Diabetes

• Category: Journal
• Date: 10.19.09

Taken from Right Aid Clinical Services…

Short term (days to weeks) hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) can lead to increased urination, increased thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, fatigue, nausea, and can also lead to many fungal and bacterial infections. More serious complications include diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome (HHNKS).

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), also known as diabetic coma, occurs when the body lacks insulin and breaks down fats for energy. When this occurs the body produces ketones which can be found in the urine. Ketoacidosis occurs when the body does not get rid of all the ketones in the urine and they build up in the blood. This is a life-threatening situation and needs immediate treatment. DKA is associated with blood glucose levels from 200-2,000mg/dL. Symptoms of DKA include unexplained blood glucose greater than 250mg/dL, fruity smelling breath, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, dehydration, increased heart rate, shock, and coma. Medical assistance is needed from hospital staff. Treatment includes insulin infusions, fluid replacement, and potassium replacement.
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic non-ketotic syndrome (HHNKS) can be life-threatening and is associated with blood glucose levels greater than 600mg/dL. Symptoms of HHNKS include dehydration, excessive thirst, low blood pressure, glucose in the urine but no ketones, hallucinations, sensory deficits, rapid eye movements, paralysis on one side of the body, loss of vision in half of the visual field, seizures, and a partial or total loss of the ability to comprehend spoken or written language and express ideas. Medical assistance is needed from hospital staff.Treatment also includes fluid replacement, potassium replacement, and insulin infusions.

Blood sugar concentration, or glucose level, refers to the amount of glucose present in the blood of a human or animal. Normally, in mammals the blood glucose level is maintained at a reference range around 90 mg/dl, equivalent to 5mM (mmol/l) (since the molecular weight of glucose, C6H12O6, is about 180 g/mol).

This is a post for curiosity. Just in case, in the off chance, that something so incredibly odd as losing your insulin supply while visiting another country but still being within driving distance of your home should happen – you now know that it makes THE MOST POSSIBLE SENSE to just drive the fuck home, AND THEN use your insulin from home OR as soon as you cross the border get it from a hospital/pharmacy.

What you DO NOT want to do, is leave your hotel room at 6:30am in a hunt for prescription medication, without a prescription, in a country with horrible healthcare, carrying only $120 cash on you, and not telling the people you were there with what the fuck was going on.

Not that this kind of ABSOLUTELY RETARDED situation would EVER happen, because no living human being (or dog, cat, turtle, and pigeon) could ever do such a stupid thing. Correct?… You’d think so anyway…

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