Diabetes mellitus is a medical condition in which the body is unable to effectively regulate the amount of sugar in the blood. The pancreas (an organ in the body) normally produces a hormone called insulin that regulates blood sugar level. In a person suffering from diabetes this does not happen effectively and as a result blood sugar levels become too high (this is known as hyperglycemia). Most diabetics control the condition through a combination of diet and injections of insulin. Too much insulin can lead to a condition known as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
HYPERGLYCEMIA. Hyperglycemia is most likely to occur in an undiagnosed diabetic. Diabetes is generally first noticed in early adolescence or middle age. If left untreated, a high blood sugar level will lead to unconsciousness and death. Onset may be gradual with deterioration often happening over a number of days.
TREATMENT. During the early stages, encourage immediate contact with the local doctor. If this is difficult, or the condition deteriorates, take or send the person to hospital. Monitor airway and breathing and be prepared to resuscitate if necessary.
HYPOGLYCEMIA. Low blood sugar level has a quick and serious effect on the brain. Most commonly it is caused by somebody with diabetes either taking too much insulin, or taking the right amount of insulin and then either not eating enough or burning off sugar through vigorous exercise. Less commonly, it can accompany heat exhaustion, alcohol abuse, or epileptic fits.
TREATMENT. If the person is unconscious, monitor the airway and breathing and be prepared to resuscitate as necessary. If the person is fully conscious, help him to sit down or to lie down with the shoulders raised. Give something high in sugar and easy to consume, such as chocolate or a sugary drink,
to try to restore the body's chemical balance. If this marks an improvement, give more. If the condition does not improve, seek medical advice. Stay with the person until he recovers. Ask his guidance on what he wants to do next. Arrange for some help to take him home or to the doctor. If the condition continues to deteriorate, call an ambulance.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Early signs:
- Wanting to drink a lot (the body is trying to flush sugar from the system)
- Passing water regularly (urine may smell sweet)
- Lethargy
As the condition deteriorates:
- Dry skin and rapid pulse
- Deep, labored breathing
- Increasing drowsiness
- Breath or skin smells strongly of acetone (like nail-polish remover) as the body tries to get rid of sugar
- History of diabetes (however, a diabetic suffering a hypoglycemia attack is often confused or aggressive and may not admit to having diabetes)
- Hunger
- Feeling faint or dizzy
- Strange behavior: confusion, aggression, or even violence
- Pale, cold, sweaty skin
- Rapid loss of consciousness
- Shallow breathing
- Evidence of diabetes, e.g. medic alert, sugar solution, or syringe in pocket
- Evidence of recent heavy exercise or drinking
CONFUSION WITH OTHER CONDITION
It is not unusual for diabetes to be mistaken for other common situations such as drunkenness, substance abuse, compression, or a stroke. The treatment in all these situations is to monitor and maintain the airway, be prepared to resuscitate if necessary, use the recovery position if the person becomes unconscious, and seek medical advice or call emergency help.
Do not make assumptions as to the cause of the problem. Instead, look for clues to diagnosis for the medical staff. Somebody who is drunk may also be suffering from head injury; the syringe in a person's coat may be for diabetic medication of for drug abuse. While you do not need to know the cause the medical staff do and any clues that you can hand over could be potentially life-saving.
BLEEDING
Blood is carried around the body in a transport system of arteries, capillaries, and veins, and any damage to this network results in bleeding. Bleeding can be both external and internal. External bleeding involves a break to the skin surface, known as a wound, which can take many different forms. Internal bleeding is bleeding that occurs inside the body when there is no external injury for the blood to escape from. The most common form of internal bleeding is a small bruise from a minor impact. Heavy impact from car accidents, fights, or falls, for example, can lead to serious internal bleeding, which may kill.
TRANSPORT OF BLOOD. Arteries have thick muscular walls, that contract. This pushes blood out from the heart under pressure. The blood contained within them is full of oxygen, which has been collected from the lungs, and the main function of the arteries is to take this oxygen-rich blood to the organs and body tissue. Because the blood is under pressure, and is so full of oxygen, arterial bleeding is characterized by bright red blood pumping from an injury. Arterial bleeding is very serious as blood is rapidly lost.
Veins have thin walls and return blood from the organs and tissues to the heart. They do not have muscles of their own and rely on the actions of the muscles around them to squeeze the blood around. To keep the blood moving in one direction around the body, they have series of one-way valves that ensure a one-way flow. When these valves deteriorate, blood pools in the veins, making them swell. This weakens the vein wall, resulting in a condition known as varicose veins. While the blood loss from a bleeding vein does not tend to be as quick as a bleeding artery, it does nonetheless have the potential to be a very serious and even fatal injury. Bleeding from a vein will seem to flow from an injury and because it has little or no oxygen it will appear to be a dark red.
