Complications
Diabetic Shock: Everything You Need To Know
Apr 22, 2017What Is It?
If you are diabetic, you should know that Diabetic Shock or Extreme Hypoglycemia is a serious health risk. It is medical emergency wherein sugar levels fall below 70 mg/dl.
Diabetic shock symptoms come from the body’s reaction to too much insulin or too little sugar. So, it’s crucial for every diabetic to know why it happens, what to expect and how to treat it.
Why Does Diabetic Shock Happen?
Insulin helps sugar enter the cells. Diabetic shock or Insulin Reaction is the result of having too much insulin or too little sugar in the body, at any point of time. The condition could happen due to:
- Excess medication
- Eating less
- Skipping a meal
- Exercising too much
- The intake of too much alcohol
- Sudden/excess stress
- An acute illness
Drug-induced hypoglycemia continues to be one of the most common diabetic shock causes. For those who medicate with insulin, it’s important to know how much your body needs. If you take insulin before meal-time but skip a meal, or decide to have just a salad, your blood sugar could plummet. This condition, also called insulin shock, can also occur if you take an overdose of insulin. But, that’s just one cause of extreme hypoglycemia. If you exercise too much or out of routine after taking your diabetes medication, it could push your blood sugar to an extreme low too.
What Are The Warning Signs?
What Are The Warning Signs
Bear in mind that the symptoms of hypoglycemic shock may seem mild at first. But, they should not be ignored. If it isn’t treated quickly, hypoglycemia can become a very serious condition that could result in losing consciousness. Thus, one would require immediate medical attention. In worst cases, it can lead to diabetic coma and death.
Some hypoglycemic shock symptoms:
- Sweating
- Shakiness
- Dizziness
- Rapid heart rate
- Extreme hunger
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Poor coordination
Diabetic Shock: What To Do?
When a diabetic displays symptoms of diabetic hypoglycemia, time could be of the essence. Check blood sugar levels if possible, just to be certain that they’re low. The best emergency response to a hypoglycemic attack is ingesting plain sugar. A glucose tablet that some diabetics carry with them for emergency use will also come handy at a time like this. A glucose gel is another option and is easy to carry in a bag.
Quick Snack Ideas To Tide Over The Condition
Quick Snack Ideas To Tide Over The Condition
Some Suggestions Are:
- Hard candy
- Fruit juice
- Non-diet soda
- A handful of raisins
- A tablespoon of honey
- A piece of chocolate
After they’ve had a snack, they must wait for 15 minutes before checking their blood sugar levels again. If it is still low, they must repeat the process of having a snack and waiting to check them again. Diabetics must do this until their blood sugar levels are in the normal range.
What If The Patient Loses Consciousness?
If they lose consciousness, immediate medical attention is required. It’s important to educate family members, as well as colleagues, about diabetic shock and what should be done about it. It is not advisable to administer food or liquids, or inject glucagon (a hormone that raises blood sugar and administered by injection like insulin) to an unconscious patient. Someone should call 911 or take them to the emergency room immediately.
Steps To Prevent Diabetic Shock
These are things one can do to lower the risk of hypoglycemic shock:
- Understanding the medication well – Whether one is on insulin or on a pill that increases the body’s production of insulin, discussing recommended dosages and timings with their doctor is much safer than medicating on their own.
- Not changing dosages without consulting the doctor – If one wants to adjust their medication due to changes in routine, they must always discuss it with their doctor.
- Following a meal plan– Eating the right kind and right amount of food at the right time is needed for not breaking the routine. Refraining from skipping/missing meals or snacks, especially before going to sleep or hitting the gym is another requirement for preventing diabetic shock. Based on a patient’s routine, doctors must inform them about the kinds of snacks that would help prevent hypoglycemia.
- Eating a carbohydrate snack during times of extreme physical exertion, if one medicates with insulin.
- Testing glucose levels routinely when starting a new exercise and/or diet plan to know how it affects blood glucose levels.
- Discussing alcohol consumption with one’s doctor since it increases the risk for hypoglycemia. Doctors can help their patients understand how they can drink safely to minimize the risk. Avoiding binge drinking is also on the list of To Do’s.
Special Precautions For Diabetics
Diabetic, or Hypoglycemic, Shock is scary. Since it can occur quickly, and at any time, diabetics should make sure they have quick access to snacks that will help raise their blood sugar.
They should, also, avoid driving if they suspect their blood sugar to be low. Wearing a medical ID bracelet or carrying a card that identifies one as a diabetic could be of immense help.
The doctor’s number should be on speed dial, so that a diabetic’s family can get in touch with him/her immediately, in the case of diabetic shock.
Mahesh is a hormone health counsellor & holistic health expert. He has a Mastery Certification in Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis from the US, is certified in Functional Nutrition from Washington State University and uses a wide array of healing modalities to guide his clients to vibrant health and well-being.
Latest posts by Mahesh Jayaraman (see all)
- Getting Pregnant: Your Foundational Health is Most Important - February 15, 2022
- Getting Pregnant after 35 – You CAN do it! - February 1, 2022
- Fertility Testing for Men and Couples Decoded - January 29, 2022
