Definition:
Having a dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and dangerously high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) when you have diabetes can lead to a diabetic coma which is a life-threatening diabetes complication and when left untreated can be fatal.
Diagnosis:
Prompt diagnosis is essential if you experience a diabetic coma. A physical exam will be done by the emergency medical team and your medical history may be asked from those who are accompanying you.
Your ketone level, blood sugar level, the amount of nitrogen or creatinine , the amount of potassium in your blood and the proportion of red blood cells and fluid in your blood (hematocrit) may be measured by your doctor from various lab tests.
Treatment:
Whether your blood sugar level is high too high or too low, it is the basis for the emergency treatment of diabetic coma.
Intravenous fluids to restore water to your tissues may be given if your blood sugar level is too high. Sodium, potassium and chlorine supplements may be needed to help your cells function correctly. Short-acting insulin may be used to help your tissues absorb glucose again when enough fluid has been replaced. You may also be given an injection of the hormone glucagons if your blood sugar level is too low.
Symptoms and Signs:
Low blood sugar and high blood sugar are the determining signs and symptoms for diabetic coma to strike out. If you have a very high blood sugar level, you may experience nausea, shortness of breath, dry mouth, increased thirst, vomiting and frequent urination; and if you have a very low blood sugar level, you may feel hungry, tired, shaky or nervous, confused, irritable and sweaty.
Causes:
If either having a too high or too low blood sugar for too long, prolonged blood sugar extremes may cause various conditions leading to a diabetic coma. Among the causes are hypoglycemia, which causes you to pass out because of low blood sugar in severe cases where it is needed by your brain; diabetic ketoacidosis, a process where your body responds to breaking down fat stores if your muscle cells become starved for energy; and diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome, where your blood sugar gets very high, letting your blood become thick and syrupy.
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