Medical Emergencies - Diabetes

Medical Emergencies - Diabetes

1. What is Diabetes

   • Imbalance in the sugar levels in the body

2. Causes of Diabetes

   • Caused by the pancreas not producing enough insulin
   • Insulin helps to turn the sugar in the body into energy which the body can use

3. Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

   • Low Blood Sugar
     • Taken too much insulin
     • Not eaten enough food
     • Over exercised
     • Can become irritable, weak, shaky and cold
       • If they do not eat they can go into severe shock and also possibly have a seizure
   • High Blood Sugar
     • Diabetic has not been diagnosed yet
     • No insulin taken
     • Overeaten carbohydrates
     • An infection affecting the insulin levels in the body
     • Person becomes restless, have a dry mouth, have an acetone smell smell on their breath, complain of extreme thrist and possibly complain of abdominal cramps or pain
       • If they do not take their medication they can go into a coma

4. Treatment for Diabetes

   • Treatment for Low Blood Sugar
     • 1: Go through the secondary survey steps
       • Shock
       • Head - Toe check
       • SAMPLE
       • Vitals
     • 2: The medical history is important here, especially when the last ate a meal
     • 3: Treat for Shock
     • 4: Give the person something sweet - like small packet of sugar, or a sweet or cold drink
   • Treatment for High Blood Sugar
     • 1: Go through the secondary survey steps
       • Shock
       • Head - Toe Check
       • SAMPLE
       • Vitals
     • 2: The medical history is important here, especially when the last ate a meal, and when last insulin was injected
     • 3: Treat for Shock
     • 4: Here DON'T give the person sugar as their sugar levels are already high