Emergency Conditions in Diabetes and Symptoms

An emergency condition in diabetes can occur when blood sugar levels drop too low or rise too high from their normal limits. This risks causing serious health problems, coma, and even death. Therefore, emergency signs and symptoms in diabetes are important to recognize. When a person consumes carbohydrate foods, the digestive tract will break down these carbohydrates into smaller sugar molecules, known as glucose. Glucose is then absorbed into the cells of the body with the help of insulin, to be used as a source of energy. When the amount of insulin is too low or abnormalities occur in cells that make it difficult to use insulin, then the glucose level in the blood increases. Over time, this condition can cause diabetes.

Symptoms of Emergency Conditions in Diabetes

Diabetics need to recognize the signs and symptoms of an emergency condition in diabetes. Because if ignored and left without help, this condition can cause coma, permanent brain damage, or even death. The following are some of the emergency conditions in diabetes that you need to be aware of:

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a condition in which blood sugar levels are too low. This can happen because diabetics use diabetes drugs at too high a dose, forget to eat after taking diabetes medications or use insulin, eat in too little portions, exercise heavily, or consume alcohol. When experiencing hypoglycemia, a person can experience the following symptoms:

• Feeling hungry or appetite increases.
• Trembling body.
• Dizzy.
• Limp.
• Heart beat.
• Sweating.
• Anxious or nervous.
• Passed out.

When experiencing a blood sugar drop that is too drastic, diabetics need to immediately get sugar intake to raise their blood sugar levels. This intake can be obtained from consuming sugar, fruit juice, sweet tea, honey, or candy. After 15 minutes, if the symptoms have not improved, repeat the administration of sugar. If it has been done three times but there has been no improvement, conditions worsened, or even a seizure or fainting, immediately to the nearest emergency department (IGD).

Diabetic ketoacidosis

This condition is one type of metabolic acidosis that occurs when starving body cells are forced to break down fat as an energy source. Cells may starve because the body lacks insulin or cannot properly use insulin to enter glucose into cells as an energy source. The breakdown of fat produces ketones which can be toxic (poisonous) to the body if the amount is excessive. Diabetic ketoacidosis is one of the most dangerous emergencies in diabetes. Diabetic ketoacidosis is more likely to occur in diabetic patients who have certain conditions, such as infection, injury, surgery, uncontrolled blood sugar, or heart disease. Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis can be:

• Feeling very thirsty and weak.
• Hard to breathe.
• Chest pounding.
• Mouth and dry skin.
• Frequent urination.
• Breath smells like fruit.
• Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
• Dizzy.
• Passed out.
• Coma.

Diabetes patients who experience these symptoms should immediately get medical help at the hospital. The doctor will give treatment through an IV and give insulin to gradually reduce blood sugar levels. If late handled, this condition can cause fatal complications.

Diabetic hyperosmolar hyperglycemia syndrome

This syndrome, also called hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS), occurs when blood sugar levels reach 600 mg / dL or more, so that the blood of diabetics becomes thick. In this situation, the body will try to get rid of the excess sugar through urine, which actually makes people with diabetes dehydrated. If left unchecked, diabetic hyperosmolar hyperglycemia syndrome can end in coma and death. About 57% of these cases are caused by bacterial infections, 21% are caused by irregular consumption of diabetes medications, and the rest are caused by heart disease, kidney disorders, or strokes. Diabetics who experience this emergency can show symptoms such as:

• Dry mouth and thirst.
• Sunken eyes.
• Cold feet and hands.
• Chest pounding.
• Fever.
• Confusion.
• Weakness on one side of the body.
• Convulsions.
• Passed out or coma.

Diabetic patients who experience this emergency condition must be immediately taken to the emergency department (ER) at the nearest hospital, to get treatment.

Prevention of Emergency Conditions in Diabetes

To prevent diabetes emergency, there are several steps that must be done, namely:

• Follow the rules for the use of diabetes medications and insulin. This includes the dosage and time of use.
• Keep the time and portions always eat regularly.
• Check blood sugar levels regularly. In addition to the usual blood sugar test kits, can also with a blood sugar monitor (continuous glucose monitor / CGM). CGM is a small device that is inserted into the skin tissue to monitor blood sugar levels continuously. Research shows that CGM can improve the quality of blood sugar control in diabetics.
• Provide sugar intake, such as sweets or sweet drinks, which are ready for consumption when blood sugar suddenly drops.
• Don't smoke and avoid alcohol consumption.
• Watch for symptoms that may arise after exercising and prepare adequate sugar intake.

Well, now you already know about the dangers of an emergency condition in diabetes, right? You need to be aware of the symptoms to avoid fatal conditions. However, even more important is to prevent an emergency condition in diabetes, by doing the methods above. Do not forget to routinely do a doctor's examination if you have diabetes.