Every day, 65 people in the UK die early as a result of diabetes. Therefore, it is important to know how to help a diabetic whose life is in danger.
What is it?
Diabetes is a condition where someone is unable to adequately regulate their blood glucose levels. The body produces the hormone insulin which helps the body burn off sugars. If someone’s body has problems with insulin production, they will develop diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes
This usually develops early in life and is the most common type of diabetes in children. It occurs when the body is unable to produce any insulin. Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin injections, or by using an insulin pump.
Type 2 Diabetes
This is the more widespread type. It tends to develop later in life, and it often has links with obesity. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body is unable to make enough insulin, or when it produces insulin, but this does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). Diet, exercise or oral medication – or a combination of all 3 control type 2 Diabetes.
First aid treatment for diabetes is more likely to be necessary for low blood sugar levels than high. This is because high blood sugar levels usually build over a few days or weeks, whereas low levels can come on very fast. Blood sugar can drop very quickly if the person has missed a meal or done any strenuous exercise.
If you are looking after someone who develops weight loss, excessive urination, thirst and tiredness, these are symptoms of hyperglycaemia and they should get urgent medical attention. If they get worse, begin to get drowsy and start to lose consciousness, phone for an ambulance.
Low Blood Sugar/Hypoglycaemia
Blood glucose levels can drop very fast if someone who is diabetic has skipped a meal, taken a lot of exercise, if they are ill, or took too much insulin. If this is not treated quickly they can rapidly start to lose consciousness and fall into a diabetic coma. This can be fatal.
Signs and symptoms
- Behaving unusually
- May be aggressive
- Could appear slightly confused or drunk
- Might be pale, cold, shaky and sweaty
- They have shallow, rapid breathing and a fast, strong pulse
- They could have seizures.
Treatment
- Sit them down and give them a sugary drink, or glucose sweets (not a diet drink).
- If they begin to feel better, give them more drinks and some food, particularly biscuits or bread to sustain their blood sugar – A jam sandwich is great.
- Phone the emergency services, if they don’t feel better within 10 minutes or they begin to get worse.
- For children who are uncooperative swallowing oral glucose, but are not unresponsive, consider administering half a teaspoon of sugar (2.5g) under the tongue.
- If they lose consciousness but are still breathing normally, put into the recovery position and phone the emergency services
- If they stop breathing, prepare to give CPR
Do not attempt to give an unconscious casualty anything to eat or drink. And never give them insulin as this will further lower their blood sugar and could kill them.
Even if someone appears to have recovered, ensure they receive urgent medical advice. This is particularly important at night, as insulin will still be active in the blood stream while they are asleep and the blood sugar levels will therefore drop again and they could drift from sleeping to unconsciousness.
November 2022 update
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We highly recommend that you attend a practical or online first aid course to learn how to help in a medical emergency.
First Aid for Life and onlinefirstaid.com provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. The best way to be prepared for action in an emergency is to attend a practical first aid course.
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first aid – if diabetic is unwell and unknown if high or low blood sugar – what should be done ?
What to do if sugar falls suddenly with headache severe and sweating
Please treat as hypoglycaemia and give glucose. Seek further medical or diabetic nurse advice if they don’t recover quickly or if you are concerned in any way.
Please treat as hypoglycaemia and give glucose. Seek further medical or diabetic nurse advice if they don’t recover quickly or if you are concerned in any way. If the diabetic emergency was high blood sugar, they will not improve, but conversely the sugar you have given them is insufficient to cause further harm. Seek medical advice urgently as they will need further investigation and treatment. High blood sugar is a medical emergency.
Ask them to check their blood sugar.
very informative and helpful .
very informative and helpful
I had a hypo on a mini cruise. I fell off a stool in the show bar and was assumed drunk even though I wear a visible medic alert. I was travelling alone and taken to my cabin by two first aiders and put to bed. I remember nothing until I was told the next day. I was in pain from the fall but received no treatment. When I got home my GP was horrified. I had not only had a hypo, but I’d injured my rotator cuff, which now needs surgery. Please check out medical care on cruises as not all have doctors on board and first aiders don’t cut it.