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Hypoglycaemia |
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Common causes of hypoglycaemia: ¨ Failure to take food ¨ Overdose of insulin (or drugs, including alcohol) ¨ Excessive exercise or stress
Diagnosis: Hypoglycaemia is of rapid onset. The sooner treatment is given, the easier, safer and more effective it is. An acutely collapsed diabetic patient should be assumed hypoglycaemic until proven otherwise. The patient often appears drowsy, disorientated, irritable, excitable or aggressive. They may have warm sweaty skin, a rapid, full pulse and dilated pupils. There may be rapid onset of coma.
Treatment: ¨ Immediately give glucose 25g orally if conscious ¨ If unconscious— protect airway, place in recovery position, establish IV access and give up to 50ml of 20-50% dextrose. If unavailable, give 1mg of glucagons IM ¨ Request help
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Hypoglycaemia is an acute and dangerous complication of diabetes. Most diabetics are able to detect the onset of hypoglycaemia themselves, but a small number may lose this ability, particularly if changed from porcine to human insulin. |