Recognizing a Diabetic Emergency

Living with diabetes is hard, and in some cases, having a loved one living with diabetes can be equally as hard. A friend or family member’s health can be looming each and every day. While they may have their blood sugar and insulin regularly under control, they may still experience a diabetic emergency at some point in their lives. These emergencies are typically brought on by low blood sugar, and if they aren’t dealt with quickly and correctly, they could prove fatal. That’s why learning to recognize a diabetic emergency in others is crucial if you have someone in your life who happens to be dealing with this particular disorder. There are two main types of emergencies to keep an eye out for:

Insulin Shock

This typically occurs when a diabetic’s body has too much insulin, which results in low blood sugar (also known as hypoglycemia). This low blood sugar can result in a wide variety of serious and superficial symptoms, such as:

·         Hunger

·         Headache

·         Trembling

·         Numbness in the extremities

·         Weakness or general drowsiness

·         Fast pulse

·         Quick breathing

·         Sweating

·         Pale complexion

Look for a series of these symptoms in your friend or loved one and keep asking them questions. Keeping the person suffering insulin shock aware and coherent is helpful to make it through the attack. Try to find a snack, some fruit, a bit of candy, or something sugar-based that can bring the person out of hypoglycemia. Eating sugar in this instance is not a fudge on a diabetic’s diet, this is a necessary treatment for the emergency.

Diabetic Coma

Diabetic comas happen when there’s too much sugar present in a diabetic individual’s blood. Also known as hyperglycemia, common symptoms of this emergency include:

·         Weak and fast heartbeat

·         Drowsiness or fainting

·         Nausea

·         Hot or dry skin

·         Deep, labored breaths

·         Confusion

·         Staggering or difficulty walking

How to Respond

If you suspect a loved one is experiencing either insulin shock or may be entering a diabetic coma, there are a few steps you should take immediately to ensure they’re getting the care they need:

1. First, call 911 or your other local emergency number if the individual is unconscious or isn’t responding.

2. If the symptoms seem severe or life threatening, place them flat on a horizontal surface. Administer CPR if necessary while waiting on medical professionals to arrive at the scene.

3. If the individual is awake and aware, try assisting them with restoring normal blood sugar levels however you can, be it sugar with hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.

4. If someone is awake but is having cognitive issues like confusion or dizziness, try giving them something to eat and drink, then immediately contact medical help.

Regardless of the situation, it’s always best to get medical professionals involved if you suspect that your friend or family member is dealing with a diabetic emergency. Learning to recognize the effects of high or low blood sugar can help you catch an emergency in time, so you can get someone the help they need before it’s too late.