Diabetic coma symptoms, risks & causes

What is diabetic coma?

Diabetic coma, a medical emergency, is the condition in which a person with diabetes lapses into a coma (unconsciousness) due to complications in diabetes. In most cases, low blood sugar or severe hypoglycemia causes a person with diabetes to pass out. This reversible form of coma often occurs to people with type 1 diabetes mellitus as they are most vulnerable to episodes of hypoglycemia.

There are three types of diabetic coma medically identified as:

1. Diabetic hypoglycemia –severe low blood sugar level
2. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) –hyperglycemia, dehydration, & exhaustion
3. Hyperosmolar nonketotic coma –due to extreme hypoglycemia & dehydration

Diabetic coma symptoms and causes

Diabetic coma is caused by either hypoglycemia (severely low blood sugar level) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar level). Left untreated, diabetic coma can be fatal. That’s why it’s important for people with diabetes and their love ones to be aware of symptoms that can lead to diabetic coma.

Diabetic coma treatment

Treatment of diabetic coma depend upon the underlying causes:

Diabetic Hypoglycemia —treatment usually involves administering of intravenous glucose or injected glucagon to rapidly raise the patient’s blood glucose level.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis —treatment involves injection of isotonic fluids to rapidly stabilize circulation, continued intravenous saline with potassium and other electrolytes to replace deficits, and diabetes insulin to reverse the condition

Nonketotic Hyperosmolar —treatment include administering of insulin and gradual re-hydration with intravenous fluids.

Managing your diabetes to avoid diabetic coma

People with diabetes are at high risk of lapsing into diabetic coma if their blood glucose levels are left out of control for long periods of time. Keep track of your glucose levels and have our blood sugar testing anytime, anywhere with easy-to-carry glucose testing meters.