Diabetic shock occurs when the blood sugar levels plummet and the body is unable to function properly. Low blood sugar is known as hypoglycemia. This can be caused by several things in diabetics. Often times, it is caused by not eating at regular intervals, skipping meals, drinking excessive amounts of water, rigorous exercise for extended periods of time, injecting to much insulin, taking to much diabetic medication, dehydration, or acute illness that includes diarrhea or vomiting.

When diabetics begin to notice symptoms of hypoglycemia, it is important to start treating the condition immediately, before diabetic shock occurs. If low blood sugar goes untreated, it can lead to diabetic shock coma and even diabetic shock death.

 

Diabetic Shock Symptoms

 

Diabetic shock symptoms can come on fairly quickly. If you start experiencing any symptoms of hypoglycemia, check your blood sugar immediately. These are the most common signs of symptoms of diabetic shock:

  • Nervousness, Trembling, Shakiness
  • Sweaty and/or Clammy Skin, Pale Skin Tone
  • Sleepiness
  • Unexplained Hunger
  • Unusually Aggressive or Agitated/Irritable
  • Confusion, Dizziness, Trouble Concentrating or Speaking
  • Irregular or Rapid Pulse
  • Convulsions or Seizure
  • Feeling Faint
  • Loss of Consciousness

 

Responding to Signs of Diabetic Shock

 

If you are experiencing the symptoms of diabetic shock and have checked your blood sugar to confirm hypoglycemia, it is important to raise your blood sugar quickly.

If you have low blood sugar and need to increase it quickly, there are several ways to do this. If the diabetic is conscious, consuming some form of sugar orally will start to combat hypoglycemia. There are a couple of products that can be purchased at the pharmacy and kept on hand for hypoglycemic attacks. These include glucose tablets and glucose gel. Other options that can be found almost anywhere are candy, chocolate, soda, juice, a sugar packet or spoonful of sugar, or anything with sugar in it.

Diabetic patients are typically given guidelines for treating low blood sugar by their physician. Follow these guidelines and if your symptoms are not improving or your blood sugar is not increasing, seek medical treatment immediately.

 

Diabetic Shock Treatment

 

If hypoglycemia becomes too severe, a diabetic will go into diabetic shock. When diabetic shock occurs, medical treatment is the best way to combat this complication quickly. It is important to call emergency medical services (EMS) to transport somebody in diabetic shock. If you feel that you are going into diabetic shock, do not try to transport yourself to the hospital or clinic! Call EMS for transportation.

Emergency medical care for diabetic shock includes an intravenous sugar solution to quickly raise blood sugar, lab tests to be sure there are no other complications, and an evaluation of the cause of the attack.

It is possible that a diabetic who has suffered from diabetic shock may need to have their treatment plan re-evaluated to prevent this complication in the future.