Do you suddenly lose consciousness if you have diabetes? Let's talk about Insulin Shock (Hypoglycemia)!

Are you a person who takes medication for diabetes? Or do you have a family member or friend? Then you must have heard about the times when you suddenly feel faint, sweaty, shaky, and have a strange feeling in your heart. Maybe you have even experienced it yourself. This is something that we should never take lightly, and it can be an emergency. Today we are talking about this dangerous condition that can occur in people with diabetes, which is called 'Insulin Shock' or, in medical terms, 'Hypoglycemia'.

Simply put, what is hypoglycemia?

It's very simple. This means that our blood sugar level drops much lower than it should. Now look, every cell in our body needs energy to work. Just like a car needs gasoline to run. Our cells get this energy from the sugar, or glucose, in the foods we eat.

However, this sugar simply cannot enter the cells. It needs a special key. That key is the hormone insulin . A person with diabetes either does not produce enough insulin in their body, or the insulin they produce does not work properly. That is why they have to take insulin injections or other medications from outside.

Why do we get Insulin Shock? What are the causes?

The main reason for this is an imbalance. That is, the balance between the amount of insulin or diabetes medication you take, the amount of food you eat, and your physical activity is disrupted.

Here are some common reasons:

• Exercising more than usual: Imagine that you took your daily dose of insulin and worked harder than usual to clean the garden. Because our cells use more sugar when we exercise, our blood sugar can drop quickly.
• Skipping or delaying a meal: If you take an insulin injection in the morning and are unable to eat a meal on time due to work, your body may not receive enough sugar to match the amount of insulin you have taken, causing your blood sugar levels to drop.
• Changing the amount or time of eating: Eating less than usual is also a cause.
• Medication overdose: Taking more insulin or medication than prescribed by the doctor.
• Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach: Drinking alcohol without eating can cause blood sugar levels to drop suddenly.

What are the symptoms of this? How do we recognize it?

These symptoms may be subtle at first, but if ignored, they can become serious. That's why it's important for you and your family to be aware of these signs.

Okay, so what do we do if something like this happens?

When there are basic symptoms:

If you can, first check your blood sugar level with your glucometer. That way you can be sure. However, if there is no way to check at that time, but you have symptoms, don't delay in getting treatment. Just assume that your sugar is low and do what is necessary.

We use a simple rule for this. That is the '15-15 rule' .

1. First 15: Eat or drink something with 15-20 grams of sugar that is quickly absorbed by the body.

• 3-4 glucose tablets
• Half a glass of fruit juice (orange, apple)
• Half a glass of regular sugary drink (not diet drink)
• Drinking a tablespoon of sugar dissolved in water
• A tablespoon of honey or nectar
• A few toffees

2. Deuteronomy 15:Wait 15 minutes. Then check your blood sugar level again.

If your blood sugar is still low (usually less than 70 mg/dL), eat one of the foods listed above again and check again in 15 minutes. Once your blood sugar is back to normal, if it's been more than an hour since your next main meal, have a snack like half a piece of bread, a piece of cheese, and 4-5 crackers.

If the condition is serious (if memory is lost):

The first thing to do is to immediately call 1990 and get an ambulance, or take the person to the nearest hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) as soon as possible. At the hospital, the condition is controlled with treatments such as giving sugar intravenously.

You can talk to your doctor about getting a glucagon rescue kit . Glucagon is a hormone that our bodies produce that quickly raises blood sugar levels. Injecting this into an unconscious person can help prevent the situation from getting worse until an ambulance arrives or they can be taken to the hospital. Teaching your family and those who work with you how to use it can be a life-saving measure.