First Aid/Diabetes
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First Aid
Introduction — Issues in Providing Care — Primary Assessment & Basic Life Support — Secondary Assessment — Circulatory Emergencies
Respiratory Emergencies — Soft Tissue Injuries
— Bone & Joint Injuries — Environmental Illness & Injury
Medical Conditions & Poisoning — Advanced Topics — Appendices — Meta content
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
- Diabetes
- a disease causing an inability to regulate the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood
- Insulin
- a hormone that allows glucose to travel from the bloodstream into the cells
[edit] Hypoglycemia (Insulin Shock)
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which blood sugar levels are too low to power the body. The symptoms of hypoglycemia will come on suddenly.
[edit] Causes
- Lack of food (low glucose)
- Excessive exercise
- Too much insulin
- Vomited meal
[edit] Recognition
- Pale, cool, clammy
- Dizziness, weakness
- Hunger
- Confusion (like being drunk)
- Strong, rapid pulse (May be normal in some patients)
- Seizures
May be confused with stroke or other cardiac disorders.
[edit] Treatment
- EMS
- Monitor ABCs
- Assist with glucose in any form (candy, juice, Monogel), but only if the victim is fully conscious
- Treat for shock
- Encourage any victim of a diabetic emergency to use their test kit if it is nearby.
- Giving glucose to a victim with insulin shock will help.
- Don’t give glucose to an unconscious victim as it can easily become an airway obstruction.
- Some victims carry with them glucagon injections as a rapid treatment for severe insulin shock. The victim should know how to administer it, and should administer it himself.
[edit] Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia is a condition in which the body's blood sugar level is too high to maintain. This condition is less common and usually occurs very slowly, over the course of several days.
[edit] Causes
- Victim doesn’t take enough insulin
- Eats too much (high glucose)
- Has an infection
[edit] Recognition
- Flush/redness of skin
- Deep or rapid respirations
- Dehydration/extreme thirst/excessive urination
- Loss of appetite
- Weak/dizzy
- Weak, rapid pulse
[edit] Treatment
- EMS
- Monitor ABCs
- Treat shock
- Encourage any victim of a diabetic emergency to use their test kit if it is nearby.
- Some victims carry with them insulin injections as a rapid treatment for hyperglycemia. Assist them if required.
