Therapy of diabetic coma

The diabetic coma is a serious emergency. Affected patients must be treated as soon as possible, as the duration of the diabetic coma has a significant impact on the prognosis and survival probability. The treatment of diabetic coma has four main objectives: These therapeutic goals are achieved by the administration of intravenous electrolyte solutions (initially about 1 liter per hour) and normal insulin.

The blood sugar level must not be lowered too quickly: A reduction by half in four to eight hours is considered optimal. During infusion therapy and the administration of insulin, the potassium level in the blood must be monitored and, if necessary, corrected by the administration of potassium. Patients in diabetic coma require close monitoring and should be treated in the intensive care unit.

1. compensate for the lack of liquid,
2. compensation of electrolyte losses (electrolytes are minerals dissolved in the blood),
3. administration of insulin to lower blood sugar levels
4. treatment of acidosis in case of ketoacidotic coma.

Duration of diabetic coma

The diabetic coma develops slowly over several days until all symptoms are fully developed. Both subtypes begin with a so-called prodromal phase, in which the first symptoms appear: Loss of appetite, increasing amounts of drinking and urine, and dehydration of the body due to the loss of fluid. The length of time until a diabetic coma actually occurs varies and varies from patient to patient. The therapy of blood sugar derailment and fluid deficiency should be slow in both subtypes of diabetic coma, for example, the fluid loss should be compensated over a period of up to 48 hours. It is not possible to make a generally valid statement about the length of time a patient in a diabetic coma will be in a diabetic coma and how long the therapy will last, but must be discussed with the treating physicians in each individual case.