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What is Diabetes?
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a common life-long health condition affecting approximately 2.8 million people within the UK and an estimated 850,000 people are believed to have the condition, but are presently unaware.
It is a condition where your pancreas either does not produce any or enough insulin to help glucose enter your body’s cells (Type 1), or the insulin that is produced does not work properly (Type 2).
There are two common types of diabetic emergency
There are two common types of diabetic emergency
Hypoglycaemia - (Low blood sugar)
Hypoglycaemia - (Low blood sugar)
The most common diabetic emergency
Rapid onset (minutes)
Fast, shallow breathing
Slow, bounding pulse
Pale and sweaty
Irritable/confused/aggressive behaviour
Inability to concentrate
Confusion, dizziness & headache
Hunger
Seizure
Unconsciousness
Hyperglycaemia (High blood sugar)
Hyperglycaemia (High blood sugar)
A much rarer emergency call
Gradual onset (hours to days)
Slow, deep breathing
Rapid pulse
Flushed, dry skin
Tiredness, lethargy, drowsiness
Blurred vision
Excessive thirst, hunger or urination
Smell of acetone/pear drops on the breath
Seizure
How can we help the casualty?
How can we help the casualty?
Provide reassurance
If conscious: Encourage the patient to eat or drink something with a high sugar content if they are able
If unconscious: and breathing normally, gently roll them onto their side (recovery position) ensuring that their head is tilted gently back
Monitor the casualty until help arrives
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