Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with diabetic unconscious, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A known or suspected diabetic is unresponsive. Cause may be very low or very high blood sugar.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112. Check breathing — CPR if needed. Glucose gel in cheek if low sugar suspected.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Unresponsive diabetic person — known history or insulin supplies nearby.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Pale sweaty skin suggests low sugar; dehydrated with deep breathing suggests high sugar.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Unconsciousness in diabetes is usually severe hypoglycemia or advanced hyperglycemia — both are emergencies.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You may not know which — treat as life-threatening either way.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say diabetic person unconscious.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Open airway — tilt head, lift chin. Check breathing for 10 seconds.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If not breathing normally — start chest compressions.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If glucagon kit is available and you are trained — use per instructions. Otherwise place glucose gel in cheek if safe.
When and how to get professional help.
Any unconscious diabetic needs emergency care immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call for help, support airway, give glucagon or buccal glucose only if trained and available. Do not force oral food.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Report diabetic unconscious, breathing status, and whether glucagon or sugar was given.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stay on speaker while monitoring breathing.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT force food or drink into an unconscious person.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume they are sleeping off low sugar without calling for help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Always give insulin to an unconscious diabetic
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Insulin is dangerous if the cause is low blood sugar. Emergency services must assess and treat.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Fatal hypoglycemia from incorrect insulin administration.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Adrenal crisis
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person on long-term steroids or with known adrenal problems has sudden severe weakness, vomiting, low blood pressure, or confusion.
Electrolyte imbalance
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — After vomiting, diarrhea, heat, or certain medicines, a person has severe cramps, weakness, confusion, or heart palpitations.
Low blood sugar
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person with diabetes (or on certain medicines) is sweaty, shaky, confused, or irritable — signs of low blood sugar.
Severe dehydration
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person has not kept fluids down, has not urinated for many hours, and is weak, dizzy, or confused.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Unconscious diabetics need IV glucose or insulin in hospital — time-critical.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Continue CPR until help arrives if not breathing.