Medicine and Health related Information

Diabetic coma is mostly seen in children and young individuals who suffer from juvenile diabetes. Diabetic coma occurs when the patient suffers from hyperglycemia i.e., when the concentration of blood glucose level rises much above the normal level. The disintegration of stored fat in the body is commensurate by the glucose in the blood. Ketone bodies are the end products of disintegration of fat, and these ketone bodies are acidic in nature and this makes the blood acidic and this acidified blood on reaching brain affects it . This leads to drowsiness and lethargy and slowly the patient suffers from diabetic coma. As described earlier ketone bodies are harmful to the body and to avoid its harmful affects the body starts producing more and more urine. This leads to reduction in the fluid content of the body thus leading to an increase in the concentration of ketone bodies. Thus a dreadful cycle starts.

Diabetic patient may also suffer from coma when the concentration of blood glucose level drops much below the normal level which is called hypoglycemia. But coma due to hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level) occurs rapid and sudden where as coma due to hyperglycemia (excessive blood glucose level) is a slow process. The symptoms of this condition are excessive thirst; dryness of mouth, patient feels very tired and weak, headache, nausea, vomiting, profuse urination, etc.