My boyfriend is in the diabetic coma need support

[MiyaKimH]

Hello everyone,



I'm writing here, because I'm in the difficult moment and situation, shocked and devastated and I need support, my boyfriend is already in the diabetic coma and under the ventilation in the Iranian hospital .



I would like to tell the story and situation from start. My boyfriend 35 yo (Canadian Iranian) got diabeties type 1 around 10 years ago from taking medicines for schizophrenic disorder. He took all this years insuline to normalize his sugar level and was under care of Canadian doctors. This year visited me in Europe and everything was fine, after that decided to visit Iran to care for his mum. During travelling around of Iran he got infection similar to influenza. He was weak, felt dizzy, throat hurt, stopped to eat and drink, was viomiting. After few days went to Iranian hospital, but they refused to take him, because doctor said he is young and healthy (they checked his general blood test). He went back to hotel, and stayed in bed by next two days. Then his state went only worse. Last of his energy went to hospital where he stayed with his mum at night in the hospital (she was hospitalized because same influenza). This night he called me video call, that was last our contact, he layed on the hospital bed in the room with mum and barely talking, he was so weak. I thought is because a flu. Then from this time my contact cut, his phone got shut down. After days of worrying I contacted his brothers in Canada. They informed me that he fainted because of high blood sugar and he is unconsious under ventilator. He never had that before. Now is around 10 days, and he is still uncounsious . I'm loosing hope, I'm scared, I'm far away, I can't do anything. I'm reading a lot of articles, and is written that if someone is in diabetic coma more than several hours can get brain damage and even die. I'm also scared that his organs can be destroyed too. I was reading that is probably ketoacidosis diabecy. I think he got it because infection, he didn't took insuline, because he stopped to eat by few days. He told me even that his breath is stinky but i didn't had idea that can be sympthoms of DKA . Now he is also fighting flu symphtoms. I'm also scared that respiratos can gives him pneumonia and he will die of that . His brother one of the first message said that he is "sadated", can be a change that doctors decided to put him into pharmacological coma, is that common practice ? There are cases that people woke up from coma after weeks, or he is sentenced to death already ? Is his young age giving him more chance to recovery ? He should woke up from fainting after few hours right ? I also worry cause he doesn't has Iranian passport, he is Canadian citizen, worry that doctors will be scared to take responsibility for his treatment. I pray everyday to God to help him get back, I don't wanna lose my love . I'm crawling on the walls from fear and stress . If hospital would like to take him 3 days before he probably never won't go into coma. What I should expect now ? Every another day of coma I'm loosing hope, is killing me inside.

 

[EllieM]

HI @MyakimH and welcome to the DCUK forums.

I'm very sorry that his has happened to your partner. It sounds like you are saying he may have had diabetic ketoacidosis (also called DKA)? This is something all T1 diabetics (should) get warned about because it happens when we don't have enough insulin in our bodies. This usually happens either if you skip insulin doses or when you are ill. Diabetic clinics hand out "sick day rules" to T1s so that we can calculate how to increase our insulin doses when we are ill. My clinic gave me a glucometer that also tests for ketones specifically so that I can check ketones and avoid DKA.

It's quite common for people with DKA to end up in intensive care till they recover (at least in the countries I have lived in). It is a serious condition but the (slightly) good news is that the medical profession has been treating this for as long as insulin has been around (so about a century). A lot of T1 diabetics unfortunately get diagnosed via a trip to hospital with DKA.

I can understand why you are very upset and anxious. Are you in contact with the hospital yourself or is all the information passed on through his family? It's very easy to assume the worst when all your information comes from google and really the best people to ask are his doctors.

Unfortunately I don't personally know anything about the Iranian health system but I am pretty sure that the doctors will be doing the best for him that they can, and if he's had a DKA then the hospital is the best place for him to be.

Hopefully his family in Canada are also doing all that they can for him?

Sending you hugs and sympathy and hope for the recovery of your partner.

 

[MiyaKimH]

Hi Ellie

Thank you for your reply and words of support. Yes he didn't probably took insuline longer time because infection, he couldn't eat and drink, he automatically puked. He fainted at hospital, but I don't know when exactly (his phone was shut down 27th September) and if he got help immedietally. He was in one room with mum but as a visitor not patient, nurses allowed him to be there. Iranian health system is maybe not the best worldwide, but I read that is one of the best in the Middle East region, depends also from hospital. Problem is that I have limited contact with family. Boyfriend's mum doesn't speak English, contact with brothers is strongly limited, they texted me short updates. But they have informations from second hand, I have from third one, and very limited. I only know these things : he fainted due to high blood sugar, he is unconcious, he has flu, he is under ventilation plus that he was "sadated" but what that exactly mean I don't know : (( The worst thing is for me that is 11th day of that state, and I worry is too long in coma to save him : (( His brother wants to transfer him to better hospital, he also wants to apply for emergency visa to Iran but that will take a weeks, he is managing everything remotely : (( What I should to expect ? There are cases that people survived so long coma ? : ((

 

[Antje77]

Hi @MiyaKimH ,
What a horrible situation you're both in, I'm so sorry.

