Hypoglycemia is a marked deficiency in glucose found in the blood that prompts a starving brain to look for alternative energy sources while shutting down other essential body activities, resulting in alarming behavior such as shaking, nervousness, loss of color, abnormal speech patterns, dizzy spells, and even loss of consciousness altogether. For most cases, hypoglycemia attacks are short term and do not do any permanent damage when treated immediately. Unfortunately, there are cases when treatment is delayed or neglected altogether resulting in irreversible brain damage, ultimately sending the patient to a hypoglycemia coma.
A coma is a profound state of unconsciousness wherein a person will not wake up or respond normally to pain or light, lacking normal sleep and wake cycles, and cannot do voluntary actions. Hypoglycemia coma is triggered by the abject destruction of neurons in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex areas of the brain, which are parts that are essential to memory and cognition. A person may move, talk or do actions that give the illusion that they are conscious but be mindful that these may be just autonomous reactions programmed into the brain, and does not mean that the patient is already awake. As usual, a qualified doctor or physician will diagnose and decide whether the person is still in coma or not.
Severe mismanagement of food and liquid intake for prolonged periods of time can result in blood glucose levels that are way below normal. For people that need to closely monitor their glucose and insulin intake, hypoglycemia coma can happen as part of insulin shock, which occurs when a substantial or large amount of medication is administered compared to the actual dosage required. When the blood sugar levels drop fast, the cells can absorb all available glucose and leave none for the brain, resulting in brain cell starvation and then to coma. Shaking, convulsions, profuse sweating and intense hunger characterize insulin shock and should be watched out for.
The primary treatment for insulin shock (and prevention for hypoglycemia coma) is called Glucagon, A medication that will act as a preventive measure for insulin over reaction caused by hormones that rapidly increase blood glucose levels. It is administered through IV (intravenous) feeding together with a certain amount of glucose that can counterbalance the effects of insulin shock and its treatment. IV feeding is important since most people suffering from hypoglycemia especially those who lost consciousness are unable to take oral medication.
It is imperative that people with hypoglycemia are never left without any means of help. Quick medical help contributes greatly in the prevention of irreversible brain damage caused by sudden attacks and may help prevent permanent coma if given at the right time. As with cases like these, emergency treatments suggested by a physician should always be accessible as well as a means to contact emergency help coupled with a person who can administer treatment, or can call for help when attacks do occur and the patient is left unable to help himself.
Quick Tip #1
Treatment of hypoglycemia is an ongoing process, remember to have a good diet with evenly spaced out meals every 2-3 hours apart. Also exercising can really help in keeping this condition under check.
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Quick Tip #2
A lot of symptoms of low blood sugar have common signs as other diseases. If you exeperience any of the hypoglycemia symptoms, do consult your doctor for treatment.
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