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Diabetic Coma

jean68spain said:
What immediate steps should be taken if a diabetics BM is 0.9mmols and the patient is in a coma/collapse? :problem:
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Call 999 straight away for help. RRB
 
Dial 999 and see if you can get the patient to swallow a little glucose solution. Do be careful though. He/she could choke if not sufficiently aware to swallow.
By the way what you are describing is a hypo, not a coma.
Coma happens when BG is HIGH and associated with high ketones. It's generally called DKA nowadays. It looks quite different from hypo. here is usually shallow breathing and a seet smell of ketones [nail polish remover or pear drops] and there may be "panda eyes". there's nothing a first aider can do for true coma, so it's definitely 999.
Hana
 
Hi Jean I hope you were able to contact an ambulance in time.

Our thoughts are with you. Please request advice from the health team about how best to cope with this should the situation happen again.

With best wishes
Benedict and Diabetes.co.uk
 
hanadr said:
Dial 999 and see if you can get the patient to swallow a little glucose solution. Do be careful though. He/she could choke if not sufficiently aware to swallow.
By the way what you are describing is a hypo, not a coma.
Coma happens when BG is HIGH and associated with high ketones. It's generally called DKA nowadays. It looks quite different from hypo. here is usually shallow breathing and a seet smell of ketones [nail polish remover or pear drops] and there may be "panda eyes". there's nothing a first aider can do for true coma, so it's definitely 999.
Hana
Click to expand...

By the way what you are describing is a hypo, not a coma.
Coma happens when BG is HIGH and associated with high ketones. It's generally called DKA nowadays.No, a person can go so low that they WILL go into a diabetic coma :shock: I was in a diabetic coma when I came home from hospital with my new baby. Apparantley my BS was extremley low and I was given, liquid glucose by injection( by a paramedic) and then I eventually came round, my BS was NOT high. If my partner had tried to induce any form of medication, himself, it might of been a different story altogether. The only reason my partner knew of me being in a coma was because I was not repondsing to my babies hunger cries ( I was breastfeeing).

Any collapsed ( in a comatised state), must be dealt with a 999 call and only advised medication given. Unless the person who is at the scene is a trained medical person. As it it known now as, DKA, when I was admitted to hospital with suspected diabetes , that is what I had and NOT in a diabetic coma as I was walking and talking with a BS in the high 30's.

So, any one, please call 999, that is by far the safest and quickest way to respond and could be dangerous to the patient to do otherwise.RRB

I do hope help was given and they make a good recovery :)
 
Robinredbreast said:
hanadr said:
Dial 999 and see if you can get the patient to swallow a little glucose solution. Do be careful though. He/she could choke if not sufficiently aware to swallow.
By the way what you are describing is a hypo, not a coma.
Coma happens when BG is HIGH and associated with high ketones. It's generally called DKA nowadays. It looks quite different from hypo. here is usually shallow breathing and a seet smell of ketones [nail polish remover or pear drops] and there may be "panda eyes". there's nothing a first aider can do for true coma, so it's definitely 999.
Hana
Click to expand...

No that is wrong, a person can go so low that they WILL go into a diabetic coma :shock: I was in a diabetic coma when I came home from hospital with my new baby. Apparantley my BS was extremley low and I was given, liquid glucose by injection( by a paramedic) and then I eventually came round, my BS was NOT high. If my partner had tried to induce any form of medication, himself, it might of been a different story altogether. The only reason my partner knew of me being in a coma was because I was not repondsing to my babies hunger cries ( I was breastfeeing).

Any collapsed state, must be dealt with a 999 call and only advised medication given. Unless the person who is at the sceen is a trained medical person. As it it known now as, DKA, when I was admitted to hospital with suspected diabetes that is what I had and NOT in a diabetic coma as I was walking and talking with a BS in the 30's.

So, any one, please call 999, that is by far the safest and quickest way to respond and could be dangerous to the patient to do otherwise.RRB
Click to expand...


I agree RRB,

I know that DKA can lead to coma. But so can a severe. I carry a card with me. It says ...........If I feel ill give me sugar. If I am able though I would test BG 1st!! If I am Unconcious dont give anything by mouth (risk of choking) and phone for an ambulance 999.

I hope all is well,

Lucy xxx
 
shop said:
Robinredbreast said:
hanadr said:
Dial 999 and see if you can get the patient to swallow a little glucose solution. Do be careful though. He/she could choke if not sufficiently aware to swallow.
By the way what you are describing is a hypo, not a coma.
Coma happens when BG is HIGH and associated with high ketones. It's generally called DKA nowadays. It looks quite different from hypo. here is usually shallow breathing and a seet smell of ketones [nail polish remover or pear drops] and there may be "panda eyes". there's nothing a first aider can do for true coma, so it's definitely 999.
Hana
Click to expand...

No that is wrong, a person can go so low that they WILL go into a diabetic coma :shock: Being in a diabetic coma seems to be more assciated with a severe low blood sugar. I was in a diabetic coma when I came home from hospital with my new baby. Apparantley my BS was extremley low and I was given, liquid glucose by injection( by a paramedic) and then I eventually came round, my BS was NOT high. If my partner had tried to induce any form of medication, himself, it might of been a different story altogether. The only reason my partner knew of me being in a coma was because I was not repondsing to my babies hunger cries ( I was breastfeeing).

Any collapsed state, must be dealt with a 999 call and only advised medication given. Unless the person who is at the scene is a trained medical person. As it it known now as, DKA, when I was admitted to hospital with suspected diabetes that is what I had and NOT in a diabetic coma as I was walking and talking with a BS in the 30's.