I only know these things : he fainted due to high blood sugar, he is unconcious, he has flu, he is under ventilation plus that he was "sadated"

It may be he needs the ventilator still because of the underlying illness. And this may be why he's being kept sedated (unconscious) for so long.

In bad cases of covid, patients sometimes needed to be kept sedated for over a month before they recovered enough to be woken up, and I hope something like this is what's going on for your boyfriend.

DKA is usually quickly treated, but it is a hard blow to the body, and even in healthy people it can mean a long hospital stay. Coupled with the underlying flu I can imagine it's harder to recover.

There are cases that people survived so long coma ? : ((

There are definitely cases where people recovered from such a coma! If the coma is caused by the medication, to give his body time to heal, a coma can be a good thing. And the sedation part sounds like this is what's going on, not a spontaneous coma, except for when he first fell unconscious due to DKA.

No-one here will be able to predict the outcome, or how long it will take him to recover from both DKA and the infection. But the little you know sounds like he's being cared for very well.

I wish you both all the best, big hug for you!

 

[MiyaKimH]

Hi Antje,

Thank you for your precious message, you are putting little hope in my heart by your words of faith and support. What I know he doesn't has diagnosed covid, is a regular flu, and like every flu is very dangerous and serious infection. I understand that because of his both illeness is harder to him to recovery. For me the worst to handle is his unconciouness, that devastating me, because I'm scared that he will never wake up, that he got some brain damage or kidneys failure ; (( But what I assume from your sugestion usually after high blood sugar faint he should get back fast to consiouness if he got hospital care, but because of influenza he just may was put into sadation to give him more chance to speed up recovery ? To be honest we both made big mistake, didn't had clue that is urgent alert to his diabecy, we are both were focused about infection and that had only matter. After what's happend I started to get knowledge, but is too late, I can't reverse time : (( I think he should have insuline pomp, that is the most safe and resonable solution. If he will survive, I will be convincing him to that option. He is so good person, he doesn't deserve for suffer and dying : (( He is young and I need him in my life, he is not only my love, but my soulmate, my treasure and angel, we are together 5 years. If I will lose him, my life will also lose a sense ; ((

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @MiyaKimH ,

Welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear your boyfriend has become ill on his travels.
From a logical standpoint. Doing research on what diabetes is will not give you any emotional comfort at this time.
The battery on your boyfriend’s phone could just be drained with no chance to charge it?
Hospitals tend to contact immediate relatives. Since you are not a spouse, you will have to trust his family to take care of the situation.
I’m sure they are as worried as you..

Do you have any friends or family of your own to talk to..?

 

[MiyaKimH]

Hi Jaylee,

Thank you for you message, yes I know that reading and thinking make me more panic, stressed and destructive so I try to make myself busy to not freak out, but I'm generally overthinkining and oversensitive type of person, so definitely is not easy for me to handle situation. I have my lovely parents, they comfort me through situation. My brain telling me is over, my heart still believe that he will be fine. I try to also look from this aspect, that he knew he needs help and predicted that he needs to be in hospital, even if doctor ignored his sympthoms and rejected him to take, he was so desperated and determinated and in the last possible moment went there again, nurses allowed him to stay with mum at night, so he avoided to faint in the hotel room where he couldn't have chance to get emergency help. So his guardian angel tries to protects him, I'm sure he doesn't wants to die. About his phone, could like you said discharged itself or turned off by nurses and taken to the depository. I was the first who informed brother that something happend with my boyfriend, they didn't had any idea what's going on. They called family members in Iran and got contact to the hospital. Now I'm the last that is informed about everything, I even don't know if these information are correct, accurate, updated regulary, because news coming from hands to hands. I can only wait powerless for good or bad news, but this waiting time is the worst state, I feel so exhausted that I lost energy for anything. I take my boyfriend photo kissing it and telling baby baby please back to me, don't leave me ; ((

 

[MiyaKimH]

I have some updates from brother, my boyfriend is still in coma and was transported today to private hospital in Tehran. 11 days of coma : ((

 

[Antje77]

I have some updates from brother, my boyfriend is still in coma and was transported today to private hospital in Tehran. 11 days of coma : ((

Hopefully they'll be able to fix him up in the new hospital!

 

[MiyaKimH]

Hopefully they'll be able to fix him up in the new hospital!

Yes I hope so, faith die last : ((

 

[Jaylee]

I have some updates from brother, my boyfriend is still in coma and was transported today to private hospital in Tehran. 11 days of coma : ((

This to my ear sounds like good news…

The family (the brother.) are focussed on making possitive progress for your boyfriend.

