If you have diabetes, a too high or low blood sugar level for too long can cause you to lapse into a diabetic coma, or a state of unconsciousness. And when left untreated, it may cause permanent brain damage and potentially death.
Coma in a diabetic has a couple different inducements. For type 1 diabetics, coma is most often caused by the buildup of ketones in the bloodstream, or ketoacidosis.
Ketoacidosis occurs when insulin isn’t available for glucose metabolism, so fats are metabolized as a source of energy instead. This results in ketone accumulation and metabolic acidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is typically a type 1 diabetes health concern, but it can affect those with other types of diabetes.
Another diabetic related health condition that can lead to a coma is diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome. It is caused by a high blood sugar level that causes your blood to thicken.
In an effort to relieve syrupy blood condition, your body urinates the extra sugar coupled with a large amount of fluid. As a result, it can cause dehydration and a loss of consciousness. This high blood sugar dehydrating condition usually is seen in older folks with type 2 diabetes.
Low blood sugar levels can also cause a diabetic coma via the lack of availability of glucose to your brain to sustain its need to function. Hence in severe cases, low blood sugar can cause you to pass out. Low blood sugar caused diabetic coma generally occurs because you:
- skipped meals
- took too much insulin
- drank too much alcohol
- exercised too vigorously
Everyone suffering diabetes is at risk of a diabetic coma, especially those who don’t monitor their blood sugar levels regularly or aren’t even aware they even have it. However, failure to take insulin, excessive food consumption or stresses that increase you body’s need for insulin, like infection, surgery or trauma, puts you in peril as well.
Prior to reaching the blood sugar levels necessary to cause a diabetic coma, you’ll experience some symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored. Symptoms indicating that your blood sugar level is too high include:
- dry skin
- dyspnea
- anorexia
- dry mouth
- fruity breath
- abdominal pain
- nausea, vomiting
- frequent urination
- unquenchable thirst
If your blood sugar level is too low, you’ll likely experience symptoms of:
- hunger
- weakness
- shakiness
- irritability
- confusion
- nervousness
- excessive sweating
A diabetic coma requires emergency treatment. And since you’ll be passed out, someone else will need to get it. Thus, it’s important to inform others of your diabetic condition.
Emergency treatment for a diabetic coma depends on whether your blood sugar level is too high or too low. A high blood sugar level requires intravenous fluids to restore water due to dehydration. Then quick acting insulin may be used to help with glucose absorption.
If your blood sugar level is too low, you’ll be given glucagon hormone injection. This hormone causes your blood sugar level to increase rapidly.
Consciousness typically returns when blood sugar level is brought into a normal range.
Albeit, the chances of a you ever experiencing a diabetic coma is slight. But an eye on prevention is paramount to bypass diabetic coma’s emergency treatment.
Prevention as in monitoring your blood sugar level, take your medication as directed, keep snacks on hand and meals under your control. Lest you’ll have high or low blood sugar level symptoms kick in.