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Insulin Shock Symptoms

Insulin shock is a potentially serious condition in which the body's blood sugar stores are depleted, resulting in weakness, feeling sick or loss of consciousness. This condition can affect diabetics as well as those who don't have diabetes.

  1. Causes of Symptoms

    • Insulin shock (hypoglycemia) takes place when the diabetic patient's stores of blood glucose are used up too quickly. Insulin shock can also occur when glucose (blood sugar) is released into her body too slowly or when too much insulin is released into her blood stream.

    Onset of Symptoms

    • Insulin shock can happen any time. It is most likely to happen after increased physical activity or during peak insulin activity. If the patient eats his meal later than usual, he may experience insulin shock symptoms.

    Symptoms

    • The patient can begin to feel nervous, shaky, dizzy, faint or hungry. She can also begin sweating, develop a pounding heart, become impatient, undergo a personality change, develop confused thinking, become cranky and experience numb lips and tongue. She may develop blurred vision, a headache, malaise, convulsions, paleness, memory loss, muscle pain, different size pupils and hallucinations.

    Preventing Symptoms

    • The patient should eat his snacks and meals as ordered by his doctor. He should carefully measure his insulin or take only the prescribed amount of oral medication. He also needs to keep his exercise regimen consistent; if he will be doing additional exercise, he should eat another snack.

    Treatment

    • If the patient finds herself becoming sick with insulin shock, she should eat or drink something with "quick acting" sugar. She can drink fruit juice, 1/2 can or regular soda, eat two to three teaspoons of sugar or 10 gumdrops. She can eat six saltine crackers or three Graham crackers and a cup of milk.

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