We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Hypoglycemic Coma?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 25,283
Share

A hypoglycemic coma is a type of diabetic coma occurring when glucose levels in the blood or blood sugar drop well below accepted norms. This condition may also occur in people who have routinely low blood sugar conditions. Any coma is a serious health risk and the hypoglycemic coma needs prompt treatment to be certain that brain damage doesn’t result. Prompt treatment means emergency medical care, under the majority of circumstances.

In this condition, people will not respond to outside stimuli. This doesn’t mean they’re necessarily silent or without movement, but these shouldn’t be assumed as signs of consciousness. In response to the low glucose levels, the body is shutting down and in part it does this by beginning to destroy neurons in the brain. Continued destruction could cause memory or function loss.

The main cause of hypoglycemic coma is sharp reduction in blood glucose levels. There are a number of ways this can occur. Inadequate diet with skipping meals might result in dropping blood sugar levels, and people with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to this. Excessive alcohol intake is another precursor for this form of coma. An additional cause is injection of too much insulin, which can quickly drop blood sugar levels.

It’s not that there aren’t signs leading up to a crisis. Some of the common symptoms include a feeling of nervousness or shakiness. People might feel hungry, but ignore these feelings. Tiredness, mental confusion, excess perspiration and changes in mood trending toward irritation or anger could be noted too. For those at risk for this complication, it’s especially important to check blood glucose levels at this time, and adjust medications as needed to restore blood sugar to acceptable amounts.

Many people feel some of these symptoms right after injecting insulin. Verifying blood sugar amounts is vital. People can correct early expression of hypoglycemia before hypoglycemic coma occurs by using glucose candies or things like juice to restore the body’s sugar levels.

If the condition progresses to hypoglycemic coma, this is medically urgent. People should be taken to the hospital or emergency services should be called. It’s advised people follow protocol suggested by their physicians. In hospitals, the person in a coma will receive an injected or intravenous form of hormonal medicine called glucagon. This can help restore blood sugar levels quickly.

While glucagon can be effective, it’s far better to prevent hypoglycemic coma, than to undergo it and risk potential brain damage. Careful attention to blood sugar levels, healthy diet, and minimal or no alcohol fights half this battle. The other half is being aware of symptoms that indicate lowering blood sugar levels. People should know what these are and be attentive to body reaction, learning to understand signs of low blood sugar and taking appropriate steps when it is noted.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon285536 — On Aug 16, 2012

Roach, try to start your day off with protein. I can't explain why, but it definitely helps me to start the day with a couple of eggs, and maybe some turkey bacon. Try to eat a balanced diet throughout the day, but eat every few hours.

By anon193471 — On Jul 05, 2011

Eat something sweet. Candies or something.

By Roach2468 — On Nov 25, 2010

Please somebody help me. I don't know what to do. I have low blood sugar. Please, help me! Do I need to go to a doctor? What if I don't? Will I die? Can someone please be kind enough to answer my questions? I have no one else to talk to about this. Help me.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-hypoglycemic-coma.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.