 When
the insulin level in the body is too high and the blood sugar
level is too low, the resulting condition is called hypoglycemia.
(This is true for insulin dependent diabetics too).
When the
the blood sugar level is too high in the body, the resulting
condition is called hyperglycemia. If this condition is not
corrected, the victim may go into a diabetic coma. All insulin
dependent diabetics should be monitoring their glucose levels
at home several times a day.
Unfortunately,
the symptoms of hyper and hypoglycemia are very similar. They
include:
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dizziness |
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drowsiness |
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confusion |
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rapid breathing |
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rapid pulse |
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sweating, yet with skin that is cold to the touch |
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If you know that
a person is diabetic and he or she is experiencing these symptoms,
treat the person as though he or she has hypoglycemia, or low
blood sugar. If the victim is conscious, give him or her something
to eat or drink that contains plenty of sugar, such as life
saver candies, orange juice, sugar soda, etc. If the person
is suffering from low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, the sugar
will help within minutes. If the person is feeling ill because
of high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, he or she will not be
harmed by the extra sugar.
If Nothing Works...
If the victim
does not feel any better after five minutes, 
call 911 in the
U.S. & Canada. (For other countries, see our First Aid page.)
For more
on Diabetes see:
Must-Read article on Diabetes Type 1
Diagnosing and Screening for Diabetes - Good
information, check it out!
Yeast
Infections and Diabetes
Treating the Nerve
Damage of Diabetes
Diabetes Resource Center
In Spanish - Resource
Center
Maneras
de tratar a la Diabetes Tipo 2
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