of a physician, the patient should immediately be taken to a hospital without any delay.
Hyperglycemia- On the other hand diabetic patients may also experience a sudden rise in their glucose levels, known as hyperglycemia. This condition is also known as diabetic coma and is often characterised by breathlessness, recurrent urination, nausea and vomiting, dry mouth and palpitations. Usually, a discontinuity in diabetic medications may put a person at risk of hyperglycemia. Moreover, eating too much of sugar rich foods and intolerance to the prescribed blood sugar medication may also put a person in such a situation. In case of hyperglycemia, one can go with the following first aid procedures:
Administer the required diabetic medication immediately.
Give the patient some sugar free fluid.
Monitor the victim’s breathing rate, pulse rate and the level of responsiveness.
Immediately call your house physician.
Tips for diabetics when travelling: Patients suffering from diabetes should always carry some form of identification that also reveals the presence of diabetes. In case of an emergency, this will alert anyone who provides assistance about the situation and it will also ensure that any attending medical professionals are aware of the special requirements of the patient.
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The number of diabetic patients are increasing day by day. The cost of glucometer should be reduced to be affordable so that every diabetic patients should have it.
Nov 23
Very useful info. Have experienced hypoglycemia conditions on number of times while asleep in the night. Fortunately every time woke up due to this and could take necessary action despite the level being at around 50. Whenever such condition was faced, morning sugar level was around 160. Wonder if there is any way to know the limit of intake so as to get out of hypoglycemia and still remain close to desired sugar level.
Nov 20
VERY NICE WRITE UP. HYPOGLYCEMIA CAN CAUSE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND PATIENT CAN GO INTO UNRECOVERABLE COMA. BUT IT GIVES SUFFICIENT SYMPTOMS BEFORE THE ONSET. THE SYMPTOMS MAY BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS. IT WILL START WITH A HUNGER PANG. IF NOT ADDRESSED, IT WILL GIVE A FEELING OF ANTS MOVING IN MOUTH. FURTHER IT WILL GIVE FEELING OF EMPTINESS IN BRAIN AND ONE WILL INCREASING LOOSE THINKING POWER. FURTHER IT WILL LEAD TO COLD PRESPREATION AND MAY BE TO COMA. IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THE WARNING SIGNAL AT THE FIRST INSTANCE AND TAKE THE NEAREST AVAILABLE SWEETENER. IT COULD BE SWEET CANNY OR JUST RAW SUGAR. IT GIVES BETTER RESULTS IN THE LIQUID FORM. SO SOME FRUIT JUICE OR SWEET DRINK WILL BE BETTER. ONE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REACT IN SLEEP, SO IT IS ALWAYS ADVISABLE TO TAKE SOMETHING SWEET BEFORE SLEEPING. HYPERGLYCEMIA MAY ALSO LEAD TO COMA. PLEASE AVOID TAKING TO MUCH OF SWEETS AT A TIME. I KNOW OF A VERY RICH ELDERLY LADY, WHO TOOK LOTS OF SWEETS AT NIGHT DURING A MARRIAGE FUNCTION. SHE NEVER WOKE UP AND WENT INTO COMA. SHE DIED AFTER SIX MONTHS DESPITE BEST POSSIBLE TREATMENT. EVEN THE IMPORTED VENTILATED BED AND 24 HOURS NURSING COULD NOT SAVE HER FROM BED SORES.
Nov 15
I am a diabetic since 15 years , I always carry a few dry fruits like Badam , Pista, Dates, and biscuits and a few chocolates etc as and when I feel myself with a trigger for hunger or delayed lunch or meal time wherever I am I immediately have any one of the edibles I carry and rush home or a place nearby for a meal. It is better to follow the above instructions in case of an eventually as Mrs Neelima Verma has suggested.
Nov 14
