Diabetic Coma Signs

When the levels of blood sugar in patients who are suffering from diabetes, goes critically high (hyperglycemia) or critically low (hypoglycemia), then the person may lose his consciousness. This condition defines diabetic coma, a fatal complication or risk in diabetes. Or, in other words, "A coma which is induced by diabetes is termed as diabetic coma''. When the patient is hit by a diabetic coma, although he is alive but he is rendered helpless to respond to any sights, sounds or other types of stimulation. A glucose test is performed in order to determine if the diabetic coma has been triggered by hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. This test is required, as the diagnosis of the specific cause cannot be come up with merely knowing the symptoms. The different diabetic coma signs are those of high blood sugar and low blood sugar and all of them have been described below.

Diabetic Coma Signs and Symptoms
A person, before being hit by a diabetic coma may show symptoms of hyperglycemia such as excessive thirst, dry mouth and may even experience shortness of breath. Frequent urination is also one of the diabetic coma signs, apart from nausea and vomiting.

The diabetic coma signs will differ if the victim is suffering from hypoglycemia, that is low blood sugar level. The symptoms are confusion, tiredness and sweating. The person may become irritable, have abnormal curbing for food and may appear shaky or nervous.

After going through these few diabetic signs, you may also like to have a look at the various factors which are attributed as diabetic coma causes.

Diabetic Coma Causes
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a severe and fatal condition in people, who are suffering from diabetes mellitus. This condition is more common in people with type 1 diabetes, however, it can also occur in those with type 2 diabetes. When the body lacks adequate amounts of insulin, it responds to the inadequacy by breaking down fat stores. Now, this undesired process forms acidic ketone bodies and thus, gives rise to many symptoms and complications. So, this condition of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), if left to proceed and worsen overtime, can become one of the major diabetic coma causes.

People who are in habit of taking too much insulin or skipping meals or snacks are more prone to be hit by hypoglycemia, which is also one of the factors resulting in a diabetic coma. It is for those who are addicted to alcohol or undertake vigorous exercises. The symptoms suffered by the person will be minimal, if the blood sugar level takes about an hour to drop. However, if it drops in a few minutes, then the symptoms will be more severe.

The third cause of diabetic coma is attributed to a condition known as diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome, wherein, the blood sugar level is severely more than normal. People with type 2 diabetes, are the common victims of this condition. Crossing a mark of 600 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 33 millimoles per liter (mmol/L), indicates that the blood sugar level in the body is sky high. So, much of sugar makes the blood thick and syrupy (having a relatively high resistance to flow). Having nowhere to go, this excess of sugar makes its way from the blood into the urine and this triggers a huge amount of fluid being drawn out from the body. Dehydration is the immediate repercussion and ultimately it leads to unconsciousness. Thus, this is the reason why diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome is also considered to bring about diabetic coma.

So, in this article you came across the few diabetic signs and a bit about its causes. It is important to keep in mind, that the treatment of diabetic coma will be centered towards bringing the blood sugar levels back to normal. Typically, the patient regains his consciousness once his blood sugar level is stabilized. So, if you are diabetic it is good if you carry some form of sugar in your pockets.