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Transcript
An Electricians Guide to
Diabetic Emergencies
Presence Regional EMS System
November CE 2014
Objectives

Discuss the pathophysiology of Diabetes Mellitus

List the assessment findings for a patient who has
hyperglycemia and the rational for these findings.

List the assessment findings for a patient who has
hypoglycemia and the rational for these findings

Outline the management for a patient who has
hyperglycemia

Outline the management for a patient who has
hypoglycemia

Describe the science behind insulin pumps and their use
by the diabetic population.
Glucose’s path into the cell
Glucose
• Glucose is carried by the blood to the
cells, much like electricity is carried by
the wiring in your house.
• Cells need Glucose for energy like our
electronics need electricity
• Hypoglycemia or low blood glucose is
like too little electricity in your house. Your
electronics don’t run properly and stop,
much like your cells.
• Hyperglycemia is like a power surge and
can damage the electronics in your
home.
Insulin
• Insulin is a hormone that interlocks with insulin
receptors in the cell walls. Each molecule of
insulin fits perfectly with a receptor.
• The connection enables glucose to be carried
from the blood stream into the cell for energy
production.
• Some cells (like brain cells) may rely completely
on glucose for energy.
• Insulin resistance is like a problem with the outlet.
Electricity is available in the wiring, and the
electronics need it, but they don’t get any when
connections are attempted between the plug and
outlet.
Insulin receptors
and glucose transporters
• Insulin receptors
interlock with insulin
to enable glucose
transport into the cell
• Glucose transporters
carry glucose into the
cell for energy
production once
signaled by the
receptor.
The Cell
• Cells utilize Glucose and O2 for
energy production
• Because of the brain’s reliance on
glucose for energy, neurological
symptoms occur quickly from
hypoglycemia:
• Altered mental status
• Slurred speech
• Irritability
• Inability to concentrate
**The brain also releases Epinephrine to trigger stored glucose release, causing shock like
conditions
What Happens in the Body With
Glucose and Insulin Normally

If someone eats ice cream, their
glucose level in the blood (golden
hexagons) will go up.

When blood glucose goes up, cells
in the pancreas are stimulated

When the pancreas is stimulated it
releases a hormone called insulin
into the blood (blue hash marks)

The insulin travels in the blood to
an insulin receptor on a cell wall
(green). The insulin plugs into the
insulin receptor triggering the
opening of glucose
gates/transporters (purple)
allowing glucose into the cells.

Once inside the cell the glucose
combines with oxygen in a
chemical reaction releasing the
energy needed by the body to
survive.

Once the glucose is in the cell
creating energy and is no longer in
the blood stream, the blood
glucose level drops and the insulin
production shuts off until it is
needed again to allow glucose
into the cells.

This is an example of a negative
feedback loop, that once a
process is no longer needed it
shuts itself off.
In addition

If more glucose is taken into the
body that is needed by the cells
for energy (a double scoop of ice
cream), insulin helps distribute the
extra glucose in a variety of
storage areas in the body.

Some of the glucose will be
transformed to glycogen (brown
strand) that is stored in the muscle
and liver for easy access of more
glucose is needed quickly. Insulin
is needed to open the glucose
transporters in the liver enabling
glucose to be transformed to
glycogen.

In addition to glycogen, some of the
extra glucose in the liver is converted
to protein (pink strand)

Also in the liver, some of the glucose is
converted to fatty acids (dark green
squares)

With the help of insulin, more glucose is
admitted into fat cells and converted
to glycerol which combines with the
fatty acids from the liver to make triglycerides which are stored fat. (green
and yellow E shaped structures)

Without insulin, none of the uses of glucose can
happen:
 Energy
production
 Storing
glucose as glycogen
 Storing
fuel as proteins
 Storing
fuel as fats
Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to use
glucose (sugar) for fuel.

Occurs in about 7% of the population

Complications include blindness, cardiovascular
disease, and kidney failure.
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 patients do not produce insulin.
 Need
daily injections of insulin
 Typically
develops during childhood
 Patients
more likely to have metabolic
problems and organ damage
 Considered
an autoimmune problem
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 patients produce inadequate amounts of insulin,
or normal amount that does not function effectively.

Sometimes the problem is that there is Insulin Resistance. Insulin
resistance is like a problem with the electrical outlet. Electricity is
available in the wiring, and the electronics need it, but they don’t
get any when connections are attempted between the plug and
outlet.

