You Never Know What You’ll Find in Your Inbox

November 15th, 2010 by Amy Gonsalves Leave a reply »

I sat down at my computer to blog this morning and opened my email.  In my inbox sat a message from a former employer, marked as !!high priority!!.  (I am not sure why they still send me email, as I haven’t worked for them in a few months, but okay.)

The subject line: SAFETY TOPIC: Diabetic Incident (DRILL)

Oooh. 

I’m reading the message about the “diabetic incident” and realize that even the two basic concepts they discuss must be incredibly confusing for the layperson.

Diabetics are subject to two very different types of emergencies:

 

1. Insulin Shock (or Insulin Reaction) aka hypoglycemia

 

This condition occurs when there is TOO MUCH INSULIN in the body. This condition rapidly reduces the level of sugar in the blood and brain cells suffer.

 

Insulin reaction can be caused by taking too much medication, by failing to eat, by heavy exercise and by emotional factors.

 

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS: Fast breathing, fast pulse, dizziness, weakness, change in the level of consciousness, vision difficulties, sweating, headache, numb hands or feet, hand tremors, hunger, and disorientation/confusion

 

 

2. Diabetic Coma aka Hyperglycemia

 

This condition occurs when there is TOO MUCH SUGAR and too little INSULIN in the blood and body cells do not get enough nourishment.

 

Diabetic coma can be caused by eating too much sugar, by not taking prescribed medications, by stress and by infection.

 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: Diabetic coma develops more slowly than Insulin shock, sometimes over a period of days. Signs and symptoms include drowsiness, confusion, deep and fast breathing, thirst, dehydration, fever, nausea, vomiting, a change in the level of consciousness and a peculiar sweet or fruity-smelling breath.

 

Sugar is required in the body for nourishment. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body cells use the sugar. When the body does not produce enough Insulin, body cells do not get the needed nourishment and diabetes results.  People with this condition take Insulin to keep their diabetes under control. 

 

See what I mean??  Confusing!!  No sentence in here is necessarily wrong, but I’m confused anyway… and I know the differences!!

And then the drill part is kind of confusing, too, I think.  Again, not wrong, but really confusing.

Follow the procedures outlined below for Insulin Shock

First Aid for Insulin Shock

Distinguishing between the two types of diabetic emergencies can be difficult.  Of the two conditions, insulin shock is a true emergency which requires prompt action.  Looking for the signs and symptoms listed above will help to distinguish the two diabetic emergencies. (Always look for an identifying bracelet which may reveal a person’s condition).  In addition, if the patient is conscious, you can ask two very important questions which will help determine the nature of the problem:

1.       ASK “HAVE YOU EATEN TODAY?”

Someone who has eaten, but has not taken prescribed medication may be in a diabetic coma.

2.       ASK “HAVE YOU TAKEN YOUR MEDICATION TODAY?”

Someone who has not eaten, but did take their medication, may be having an Insulin reaction.

·         If victim is conscious, administer 10-30 g carbohydrate (orange juice, sports drink, regular soda) follow with protein (energy bar or protein bar, etc). Activate EMS and monitor victim.

·         If unconscious, activate EMS and monitor victim.

First Aid for Diabetic Coma

·         If victim is conscious, administer fluids (water, non caffeine drinks, sugar free but not diet drinks) follow with protein (energy bar or protein bar, etc). Activate EMS and monitor victim.  Turn head to side if vomiting

·         If unconscious, turn head to side in case of vomiting.

A PERSON IN INSULIN SHOCK NEEDS SUGAR QUICKLY! IF THE PERSON IS CONSCIOUS, GIVE SUGAR IN ANY FORM: CANDY, FRUIT JUICE OR A SOFT DRINK! DO NOT GIVE THE PERSON CHOCOLATE OR DIET DRINKS.

SUGAR GIVEN TO A PERSON IN INSULIN SHOCK CAN BE LIFE-SAVING! IF THE PERSON IS SUFFERING FROM DIABETIC COMA, THE SUGAR IS NOT REQUIRED BUT WILL NOT CAUSE THEM FURTHER HARM.

I admit, I’m totally not clear what the protein bar is going to do in this situation.  And “do not give the person chocolate” seems pretty harsh.  (But that’s probably just me: I never want someone to not give me chocolate!  Not that chocolate is the quickest or best low food, but I just mean as a general rule.)

Anyway, I think that since we are in the middle of Nation Diabetes Month it may be a good chance for all of us to take the 2 minutes to explain in person to a coworker or two (or three or five or twenty) what YOU need when YOU start acting funny. 

Well, funnier than usual.

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