How long can a person be in a diabetic coma?

Diabetic ketoacidosis, if it progresses and worsens without treatment, can eventually cause unconsciousness, from a combination of a very high blood sugar level, dehydration and shock, and exhaustion. Coma only occurs at an advanced stage, usually after 36 hours or more of worsening vomiting and hyperventilation.

Keeping this in consideration, can a person recover from a diabetic coma?

If the symptoms occurred for a while before treatment or if you were in a diabetic coma for several hours or longer, you could experience some brain damage. An untreated diabetic coma may also result in death. People who get emergency treatment for a diabetic coma usually recover fully.

Additionally, how serious is a diabetic coma? A diabetic coma is a life-threatening diabetes complication that causes unconsciousness. If you have diabetes, dangerously high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can lead to a diabetic coma. Left untreated, a diabetic coma can be fatal.

Also, at what sugar level is diabetic coma?

A diabetic coma could happen when your blood sugar gets too high -- 600 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more -- causing you to become very dehydrated.

How do you deal with a diabetic coma?

Treatment

Intravenous fluids to restore water to your tissues.
Potassium, sodium or phosphate supplements to help your cells function correctly.
Insulin to help your tissues absorb the glucose in your blood.
Treatment for any underlying infections.

30 Related Question Answers Found

Can you die in your sleep from diabetes?

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS— The dead-in-bed syndrome refers to unexpected deaths in young diabetic patients without any history of complications. The patients die in their sleep and are found in an undisturbed bed, apparently excluding a convulsive attack. Autopsy is typically negative.

What is a diabetic shock?

Diabetic shock: Severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) associated with diabetes. Symptoms include fatigue, light-headedness or fainting, and often reddening of the skin if the patient is Caucasian. Patients in a state of diabetic shock should also be evaluated medically immediately after emergency treatment.

How long can you be in a coma?

Comas can last from several days to several weeks. In more severe cases a coma may last for over five weeks, while some have lasted as long as several years. After this time, some patients gradually come out of the coma, some progress to a vegetative state, and others die.

What happens during a diabetic coma?

A diabetic coma results from either very high or very low blood glucose levels. This is a life-threatening complication which causes the patient to fall into a state of unconsciousness. Diabetic hyperosmolar occurs when your blood sugar is dangerously high, causing your blood to get thick and syrupy.

How does a diabetic coma kill you?

With Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) your blood becomes highly acidic from dehydration and excessive ketone production; it can kill you. When bodily fluids become acidic, some of the body's systems stop functioning properly. It is a serious condition that will make you violently ill and it can kill you.

How do you feel when your blood sugar is too high?

The main symptoms of hyperglycemia are increased thirst and a frequent need to urinate. Other symptoms that can occur with high blood sugar are: Headaches. Tiredness.

What happens when a diabetic doesn't eat?

If you don't eat, your blood sugar levels are lower and medication may drop them even more, which can lead to hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can cause you to feel shaky, pass out, or even go into a coma. When you “break” your fast by eating, you may also be more likely to develop too-high blood sugar levels.

Is blood sugar level of 400 dangerous?

Very high blood sugar above 400 mg/dL (22.2 mmol/L) can be a medical emergency. A very high blood sugar can cause life-threatening problems, coma, or death. If you have type 1 diabetes, untreated high blood sugar can result in a dangerous problem called ketoacidosis, which is a buildup of acids in the blood.

What does a diabetic coma feel like?

The severe symptoms of uncontrolled blood sugar that can come before a diabetic coma include vomiting, difficulty breathing, confusion, weakness, and dizziness.

What are the signs of a diabetic shock?

Symptoms of diabetic shock, or severe hypoglycemia may include: blurry or double vision. seizures.

Early signs of low blood sugar levels include:

a headache.
nervousness.
anxiety.
dizziness.
sweating.
shakiness.
irritability.
moodiness.

Is blood sugar level of 300 dangerous?

A reading above 300 mg/dL is considered severe. Blood sugar levels above 300 mg/dL can cause nausea, drowsiness, blurred vision, confusion, and dizziness, especially when standing up from a sitting or lying position.

What is a good blood sugar level for a type 2 diabetes?

The American Diabetes Association recommends aiming for a blood sugar level between 70 to 130 mg/dl before meals and less than 180 mg/dl one to two hours after a meal. To keep your blood sugar within this range, follow a healthy, well-rounded diet and eat meals and snacks on a consistent schedule.

What can cause a person to go into a coma?

A coma is a state of prolonged unconsciousness that can be caused by a variety of problems — traumatic head injury, stroke, brain tumor, drug or alcohol intoxication, or even an underlying illness, such as diabetes or an infection. A coma is a medical emergency.

Is 500 blood sugar dangerous?

It's associated with heart disease, eye disease, kidney disease, neuropathy, stroke, and vascular disease. If blood sugar goes as high as 500 mg/dl, you may experience symptoms such as thirst, the urge to urinate more often, weight loss, low energy, and drowsiness, he says.

What is the normal blood sugar level for adults?

What are normal blood sugar levels? Normal blood sugar levels are less than 100 mg/dL after not eating (fasting) for at least eight hours. And they're less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating.

How long does it take to die from hypoglycemia?

It may take longer to recover from severe hypoglycemia with unconsciousness or seizure even after restoration of normal blood glucose. When a person has not been unconscious, failure of carbohydrate to reverse the symptoms in 10–15 minutes increases the likelihood that hypoglycemia was not the cause of the symptoms.

What is a hyperglycemic attack?

Hyperglycemia is a defining characteristic of diabetes—when the blood glucose level is too high because the body isn't properly using or doesn't make the hormone insulin. Eating too many processed foods may cause your blood sugar to rise. You get glucose from the foods you eat.