Usually appears later in life

Treatment may be diet, exercise, oral medications, or insulin.
 Type
1 and type 2 diabetes both:
Are
equally serious
Affect
many tissues and functions
Require
life-long management.
How Does Someone Know They
Have Diabetes?

The signs and systems of new
onset or uncontrolled diabetes are
as a result of no insulin or poor
insulin being produced in the
pancreas.

The person is still eating and taking
in glucose, but there is no insulin to
plug into the insulin receptors to
open the glucose gate/transporter

The cell is deprived of its usual
source of energy as the glucose
level in the blood continues to rise.

Even if there is no glucose getting from
the blood into the cell, the body still
needs to create energy.

The body will first use up the stored
glucose in glycogen (brown)

Then the body will use the stored fat
(yellow) and proteins (pink) for energy.

Without insulin, none of these sources
of energy are very efficient, so the
patient will complain of feeling tired
and weak.

In addition, the body senses that there
is not enough good fuel so the person
will feel very hungry and continue to
eat. (Hyperphagia)

Although the person is eating, no
glucose is getting into the cells, so
while the blood glucose rises, the
person’s body stores of fat and protein
are being depleted.

Not only is breaking down fat and
protein for energy not efficient, the
byproduct of this breakdown is ketone
(gray).

Ketone is an acid. The body does not
tolerate high levels of acid.

If the acid builds up in the blood this is
called ketosis. Ketosis can lead to
coma and death.

If someone is creating ketones their
body will try to get rid of the extra acid
by breathing faster to eliminate the
acid by exhaling through the lungs.

This results in rapid deep breathing
called Kussmauls Respirations. This is
not “hyperventilation” but a protective
mechanism to help the body rapidly
get rid of extra acid.

When assessing the patient with high
ketones, the EMT can smell the ketone
on the patient’s breath. Ketones smell
like acetone or nail polish remover.

To get rid of the extra glucose in the
blood, the person with new onset or
uncontrolled diabetes depends on the
kidneys.

When the blood glucose level is too
high, the kidney removes some of the
excess glucose and eliminates in urine,
resulting in glucosuria.

The kidney can also eliminate some of
the extra ketones in the blood resulting
in ketonuria.

Because so much extra material is
being sent out in urine, the body needs
more water for elimination. The person
feels thirsty all the time and becomes
dehydrated because more water is
needed for urine production that the
patient is able to take in.

Excessive thirst is polydipsia. Excessive
urination is polyuria.
Hyperglycemia

Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus

Undiagnosed Diabetes Mellitus

Too high blood sugar

If untreated leads to:
 Developing
 Increased
damage
ketones and acidosis
Kidney workload with resulting
Signs and Symptoms of
Hyperglycemia

High blood glucose (> 400 mg/dl)

Polyuria: frequent, plentiful urination

Polydipsia: frequent drinking to satisfy continuous thirst

Polyphagia: excessive eating with weight loss

Feeling weak and fatigued

Weak, rapid pulse

Rapid deep breathing --Kussmaul respirations

Smell of acetone on the breath

Dehydration – dry lips, dry tongue, poor skin turgor
Hyperglycemia

Dehydration can be so severe that the patient
goes into hypovolemic shock

May progress to coma and death

Death from dehydration

Death from acid accumulation
Hyperglycemic Crisis

Can occur in diabetic patients:
 Who
are not under medical treatment
 Who
have taken insufficient insulin
 Who
have markedly overeaten
 Under
stress due to infection, illness,
overexertion, fatigue, or alcohol
Management of Hyperglycemia
(high blood glucose)

Support Airway, Breathing and Circulation

Oxygen to maintain 94% pulse oximetry

Check Blood glucose level.

ALS
 Correct
dehydration with IV fluid boluses of 0.9%
saline at 20 ml/kg
Management

Hyperglycemia takes hours or days to develop into a
crisis

Treatment may take hours in a well-controlled hospital
setting.

The patient requires insulin adjustment and
 Correction
of blood glucose levels
 Correction
of dehydration
 Correction
of acid levels
Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose)

Hypoglycemic crisis (insulin shock) is caused by
insufficient levels of glucose in the blood.

