Diabetic Shock

[RobiJo]

Just curious. What does the phrase Diabetic Shock mean to you? I year it on a fairly regular basis from folks with and without diabetes. I am curious if you consider that being HIGH or LOW. I always (and those closest to me) called a Severe, need the glucagon, seizure in progress low an Insulin Reaction. Being too high was either DKA or just High.

When I hear people use the term Diabetic Shock, I ask them to explain. Some tell me that their brother's sister's uncle's cousin's girlfriend's daughter..... whatever.... went into shock because they ate too much sugar. (okay a high bg) and others tell me they got shakey and felt like passing out (okay a low).

What does the phrase mean to you and do you use that pharse?

[JediSkipdogg]

I don't use it and don't use Insulin Reaction anymore either. I've come to just call it a diabetic emergency mainly from my job training. Then if one wants to get specific I can add that it's either caused by a high or low BG.

[solox316]

I haven't heard it in a while... But have always assumed it to me hypo. It is usually non diabetics that I have heard use the phrase...

[Huckleberry]

I can't vote. "Diabetic Shock" just causes me to shake my head.

I would prefer either "insulin shock" or "diabetic coma", or as Keven said "diabetic emergency", which makes most sense to me.

[xMenace]

Diabetic Shock is a low and Diabetic Coma is a high.

[alicat61]

:) Hi,
I haven't heard Diabetic Shock used very often and it makes no sence to me to use it. At work it is alway DKA Hypo or Hyper

[Funnygrl]

Shock is an outdated, inaccurate term for low blood sugar.

Shock means your cells aren't getting enough OXYGEN and glucose. So "insulin shock" only has one aspect of that. Real shock comes in many ways and involves not enough blood circulating, either from not enough fluid volume, obstruction, or a poorly functioning heart. However, the symptom of a racing heart can be shared by shock and hypoglycemia.

[Lizzie G]

It was a shock to learn out i had diabetes, but otherwise i havent really heard that term used. I think its one used by gossipy old ladies (sorry if im offending any gossipy old ladies out there....if it helps im a gossipy young-ish lady!) who are trying to add extra melodrama to their otherwise mundane conversations. eg 'and so we had picked out the bread, we decided on the one with the whole grain, and we were on our way to the milk aisle, when all of a sudden she went into diabetic shock, we called the ambulance, there was a crowd of people...' etc etc. :D

[Subby]

Very rarely heard it, by older generation.

There is a big need to find common terms for going high and low that are immediately understandable. I did a first aid course some years ago and the amount of confusion surrounding "diabetic shock, diabetic coma," etc, and what the correct response for the first aider was, was staggering... the teachers themselves confused and contributing to the confusion.

I'd like to see a bit of a campaign to educate everyone or at least include it more on first aid charts etc. It worries me that someone will put insulin in me if I've hypoed to unconsciousness. (although this is less likely with a pump I suppose!)

[Alice]

It's an old phrase...but was used recently when the truck driver in Canada was killed in a horrible accident and the news media originally attributed his accident to "diabetic shock".

It's simply a "shock" word to sensationalize diabetes.

I go through the roof when I hear "diabetic fit"...shock just seems uneducated..."fit" seems to be a slap in the face.

[RobiJo]

Shock is an outdated, inaccurate term for low blood sugar.



It's an old phrase...but was used recently when the truck driver in Canada was killed in a horrible accident and the news media originally attributed his accident to "diabetic shock".

It's simply a "shock" word to sensationalize diabetes.

I go through the roof when I hear "diabetic fit"...shock just seems uneducated..."fit" seems to be a slap in the face.


I agree. It is an older phrase and I don't hear it often from actual folks with diabetes. Just the fairly uneducated (about D). It is a buzz word for sure and I was just curious what you all thought/refer the phrase to. I suppose hearing the term is on the same page as some "helpful" person telling me what I can/can't eat, drink, do, etc. etc. Annoying.