So, any one, please call 999, that is by far the safest and quickest way to respond and could be dangerous to the patient to do otherwise.RRB
Click to expand...


I agree RRB,

I know that DKA can lead to coma. But so can a severe. I carry a card with me. It says ...........If I feel ill give me sugar. If I am able though I would test BG 1st!! If I am Unconcious dont give anything by mouth (risk of choking) and phone for an ambulance 999.

I hope all is well,

Lucy xxx
Click to expand...

Hi there, Its a scary business isn't it :shock: but at the moment i am having a late lunch and my BS was 5.5 :thumbup: hope it stays that way :D Cheers RRB X
 
I agree RRB,

I know that DKA can lead to coma. But so can a severe hypo. I carry a card with me. It says ...........If I feel ill give me sugar. If I am able though I would test BG 1st!! If I am Unconcious dont give anything by mouth (risk of choking) and phone for an ambulance 999.

I hope all is well,

Lucy xxx[/quote]

Hi there, Its a scary business isn't it :shock: but at the moment i am having a late lunch and my BS was 5.5 :thumbup: hope it stays that way :D Cheers RRB X[/quote]

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: I have had a good appt with a different GP today too. He suggested I take my pill for 4 mnths so only have the huge Hormone probs 4 times a year. Sould make a Huge difference to my BG control :D :D Also refering me for my knee for possible physio. So I am Happy :D We will get there RRB :thumbup:
 
shop said:
I agree RRB,

I know that DKA can lead to coma. But so can a severe hypo. I carry a card with me. It says ...........If I feel ill give me sugar. If I am able though I would test BG 1st!! If I am Unconcious dont give anything by mouth (risk of choking) and phone for an ambulance 999.

I hope all is well,

Lucy xxx
Click to expand...

Hi there, Its a scary business isn't it :shock: but at the moment i am having a late lunch and my BS was 5.5 :thumbup: hope it stays that way :D Cheers RRB X[/quote]

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: I have had a good appt with a different GP today too. He suggested I take my pill for 4 mnths so only have the huge Hormone probs 4 times a year. Sould make a Huge difference to my BG control :D :D Also refering me for my knee for possible physio. So I am Happy :D We will get there RRB :thumbup:[/quote]
Yay, :thumbup: :D :) RRBx please let us know how you get on at the doc's, I'm off to do overtime today, very shortly. Apologises for hijacking the thread :oops:
 
hanadr said:
Dial 999 and see if you can get the patient to swallow a little glucose solution. Do be careful though. He/she could choke if not sufficiently aware to swallow.
By the way what you are describing is a hypo, not a coma.
Coma happens when BG is HIGH and associated with high ketones. It's generally called DKA nowadays. It looks quite different from hypo. here is usually shallow breathing and a seet smell of ketones [nail polish remover or pear drops] and there may be "panda eyes". there's nothing a first aider can do for true coma, so it's definitely 999.
Hana
Click to expand...

You are having a larf arn't you? :crazy: :crazy: :thumbdown:

You must never ever put any food or liquid in someones mouth if they are comatose. You could kill them.
That's very basic first age knowledge

Coma can and does happen due to low blood sugars, so no idea where you have got your info from this time Hana. :roll:
 
Jean

A diabetic partner/carer can be taught to use a Glucogen kit, this is the hormone that signals the liver to dump it's glucose store into the blood stream. It's an inter-muscular injection, so normal training you'll taught to wack into the thigh! You can administer it, if the diabetic is still conscious but unable to swallow or if the patient is unconscious.. But it is a one shot only Jab, so if administered to a patient who conscious then if no improvements within 5 mins, call an for a paramedic, if the patient is unconscious call for a paramedic even though given.. As you don't know how much store they've got to dump.. A thing to be very aware of, when a glucogen kit is used, the diabetic has to replenish the liver glucose stores, so not only are they at an higher risk of a rebound hypo, but also if this happens another Glucogen jab won't work, it's straight for the phone and paramedic's..

Another word of warning, if the diabetic is semi-conscious administering the glucogen jab, isn't easy and can put you in the line of fire as the diabetic can hit out, as with any intra-muscular injection it hurts a lot! so if the diabetic is being rather combative or you'll are on your own, then for safety reason call the paramedics...

I will only administer the Gluogen jab, if my husband is completely out otherwise I call for back up, so only ever administered it once, in the backside (and I had the paramedics with me) and did I bruise his backside :oops:

But if you'll ever unsure call the paramedics out, they really don't mind.

I was speaking to a paramedic the other day, and when I said about treating hypoing diabetics being a pain, he said he actually doesn't mind, as you actually get to cure somebody!
 
jean68spain said:
What immediate steps should be taken if a diabetics BM is 0.9mmols and the patient is in a coma/collapse? :problem:
Click to expand...

Hi Jean How are things now ? I hope the patient is doing okay. Best wishes RRB
 
You should place the person in the recovery position or a least turn them on their side with their airway open if you don't know the recovery position and call an ambulance. You should administer a glucagon injection if you have been shown how to do this.




hanadr said:
Dial 999 and see if you can get the patient to swallow a little glucose solution. Do be careful though. He/she could choke if not sufficiently aware to swallow.

You should NEVER try and give an unconscious person anything by mouth.
By the way what you are describing is a hypo, not a coma.
A person can go into a coma froom a hypo as well. My endo says that a coma caused by a hypo is much more common then a coma caused by DKA.
Hana
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