In this training, you will learn what diabetes is, the consequences of diabetes, and first
aid for a diabetic emergency.
Many people have the idea that diabetes is all about eating too much sugar. And although
a high caloric diet and being overweight are risk factors for diabetes, it’s so much
more complicated than that.
So, what is Diabetes? It’s a disease where the body does not make insulin or the body
does not use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone, produced by the pancreas, that
moves sugar, known as glucose, from the bloodstream into the cells. This is a vital process, as
glucose is the body's main source of fuel.
You see, when we eat sugars, starches, and other foods, glucose gets absorbed into the bloodstream and
the insulin moves the glucose into the body's cells so that they're able to produce energy.
Insulin is like a key to the door of the body's cells that lets glucose in. When the normal
process of insulin moving glucose into the cells is not working, the cells are starved
and not able to produce energy in the correct way from the food that we eat.
Diabetes is a serious condition because the glucose levels in the bloodstream will build
up to high levels causing many serious health problems. When glucose levels are too
high, a person with untreated diabetes can eventually slip into a life-threatening condition
known as diabetic ketoacidosis or diabetic coma.
The cause of diabetes is generally unknown. However, genetics and environmental conditions
are the most common factors. A common misconception is that if a parent has diabetes, the child
will have diabetes. This is only true less than 15% of the time.
Diabetes is often undiagnosed in early stages or symptoms are mistaken for common
illnesses like the flu. If you notice symptoms in yourself or another person, an appointment
with the doctor should be made. The warning signs for diabetes include the following.
Tiredness, excessive thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, sudden weight loss, fruity
or sweet smell on the breath, or sudden changes in vision.
Diabetes is diagnosed as either Type 1 or Type 2 which is caused by one of three problems.
One, the body is not producing insulin. Two, the body is producing too little insulin;
or three, the body's cells are resistant to the insulin.
Type 1 diabetes is when a person's body does not produce insulin. Typically a child or
a young person that has been diagnosed with diabetes has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
According to the American Diabetes Association, Type 1 accounts for about five to ten percent
of those diagnosed in the United States.
Type 2 diabetes is when the body produces too little insulin, or cannot use the insulin
that is produced, called insulin resistance. It's the most common form of diabetes and
it’s on the rise in the United States.
Mainly adults who are overweight and over age 40 are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
However, as more children and adolescents in the United States become overweight and
inactive, Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in young people.
It’s important to treat diabetes early because complications develop silently and gradually
over time. The parts of the body that are most affected by diabetes complications are
the eyes. Some of those common problems include cataracts, retinopathy, and glaucoma. The
kidneys; leads to diabetic nephropathy and the need for dialysis or kidney transplant
eventually. It also affects nerves causing nerve damage called diabetic neuropathy; especially
numbness, tingling, or sharp pains in the feet or lower legs. Heart and blood vessels
are also affected. Damage leads to high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. Your gums
can be affected, which leads to gum disease and early tooth loss. And feet problems always
are related to the lack of blood flow and the risk of poor healing which sometimes gets
infected and leads to amputation.
So then, what is the cure for diabetes? Well, there isn’t any. However that does not mean
that a person with diabetes is doomed. Diabetes can be managed successfully by eating right,
getting regular exercise, properly taking medication and glucose monitoring on a regular basis.
People with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin by injection to live. People with Type 2 diabetes
take glucose-lowering medications by mouth or injection. Adults and especially young
people with Type 2 diabetes often need insulin in addition to glucose lowering medications.
With both Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, the goal is to control blood glucose levels by keeping
them within a target range. A normal range on a blood glucose monitor is usually between
80 and 110. However, a normal range will vary and is determined more for each individual
depending on their specific needs.
Diabetes can lead to the need for first aid when it’s out of control. An emergency usually
is caused when a person doesn't take their diabetic medicines as directed; doesn't follow the
meal plan; they might have problems when they exercise too or not enough and don’t adjust
their medications or their diabetic plan, or they suffer from an illness or are having
too much stress in their life and they’re not checking their blood sugar levels enough
to monitor appropriately.
A diabetic emergency can happen anytime with or without warning. Too low of blood sugar,
called hypoglycemia, is the most common problem and causes rapid changes. This is called insulin
shock. Too high of blood sugar, called hyperglycemia. But that takes a longer time to develop and
can lead to diabetic coma.
To provide first aid in a diabetic emergency, you don’t need to know whether a person
has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, or whether a person's glucose levels are too high or
too low. The most important thing is to recognize an emergency and provide first aid as needed.
Diabetic emergency signs & symptoms include the following: altered level of consciousness,
pale, sweaty skin, shakiness, personality changes, irritability, weakness, dizziness,
difficulty breathing, seizures and even coma.
First aid for a person having a diabetic emergency, is giving sugar by mouth if they’re conscious.
You can do this by mixing a teaspoon or two of sugar in a small cup of water. You could
give them some candy, or maybe a sugary drink. Please make sure they’re not sugar free.
If a person has too low of glucose giving sugar will help the person improve usually
within a few minutes. If the person has too high of glucose, the sugar will not improve
their condition, but it will not make their condition worse in the short term either.
In either case, the person needs to check their glucose level as soon as possible to
determine further need for care. If unconscious or the condition does not improve, do not
give anything by mouth and activate emergency medical services, and then check for responsiveness
and normal breathing. If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR.