If you are a diabetic or are commonly around a diabetic, it is vital that you know the diabetic shock symptoms and the appropriate action to take upon noticing them. Diabetic shock, or severe hypoglycemia, is a serious health risk for anyone with diabetes. According to WebMd.com, it can happen anytime there is an imbalance between the insulin in your system, the amount of food you eat, or your level of physical activity. In many cases it even occurs in spite of all your efforts to keep your blood sugar under control.
Symptoms of Diabetic Shock
Not all diabetic patients will exhibit all of the diabetic shock symptoms beforehand, and sometimes attacks can come about without any prior warning. The most common diabetic shock symptoms are as followed:
Loss of consciousness – The clearest sign of diabetic shock is fainting or the loss of consciousness.
Irritability – Unexplained irritability is one of the main indications that diabetic shock is about to occur. A unusual short or excessive temper are therefore one of the most common diabetic shock symptoms.
Hunger – Often times when a person is about to go into diabetic shock they will have a bought of extreme hunger.
Pallor – Upon the onset of diabetic shock, a person will often become very pale.
Rapid Heartbeat – A fast heartbeat and a fast pulse commonly can be found before incidents of diabetic shock.
Loss of coordination and shakiness – One of the most certain diabetic shock symptoms is a trembling all over the body or muscle tremors. Loss of fine motor skills and general clumsiness that are unusual for the person are also fairly clear signs of diabetic shock.
If the symptoms of diabetic shock are not noticed, or are left untreated, the condition can lead to more serious conditions such as seizures, coma, or even death. Sometimes diabetic shock symptoms can be mistaken for diabetic coma symptoms, which should be treated quite differently. So, before treating a person for what you believe to be diabetic shock symptoms, it is best to ask the following questions:
- “Have you eaten today?”
- “Have you taken your medication today?”
Someone who has not eaten, but has taken their medication is likely to be in a state of diabetic shock, according to Survival-Center.com. A person who is showing signs of diabetic shock needs sugar quickly. If the person is conscious, you can usually remedy the condition by giving the person a few pieces of candy, half a cup of fruit juice, or a soft drink. If you have mistaken the condition for a diabetic coma do not worry; treating them with sugar will not help, but will not cause further harm either states Survival-Center.com. After they consume the sugar, you should monitor them carefully and check their blood sugar levels. If the condition worsens or fails to get better, seek professional health.
