Hypoglycemic coma is a life-threatening condition resulting from hypoglycemia in the body. Hypoglycemic coma can lead to permanent disturbances in the nervous system and even death. What symptoms appear before a hypoglycemic coma occurs? At what sugar level can you fall into a coma? How to provide first aid? What is the treatment?

Hypoglycemic comais the result of severe hypoglycemia, when there is a glucose deficiency in the central nervous system (expertly neuroglycopenia). The functioning of the brain depends on a constant supply of glucose, which is the main source of energy for the brain. A significant drop in sugar (glucose) leads to a rapidly increasing disturbance in his work, and further to coma.

Hypoglycemic coma - causes

Diabetic comais the result of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar - less than 70 mg / dl), which can occur when:

  • diabetic took a sugar-lowering drug and did not eat a meal
  • during insulin treatment, he injected it and ate too little meal in relation to the insulin dose
  • After taking the usual dose of sugar-lowering drug, the patient resumed exercise without providing additional carbohydrate.

Hypoglycemic coma can also occur in patients struggling with cancer whose cells secrete insulin, e.g. pancreatic islet.

Hypoglycemic coma - symptoms

At first, you will experience warning symptoms such as: increased sweating, trembling hands, feeling hungry, palpitations, reddening or turning pale.

If glucose is not administered, blood sugar levels drop further and the functions of the central nervous system are disturbed. In this case, the following may occur: dizziness, anxiety, confusion, ataxia, visual disturbances, and orientation disorders.

Hypoglycemic coma occurs at blood glucose levels around 20 mg / dL.

When the blood sugar level is very low and it is depleted in the brain, there is a deep disturbance in the functioning of the central nervous system, manifested by disturbances of consciousness, including loss of consciousness, as well as generalized convulsions.Hypoglycemic coma occurs at blood glucose levels around 20 mg / dL.

Coma, which is a consequence of hypoglycaemia, starts suddenly - within several minutes the patient may lose consciousness. The unconscious person's skin is moist, his pupils are dilated and the muscles are tense, sometimes he may experience convulsions.

Hypoglycemic coma - first aid and treatment

You cannot give anything by mouth to an unconscious person, as it may cause you to choke. Place the sick person in the side position, with their head tilted back, and call for an ambulance. In such a situation, it is necessary to administer glucose intravenously (20% solution), followed by a 10% solution. glucose. Only after regaining consciousness, can carbohydrates be administered and blood glucose monitored.

For 10 percent of all deaths from diabetes correspond to hypoglycaemia

Source: lifestyle.newseria.pl

Category:

Diabetes