Rules for emergency treatment of diabetic patients with hypoglycemia

People with diabetes who have hypoglycemia, if not given prompt and proper emergency treatment, can be in danger, even life-threatening.

Vietnam has about 7 million people with diabetes, notably, more than 55% of patients have complications. (Source: Vnexpress)

According to Master, resident physician Nguyen Thi Kim Hoan, Department of Endocrinology - Diabetes, Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi), currently, Vietnam has about 7 million people with diabetes. Notably, more than 55% of patients have complications.

In particular, diabetic patients who overdose, use the wrong time, or use the wrong type of insulin or sulfonylurea, skip meals, eat less starch, drink alcohol, have liver failure, kidney failure, etc. can cause hypoglycemia and fall into a dangerous situation. Low blood sugar levels below 3.9 mmol/L warn of hypoglycemia.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia are varied. The patient sweats, feels cold, has a pale face, tremors in the limbs, has generalized or localized seizures, has a sudden feeling of hunger, discomfort, gnawing, epigastric pain, nausea, or vomiting.

Patients may also experience rapid heart rate and moderately increased systolic blood pressure. However, some patients do not have these symptoms.

When there are signs of hypoglycemia, the patient needs to quickly stop using oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin.

If the patient is fully conscious, blood sugar

You need to monitor capillary blood sugar after 15 minutes. If capillary blood sugar >3.9 mmol/l, the patient needs to be instructed on diet and find the cause to avoid repeated hypoglycemia. If capillary blood sugar continues to be low

In case of impaired consciousness, the patient should be taken immediately to the nearest medical facility for intravenous infusion or intramuscular injection of 1mg of glucagon.

Hypoglycemia is very common and has signs of rapid progression. Therefore, in addition to treatment, patients should proactively prevent and control their daily blood sugar levels to protect their health with some simple measures such as:

- Build a scientific diet, eat enough carbohydrates before exercising and have a snack during exercise if necessary.

- Eat extra meals as soon as your blood sugar shows signs of being low or when new signs of illness appear.

- Regularly check blood sugar and follow treatment as directed by your doctor. Do not take medication without a prescription or stop taking medication when symptoms improve.

- Always have sugar or sugary products such as candy, cakes, chocolate in your bag or briefcase in case of hypoglycemia.

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2021, each year Vietnam has up to 52,700 diabetes patients die, equivalent to nearly 150 deaths per day. According to the Ministry of Health's investigation, diabetes was the 7th leading cause of death in 2009 but ranked 3rd in 2019. Patients do not die in the Department of Endocrinology - Diabetes but often die when entering the Emergency Department, Cardiology, Neurology or Stroke.

According to IDF, the cost of treating a diabetic patient in Vietnam is about 14-15 million VND/year. For patients with complications, the cost of treatment doubles, approximately 30 million VND/year.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhung-quy-tac-khi-cap-cuu-nguoi-mac-benh-dai-thao-duong-bi-ha-duong-huet-278663.html