Diabetic Coma Symptoms
Diabetic Coma Symptoms
By Adrian Whittle
Ezinearticles.com
A coma caused through diabetes is relatively rare provided the proper care and monitoring of the the condition is followed. This said, it is important to understand how a diabetic coma can occur, what symptoms to look out for and general guidelines to ensure that it does not happen.
Diabetic comas occur when the blood sugar level is extremely low or extremely high.
Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar can cause a diabetic to become unconscious or have a seizure if it continues for any length of time. A diabetic could become hypoglycemic if they :
Took too much insulin
Did too much exercise
Skipped a meal
Took excessive alcohol without food
Typical early symptoms of hypoglycemia are
Tiredness
Weakness or shaky on your feet
Palpitations
Disorientated or confused
Hungry
Sweating
Depending on how pronounced the symptoms are would determine the treatment. If the symptoms are relatively mild you can take a blood test and identify that the blood sugar level is low and then take a glucose tablet or something similar. If the symptoms are severe then you should seek medical assistance immediately.
Hypersmolar diabetic syndrome is when the blood sugar level gets extremely high. The level of sugar causes the blood to change consistency and become thicker and syrupy. Excessive sugar in the blood causes the kidneys to try to remove it as a waste product. It does this through excessive urination. This can lead to dehydration which if prolonged can lead to unconsciousness and coma.
Hypersmolar diabetic syndrome is normally caused because the person has not taken their normal insulin dosage or they are eating foodstuffs high in sugar consistently.
Typical symptoms of the syndrome are
Excessive urination
Extreme thirst
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