Capillaries are very thin-walled vessels. Blood is forced through them under pressure, causing the nutrients and oxygen stored in the blood to be pushed out into the body tissues and organs.
TYPES OF INJURY. Small blood loss is very common and rarely needs much treatment. Large blood loss may lead, if untreated, to shock and, potentially, death.
Incisions. Clean and deep cuts characterized by paper cuts and knives are known as incisions. While these wounds do not tend to bleed a lot, there may be underlying damage to tendons and other tissues.
Lacerations are jagged wounds, which tend to bleed a lot.
Puncture wounds are, as their name suggest, deep injuries caused by a pointed object such as a knitting needle. They do not tend to bleed a great deal but they carry the risk of infection because dirt can be carried a long way into the tissue. There is also a greater risk of damage to vital organs such as the lungs or liver.
Scrapes are a commonplace injury and involve damage to the top layers of the skin. They do not cause major blood loss but often dirty, because grazes tend to have debris embedded within them.
HOW DOES THE BODY STOP BLEEDING?
When a blood vessel is torn or cut, a series of chemical reactions takes place that causes the formation of a blood clot to seal the injury. Components of the blood known as platelets clump together at the injury site. Damaged tissue and platelets release chemicals that activate proteins called clotting factors. These react with a special protein (fibrinogen) to form a mesh of filaments that traps blood cells. These form the basis of a blood clot that contains white blood cells to help fight infection and specialized blood cells that help promote repair and recovery. A scab will form to protect the wound until repair has taken place. When applying pressure to the site of wound you are helping the clotting process.
BLEEDING
Blood is carried around the body in a transport system of arteries, capillaries, and veins, and any damage to this network results in bleeding. Bleeding can be both external and internal. External bleeding involves a break to the skin surface, known as a wound, which can take many different forms. Internal bleeding is bleeding that occurs inside the body when there is no external injury for the blood to escape from. The most common form of internal bleeding is a small bruise from a minor impact. Heavy impact from car accidents, fights, or falls, for example, can lead to serious internal bleeding, which may kill.
TRANSPORT OF BLOOD. Arteries have thick muscular walls, that contract. This pushes blood out from the heart under pressure. The blood contained within them is full of oxygen, which has been collected from the lungs, and the main function of the arteries is to take this oxygen-rich blood to the organs and body tissue. Because the blood is under pressure, and is so full of oxygen, arterial bleeding is characterized by bright red blood pumping from an injury. Arterial bleeding is very serious as blood is rapidly lost.
Veins have thin walls and return blood from the organs and tissues to the heart. They do not have muscles of their own and rely on the actions of the muscles around them to squeeze the blood around. To keep the blood moving in one direction around the body, they have series of one-way valves that ensure a one-way flow. When these valves deteriorate, blood pools in the veins, making them swell. This weakens the vein wall, resulting in a condition known as varicose veins. While the blood loss from a bleeding vein does not tend to be as quick as a bleeding artery, it does nonetheless have the potential to be a very serious and even fatal injury. Bleeding from a vein will seem to flow from an injury and because it has little or no oxygen it will appear to be a dark red.
Capillaries are very thin-walled vessels. Blood is forced through them under pressure, causing the nutrients and oxygen stored in the blood to be pushed out into the body tissues and organs.
TYPES OF INJURY. Small blood loss is very common and rarely needs much treatment. Large blood loss may lead, if untreated, to shock and, potentially, death.
Incisions. Clean and deep cuts characterized by paper cuts and knives are known as incisions. While these wounds do not tend to bleed a lot, there may be underlying damage to tendons and other tissues.
Lacerations are jagged wounds, which tend to bleed a lot.
Puncture wounds are, as their name suggest, deep injuries caused by a pointed object such as a knitting needle. They do not tend to bleed a great deal but they carry the risk of infection because dirt can be carried a long way into the tissue. There is also a greater risk of damage to vital organs such as the lungs or liver.
Scrapes are a commonplace injury and involve damage to the top layers of the skin. They do not cause major blood loss but often dirty, because grazes tend to have debris embedded within them.
HOW DOES THE BODY STOP BLEEDING?
When a blood vessel is torn or cut, a series of chemical reactions takes place that causes the formation of a blood clot to seal the injury. Components of the blood known as platelets clump together at the injury site. Damaged tissue and platelets release chemicals that activate proteins called clotting factors. These react with a special protein (fibrinogen) to form a mesh of filaments that traps blood cells. These form the basis of a blood clot that contains white blood cells to help fight infection and specialized blood cells that help promote repair and recovery. A scab will form to protect the wound until repair has taken place. When applying pressure to the site of wound you are helping the clotting process.
Written by Unknown
Frederick Luneta is a 24-year old guy and he is a Computer Engineering student and a young part time blogger. Currently lives in the Philippines. He knows a lot about computer.
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