 

[Zhnyaka]

diabetic coma is a condition in which type 1 diabetes is very often diagnosed, so doctors are usually good at coping with it, basically droppers with insulin and saline are enough for a person to come to. A coma caused by low blood sugar, rather than high, usually has a negative effect on the brain, high blood sugar has a bad effect on blood vessels and this can lead, among other things, to kidney failure, but 11 days is not enough for this, usually it takes at least several months (but more often decades) for the development of such complications. In addition, with ketoacidosis, a person has no problems with the ability to breathe and there is no need for artificial lung ventilation. It seems to me that the reason why your boyfriend is now in intensive care is not diabetes, but the flu (or the infection he contracted). With diabetes, people usually have a strong immune system, so I sincerely hope that everything will be fine with your boyfriend and you.
And... I hope I can say this, but usually we want to know that the people we love can be happy even when we feel bad. I know it's difficult for you to do this, but try to at least make yourself a delicious tea or take a walk around the city, because to see how your illness has exhausted a loved one is truly terrible
virtual hugs for you

 

[MiyaKimH]

This to my ear sounds like good news…

The family (the brother.) are focussed on making possitive progress for your boyfriend.

Yes, they try their best to get him healthy again, at least they can handle it financially, so I hope they chose the best clinic possible around to care for him during a coma.

 

[MiyaKimH]

diabetic coma is a condition in which type 1 diabetes is very often diagnosed, so doctors are usually good at coping with it, basically droppers with insulin and saline are enough for a person to come to. A coma caused by low blood sugar, rather than high, usually has a negative effect on the brain, high blood sugar has a bad effect on blood vessels and this can lead, among other things, to kidney failure, but 11 days is not enough for this, usually it takes at least several months (but more often decades) for the development of such complications. In addition, with ketoacidosis, a person has no problems with the ability to breathe and there is no need for artificial lung ventilation. It seems to me that the reason why your boyfriend is now in intensive care is not diabetes, but the flu (or the infection he contracted). With diabetes, people usually have a strong immune system, so I sincerely hope that everything will be fine with your boyfriend and you.
And... I hope I can say this, but usually we want to know that the people we love can be happy even when we feel bad. I know it's difficult for you to do this, but try to at least make yourself a delicious tea or take a walk around the city, because to see how your illness has exhausted a loved one is truly terrible
virtual hugs for you

Thank you so much for your message, your informations and words are very lifting me up! If that coma will not effect his brain then is a very positive news. Maybe the ventilation is a caused by flu like you said, I hope he will not get pneumonia, because I read that people who are under respirator longer time can get lungs illness and die due to that. I try to enjoy some activites to not get advanced depression, at least relaxation music and playing with cat give me a little rest, and clear my mind from negative feellings. Thank you for hugs, I really need them too : ))

 

[EllieM]

If you read about people with covid who were put on ventilators, some of them were under for 40 days. ( "patient 91" in Vietnam was in an artificial coma on a ventilator for 68 days ).

Yes, they try their best to get him healthy again, at least they can handle it financially, so I hope they chose the best clinic possible around to care for him during a coma.

Hoping the best for your partner and for you. It sounds like he is now getting the best possible care.

 

[MiyaKimH]

If you read about people with covid who were put on ventilators, some of them were under for 40 days. ( "patient 91" in Vietnam was in an artificial coma on a ventilator for 68 days ).

Hoping the best for your partner and for you. It sounds like he is now getting the best possible care.

Okay Ellie, so I hope he is under control and safe from potential danger. Maybe in this new hospital they have better medical equipment and make him some additional medical check up to improve his current condition and check his body and important organs. I'm waiting for next updates from brothers, maybe finally I get some details about his health and prognosis.

 

[MiyaKimH]

I have new updates from brother, he said my boyfriend is in the new hospital on the dialysis and is slight improvement about his state. But that probably means his kidneys are damaged ; (( He will not survive with dialysis so long : ((( I don't think is possible to recovery kidneys : (( And I don't think he is still concious : ((

 

[Jaylee]

I have new updates from brother, he said my boyfriend is in the new hospital on the dialysis and is slight improvement about his state. But that probably means his kidneys are damaged ; (( He will not survive with dialysis so long : ((( I don't think is possible to recovery kidneys : (( And I don't think he is still concious : ((

Hi,

Firstly. You really have to take your negative thoughts & kick them in line.. https://www.kidney.org/newsletter/how-long-can-someone-be-dialysis
Try to Google a little more responsibly?

Also, I’m going to tag in @Grant_Vicat . Who I believe had a kidney transplant including a pancreas..?

 

[EllieM]

As I remember it from ten years ago, my T1 mother was on dialysis in intensive care when she was very ill in her late seventies. She was very ill and had multiple organ failure and was very lucky to survive, but she did, and she wasn't on dialysis afterwards, as it was a temporary failure....

 

[MiyaKimH]

As I remember it from ten years ago, my T1 mother was on dialysis in intensive care when she was very ill in her late seventies. She was very ill and had multiple organ failure and was very lucky to survive, but she did, and she wasn't on dialysis afterwards, as it was a temporary failure....

So is a chance that his kidneys can regenerate. People with dialysis living usually to 10 years, and need to do it few times per week : / I read also one yt comment of a man who had ketoacidosis coma by 1 month, his kidneys stopped to working and he had flu infection too. He is alive, he needed 3 weeks of rehabilitation after that, but he didn't said if he is still on the dialysis or not, but what I assume by his comment he is fine now. I'm still waiting for more information from brother, I get only very limited one for now.