Diabetic Coma - Scary Experience - My Story

My Diabetic Story

My diabetic story may not be unique to diabetic stories but it may help someone. The day was stress laden. My wife's father had passed away and we were with her mother and her family most of the time. Being on the move we ate out a few times. Before the midday meal, I checked my sugar levels as was my custom. Of course with all the stress, It was a little high. I couldn't delay eating so I ate with the family. I am on insulin pump therapy, and I could not count carbohydrates very well at this particular meal but estimated my injection dosage to the best of my ability. My mind really wasn't on myself at this time. About an hour and a half after consumption I followed up with another test. My level was 350ml/dl (see my site on Insulin -Weight Loss and Insulin Weight Gain <>to see what these number mean).

I was shocked at how high it was. When taking diabetic classes, I had learned the correct insulin dosage for correcting high sugar ml/dl levels and I applied insulin immediately. We kept driving. Another hour and half passed and I checked my sugar again. 320 it read and I couldn't believe my eyes. At this time in my diabetes I didn't fully understand a phenomenon my endocrinologist called "stacking". Stacking happens when for some reason (e.g. stress) your sugar levels appear not to be reacting to the insulin as they should. Under that circumstance you are supposed to take extra insulin but much more conservatively and with considerable care. I took another full correction and it was stacking, waiting to be released later. We were home now and time for the dinner meal. This time I took a shot. I was always very aggressive to bring my sugar down and this time that was a major mistake. When bed time arrived around 10:00 PM, my sugar was normal. At last. At last I had brought it down! So we retired for the night.

Then, the nightmare began. I woke at midnight, trembling, sweating and shaking. My sugar was 60. I immediately ate something. I went back to bed. It continued to drop. At 2:00 AM - 50 ml/dl and still dropping. Orange juice time and I gulped it. I have had it down as low as 40 before and it was never fun and I knew I had to react quickly and so down with the juice! But the stacking affect was still lowering my sugar levels.
My thinking lost all center, my mouth and lips grew numb, my speech slurred, my motions slowed, my eyes lost focus and the world began to move like a slow motion video. When my sugar level hit 20, I was completely out of it. Whether I was in an actual coma, I know not. I just lay there, lifeless, except for an occasional groan and some flailing of my arms when someone tried to joust me.

My wife spoke to me repeatedly but I just lay there; she jostled me but I just lay there; She called our son and he shook me but I just lay there;  They called 911 and the paramedics first checked my Medical alert ID bracelet, then spoke and jostled  me,  but I just lay there; they wrapped me in a sheet but I just lay there.  Then, they tried to put an IV in me.  As they stuck me, my wife said I flailed my arms, so much that they could not stick, but otherwise no response.  The paramedic lifted me, sheet and all, hoisted me like a sack of southern taters to the gurney.  In the ambulance they give me a "sugar (glucagon ) shot."  I woke up in the emergency room.  Scary, it was.

Final Notes:

If you have diabetes, prolonged blood sugar extremes can cause you to lose consciousness. This is known as a diabetic coma. Both very high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can lead to a diabetic coma. Left untreated, a diabetic coma is a life-threatening condition. But there's good news. The risk of a diabetic coma is small - and prevention is in your hands. Eating a healthy diet, taking your medication as prescribed and closely monitoring your blood sugar can go a long way toward preventing diabetes complications.


Purchasing A Medical Id Tag, Jewelry, Bracelet, Necklace, Etc.. Could Save Your Family Member's Life.

NOTICE:  If you think you might have diabetes, you might want to consider wearing Medical alert bracelet 

Question:  Where can I get a high quality Medic- Alert Bracelet? As you shop around you might want- and should consider American- Medical ID's.

If you would like a- great ID Bracelet check out the link below!...
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American Medical ID
Personalized Bracelets and Necklaces. As always, free engraving.

Signs and symptoms: A diabetic coma doesn't hit for no reason. You'll first encounter symptoms of high blood sugar or low blood sugar.If your blood sugar is too high, you may experience:

 Increased thirst
 Vomiting
 Shortness of breath
 Frequent urination
 Dry mouth
 Nausea
 Blurred vision (for some)
 
If your blood sugar is too low, you may feel:

 Hungry
 Irritable
 Confused
 Shaky or nervous
 Tired
 Sweaty
 Blurred vision (for some)
 
For More Information see:

Warning Signs Diabetes - This Lens is about the five major warning signs of diabetes. The good news is that there is life after diabetes! However everyone needs to watch the warning signs of diabetes and keep in touch with your doctor as any of these develop!
Sign Of High Blood Sugar Similar To Normal Range Blood Sugar Levels - Don't Be Fooled - This lens deals with the five major signs of high blood sugar levels. The problem is that these symptoms could also be related other kinds of maladies. therefore it is imperative that a person gets himself checked for diabetes upon any doubt.
 


Purchasing A Medical Id Tag, Jewelry, Bracelet, Necklace, Etc.. Could Save Your Family Member's Life.