2024-01-27 09:54:54
Anyone suffering from diabetes is also at risk of a diabetic coma. What it is and how to recognize it early.
For people living with diabetes, the topic of diabetic comas is a frightening reality. It is therefore important to know the different types of diabetic coma and what signs herald such an emergency. You can find out everything you need to know about this topic in this article.
By the way: The diabetes drug Ozempic is currently on everyone’s lips because many people are using it off-label and using it to lose weight. This has led to bottlenecks. Ozempic and its successor, Wegovy, were briefly suspected of increasing the risk of cancer. Consumer advocates and authorities also warn against counterfeits of the drug.
Why can diabetes cause a coma?
A diabetic coma is a life-threatening emergency that can be caused by extremely high or very low blood sugar levels. There are three specific complications of diabetes that can lead to a coma, according to the Cleveland Clinic Health Library:
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Coma due to diabetes: If you have these symptoms, you should act immediately
People who have been diagnosed with diabetes or whose relatives are patients wonder how they can recognize a diabetes coma in order to prevent it from getting worse. In fact, there are several symptoms that can herald a diabetic coma. According to the specialist portal of the Cleveland Clinic, one of the most famous medical institutions in the USA, the following symptoms can occur before a diabetes coma:
In diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
- Nausea and vomiting
- stomach pain
- Fast, deep breathing in a steady rhythm (Kussmaul breathing)
- Fruity smelling breath
- Very tired or weak
- Confusion or disorientation
- Decreased attention
In hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS)
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- Mental changes such as confusion, delirium, or hallucinations
- Loss of consciousness
- Dry mouth and extremely intense thirst (polydipsia)
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision or loss of vision
- Weakness or paralysis that may be more severe on one side of the body
Symptoms of severe low blood sugar
- Blurred or double vision
- Slurred language
- Clumsiness or difficulty coordinating
- Disorientation
- Seizures
If a diabetic coma has occurred or is imminent, you should definitely call emergency services and let the emergency services know that the patient has diabetes.
Diabetic coma: when do you fall into a coma?
Diabetic coma can occur when blood sugar levels are significantly elevated. This can happen due to an absolute or relative insulin deficiency. According to the pharmacy magazine Two forms of diabetic coma when the blood sugar level is too high: the aforementioned ketoacidotic coma, which is typical for type 1 diabetes, and the hyperosmolar coma, which primarily affects patients with type 2 diabetes. Both forms are life-threatening and require hospital treatment.
While in ketoacidotic coma, as already mentioned, hyperacidity occurs because there is a lack of insulin and the sugar does not reach the cells but remains in the bloodstream and the body therefore uses fatty acids instead of sugar for energy, this occurs in patients with type 2 diabetes to hyperosmolar coma. This occurs because of high blood sugar levels and subsequent dehydration in patients with type 2 diabetes. “With them, small amounts of insulin still present slow down fat loss, so that there is little or no hyperacidity. Blood sugar can rise to over 600 mg/dl (33.3 mmol/l), which leads to massive sugar excretion in the urine and thus leads to a severe loss of fluids,” writes the Pharmacy magazine. However, this form of coma is significantly rarer than ketoacidotic coma and develops gradually over days or even weeks. It is also called a “desiccation coma.”
In addition to these two forms, there is also the risk of coma caused by severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). An insufficient supply of glucose to the brain leads to diabetic coma.
Important to know: There is no fixed point in time from which a patient falls into a diabetic coma, because the length of time until such a coma develops depends on several factors, such as the individual’s state of health, the degree of hyperglycemia and whether ketoacidosis occurs. In some cases, the coma can develop within hours while – especially in a hyperosmolar state – it can develop over several days.
First aid measures for diabetic coma
Diabetic coma is a medical emergency and must be treated urgently as such. In the event of hyperglycemia, the German Red Cross (DRK) recommends that you first call the emergency number and – if the person is unconscious – put them in a stable side position. The Cleveland Clinic also points out that whether you have high or low blood sugar, you should avoid giving the person anything to drink or eat because they could choke.
In the hospital, diabetes-related coma is treated with IV fluids to initially address the dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, according to the Cleveland Clinic for DKA or HHS. Insulin is also administered. In addition, it is checked whether the diabetic coma has led to complications such as organ failure.
By the way: Research is currently underway to determine whether artificial intelligence (AI) would be able to recognize diabetes by voice. Interestingly, accuracy was higher in women. Experts also agree that more exercise could bring about a breakthrough in type 2 diabetes.
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