2 Diabetic Emergencies You Should Not Ignore
If living with diabetes is the new norm for you—as it is for 37 million Americans1—your routine can make it easy to overlook changes and to make dietary mistakes that can quickly turn into diabetic emergency conditions that require medical care. Left untreated, these conditions can deteriorate into coma, seizures, or even death. Here are two diabetic-related emergency conditions that you absolutely cannot ignore and what you need to do when they happen.
Emergency #1 – High blood sugar
Hyperglycemia—or blood sugar that is too high—can be caused by illness, not eating enough, or low insulin. This condition can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in patients with Type 1 diabetes or nonketotic hyperosmolar syndrome in Type 2 diabetics. DKA can cause dehydration, abdominal pain, frequent urination, and dangerously low blood pressure.
Symptoms of DKA: patient may show confusion, fatigue, excessive thirst, fast breathing, nausea and vomiting. Patient may exhibit signs of shock including weakness, fast heart rate, sweating, dry skin, dry mouth, fruity breath, flushed face, headache, anxiety and disorientation. Left untreated, patient will lose consciousness and eventually die.
What to do for DKA: test your urine for high ketones using a test kit strip.2 If the ketones are high, call your primary care physician immediately or come to Medco ER. Treatment may include fluid replacement, electrolyte replacement and insulin.3
“If you are experiencing high blood sugar, it is important to stop any physical activity,” said Medco ER’s Medical Director, Dr. Nasir Khan. “Exercise elevates ketones and that is the opposite of what you need to happen when you’re in this position. Come to Medco ER right away for expert help stabilizing your blood sugar.”
Emergency #2 – Low blood sugar
Hypoglycemia—or low glucose in the blood—can be caused by improper nutrition, illness, too much exercise, alcohol, heat or humidity, high altitude, or too much insulin. This diabetic emergency can lead to convulsions or seizures if left untreated.
Symptoms of low blood sugar: symptoms can vary but may include pale skin, lightheadedness, shaking, sweating, headache, fatigue, irritability, fast heart rate, confusion, difficulty speaking or eating, weakness, hunger, anxiety, or blurred vision.4
What to do for low blood sugar: text your blood sugar. If it is below 54mg/dL, you will be close to fainting.5 If someone is with you, try injecting glucagon from a kit provided by your physician. If no glucagon is available or if it isn’t enough to revive you and normalize your blood sugar levels in 15 minutes, call 911 or come to Medco ER right away.6
“If you don’t have glucagon or if you are still confused and your numbers are low, come to Medco ER right away,” said Dr. Khan. “We can help raise your blood sugar to get you out of the danger zone and back to feeling better again.”
Get Help Fast at Medco ER
Don’t wait to the point of fainting or seizures before you respond to these two potential diabetic emergencies. Come in right away to the nearest Medco ER. No need to call ahead—we’re open 24/7 every day of the year and our board-certified physicians are experienced in responding to insulin-related crises. You’ll get top quality care at Medco ER.
- Plano: 3960 Legacy Drive, Plano, TX 75023 (on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road)
Call us @ 469-747-0370
- Carrollton: 2745 E Belt Line Road, Carrollton, TX 75006
Call us @ 469-840-4600
1 https://www.diabetes.org/about-us/statistics/about-diabetes
2 https://search.cdc.gov/search/?query=diabetic%20coma&dpage=1#results
3 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyperglycemia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373635
4 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-hypoglycemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20371525
5 https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/low-blood-sugar.html
6 https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/low-blood-sugar-treatment.html
5 Red Flags of Diabetes
Dizziness, fatigue and dry mouth may not seem to tie together beyond a mild case of the flu, but if you look at the warning signs of diabetes, they all make sense. At Medco ER & Urgent Care of Plano, TX, we regularly diagnose and treat prediabetes and diabetes and we can help fit the pieces of the puzzle together when you’re not feeling well.
Whether you are experiencing Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes, by the time you notice the red flags, the condition may already be advanced. That’s why it is important to react promptly by getting medical attention.
Red Flag 1: Skin Changes
Prediabetes or undiagnosed diabetes can cause skin changes.1 If you have noticed an unexplained rash, like raised pimples that turn yellow, or raised, red bumps, you might need to have your physician test you for diabetes. Dry patches of skin, yellow patches around the eyelids and skin tags are all diabetes indicators.
Skin wounds or sores that have trouble healing, blisters and shin spots are also signs that your insulin is imbalanced. Hard patches of skin, discolored patches of skin and dark, velvety patches of skin are also warning signs of diabetes.
“The skin is very telltale in letting you know that your body is experiencing insulin resistance,” said Medco ER & Urgent Care’s Medical Director, Dr. Nasir Khan. “By paying attention to these warning signs, you can have your prediabetes checked before it goes too far.”
Red Flag 2: Increased Thirst, Urination and Hunger
If you find that you are constantly thirsty, but need to pee often during the day and night, you could have undiagnosed diabetes. Excess thirst, hunger and urination are all warning signs that should be reported to your physician. If you are hungry all the time but are experiencing unexpected weight loss, this is also a symptom of diabetes.2
Red Flag 3: Fatigue
“If you are tired even after having rested, and are too worn out to do your daily activities, you might need to have your blood sugar tested,” said Dr. Khan. “Fatigue can also be accompanied by irritability and dizziness. If you are feeling this way, come in to Medco ER and let us check you out to find the answers to your fatigue.”
Red Flag 4: Vision Changes
Any unusual vision changes, such as blurred vision, should be immediately checked out. Your ophthalmologist is able to identify early onset insulin issues if you have retinopathy, a condition of diabetes.3
Red Flag 5: Numbness
Numbness and tingling in the feet and hands can be a warning sign of the onset of diabetes.
Get help at Medco ER & Urgent Care
If you are experiencing any of these red flags, come to Medco ER & Urgent Care to have your blood sugar tested. Since undiagnosed insulin issues can lead to serious medical conditions, warning signs of diabetes should not be ignored. We’re here 24/7 to provide you with rapid results labs, an accurate diagnosis, and a variety of treatment options and recommendations to get you back to feeling better again.
- Plano location:
3960 Legacy Drive, Plano TX 75023 (on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road)
Call us @ 469-392-4000
1 https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/diabetes-warning-signs
2 https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.html
3 https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-diabetic-retinopathy