Diabetic Coma - Diabetic Coma Treatment

Diabetic Coma
Buzzle.com

Diabetic Coma
Diabetic coma is a medical condition in which, a patient suffering from diabetes loses his/her consciousness as a result of imbalance in blood sugar level. A patient suffering from very low blood sugar (known as severe hypoglycemia) or very high blood sugar (known as severe hyperglycemia) can get into diabetic coma.

Diabetic coma can be a result of few medical conditions such as:

* Severe hypoglycemia as mentioned above, a medical condition in which patient suffering from low blood sugar level becomes unconscious. This condition is reversible and can be brought under control by following treatment regime strictly and eating/drinking something (carbohydrates) immediately after the patient experiences the symptoms of diabetic coma.

* If patient is experiencing dehydration and has severe hyperglycemia, it can lead to diabetic coma (also known as Nonketotic Hyperosmolar coma)

* If patient is undergoing physical fatigue and experiencing dehydration along with a severe hyperglycemia, it can lead to diabetic coma (this condition is also called Advanced Diabetic Ketoacidosis or DKA in which the patient’s condition starts worsening and after about 35 hours the patient may get into coma if not treated)

What happens in diabetic coma?
As mentioned above, diabetic coma can be a result of either hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia in combination with dehydration and fatigue. In all the cases, a patient loses consciousness (coma) due to the effect of hyperglycemia/hypoglycemia on brain cells. Glucose is one of the most important elements for human body that helps in keeping metabolism in proper condition. If glucose level in blood drops beyond normal (hypoglycemia) or is higher than maximum glucose level our body can handle (hyperglycemia), it hinders normal metabolism of body and brain cell start malfunctioning. This condition results in variance in osmotic pressure on the cells causing dehydration and other conditions like electrolyte imbalance. This condition can be reversed if patient is treated before it is too late.

Symptoms of diabetic coma:

* Patient with high blood sugar may experience dehydration condition, frequent vomiting and/or urination, queasiness, dryness of mouth and shortness in breathing (deep breathing). The patient may also experience increase in thirst.

* Patient with low blood sugar may experience physical fatigue, increase in hunger, increase in sweating, sudden shiver etc.

* Patient may experience pain in abdominal area

Treatments available:

* If severe hypoglycemia leads to diabetic coma, the treatment used for this condition involves raising of blood sugar with the help of medical glucose that can be injected into patient’s body.

* KDA or Advanced Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Nonketotic Hyperosmolar coma treatment involves constant supply of saline and medical solution which can help in filling up the loss of the body fluid during vomiting in earlier stage of KDA in combination with appropriate dosages of insulin. The treatment may vary based on the patient’s medical condition and severity of the diabetic coma.

* Your physician will decide the course of treatment that needs to be followed based on your condition.

What to do to help patient with diabetic coma?

* If the patient is conscious and experiencing symptoms of diabetic coma, immediately inform doctor. If patient has lost consciousness then immediately take him/her to a doctor. (Delay in treatment may lead to Acidosis or KDA (Advanced Diabetic Ketoacidosis). Extreme delay in medical help can also lead to death)

* If possible try to find out sugar level in blood (either ask the patient if he/she is still conscious or use glucose meter). If the patient is suffering from hypoglycemia, then it will be dangerous to give him/her insulin in such case. Patient suffering from hypoglycemia should be given something to eat/drink which will help in restoring blood sugar level immediately. Be careful not to give anything to eat/drink to a patient suffering from hyperglycemia.

* If you are confused about the patient’s condition and don’t know what to do to keep the patient in conscious state, please DO NOT GIVE PATIENT ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR WATER.

* In case if cause of diabetic coma (hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia) is unknown, DO NOT GIVE INSULIN to the patient, it can be very dangerous.

Tips for people suffering from diabetes:

* Consult your physician regularly and follow treatment regime strictly prescribed by your physician.

* Keep your blood glucose level under check.

* Regular exercise can help you keep glucose level under check (excess exercise can create problems for people suffering from hypoglycemia)

* If possible, wear a medical bracelet/necklace or carry a medical card in your wallet that identifies you as a diabetic patient, this can be of great help.

* Try to teach people around you what they should do in case there is an emergency.