Do you know the signs of a diabetic emergency?
This National Diabetes Week we want you to be aware of the signs and symptoms of a diabetic emergency, whether it be for high or low blood sugar.
Diabetes is a condition requiring daily management in order to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
There are three main types of diabetes, type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
For people with type 1 diabetes, cells in the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed, so the body is unable to make insulin, the hormone responsible for glucose regulation.
In people with type 2 diabetes, the cells have stopped responding well to insulin, meaning the body has trouble moving glucose from the blood into the cells.
Gestational diabetes is diabetes diagnosed for the first-time during pregnancy and affects how cells use glucose.
Check out the signs of a diabetic emergency below:
Low blood glucose
- Hungry
- Pale, sweaty
- Weak or shaky
- May appear confused, irritable, or aggressive
- Seizures
High blood glucose
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Hot, dry skin
- Feeling tired, blurred vision
- Fruity sweet smell of acetone on the breath
To learn what to do during a diabetic emergency check out our first aid fact sheet here.
You can also download the First Responder App to have access to first aid guides on the go.