Can occur in insulin-dependent patients:
 Who
have taken too much insulin
 Who
have taken a regular dose of insulin but have not
eaten enough food
 Who
have engaged in vigorous activity and used up
all available glucose
 Who
have vomited a meal after taking insulin
Signs and Symptoms of
Hypoglycemia

Low blood glucose (< 60 mg/dl)

Feels weak and shaky

Epinephrine release with pale, cool sweaty skin


Fast pulse

Normal Blood pressure
Insufficient glucose supply to the brain

Altered mental state

Confusion

Loss of consciousness

Seizures
Management of Hypoglycemia
(low blood glucose)

Support Airway, Breathing and Circulation

Oxygen to maintain 94% pulse oximetry

Check Blood glucose level.
Management of Hypoglycemia

If the blood glucose less than 60mg/dL

If still able to swallow (protect airway) “feed the meter”
 Foods
rich in simple sugars will keep the electricity
flowing more quickly
 Glucose

paste
Follow up with complex carbs to sustain the electricity flow.
ALS Management for
Hypoglycemia

If unable to swallow:
 Initiate
large bore IV, administer 50% glucose IVP, and
high flow O2.
 If
unable to initiate a large bore IV
give glucagon 1 mg IM
 Follow
up with complex carbs
once able to swallow
Hypoglycemia Is a Crisis!!
 Low
blood sugar can occur very fast.
 If
untreated, it can produce unconsciousness and death.
 Hypoglycemia
giving glucose
is quickly reversed by
Insulin Pumps

Insulin pumps are small, computerized devices
(about the size of a small cell phone)

Insulin pumps are worn on the belt or put in a
pocket and allow for a continuous flow
of a rapid-acting insulin to be released
into the body.

The pumps have a small, flexible tube
(called a catheter), which is inserted under
the skin of the abdomen and taped in place.
Insulin Pumps

Some diabetics use an insulin pump because its slow release of
insulin mimics how a normally working pancreas would release
insulin.

Studies vary on whether the pump provides better blood sugar
control than multiple daily injections.

An advantage of the insulin pump is that it frees the diabetic from
having to measure insulin into a syringe.
Insulin Pumps

The insulin pump is designed to deliver a continuous amount of
insulin, 24 hours a day according to a programmed plan unique to
each pump wearer. The amount of insulin delivered can be
changed by the user.

Between meals and overnights, a small amount of insulin is
constantly delivered to keep the blood sugar in the target range.
This is called the basal rate. When food is eaten, a bolus dose of
insulin can be programmed into the pump.

Patients using an insulin pump can measure how much of a bolus is
needed using calculations based on the grams of carbohydrates
consumed.

When using an insulin pump, patients must monitor blood sugar
levels at least four times a day.
Insulin Pumps and EMS Providers

Machines can malfunction

If a patient has an insulin pump manage the patient the
same way you would one without an insulin pump.

Assess the blood glucose level and proceed
accordingly
Summary
Telling the Difference Between High
Blood Glucose and Low Blood Glucose
Glucose’s path into the cell
Review
 If
doing this CE individually, please e-mail
your answers to:
 [email protected]
 Use “November 2014 CE” in subject box.
 IDPH site code: 06-7100-E-1214
 You will receive an e-mail confirmation. Print
this confirmation for your records and
document in your PREMSS CE record book.
Case Study Review
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ASKED IN THE CASE STUDY
AS THEY ARE ASKED AND THEN CONSULT THE
ANSWERS IN THE NEXT SLIDE
Case 1

Dispatch: 1845 hours
24 year old unconscious male
The apartment manger will let you in.
What could be going on?
What could be going on?
(answers)
 Intoxicated
 Drug
overdose
 Seizure
 Stroke
 Dead
 Blood
glucose issue
Scene Size Up

You find Tim lying on a couch

He appears to be asleep

Good rise and fall of the chest

From condition of his clothing and the smell he
has been incontinent of both urine and stool.

The apartment is a mess.

Piles of clothing and newspapers

Dirty dishes and moldy food on the coffee table

The smell is overpowering

There is an empty bottle of insulin on the table

What does this environment tell you?
What does this environment tell
you? (answers)

Confirm unconscious

Deeply unconscious because he is incontinent

The apartment mess is old, so the problem has
been going on for a while

Insulin is involved in the situation, Tim may be
diabetic.
Initial Assessment

Mental status: Opens eyes to voice, no verbal
response

Airway: Open and clear

Breathing: Rapid rate 46 Good breath sounds
bilaterally

Circulation: Pale, warm dry skin, poor turgor,
radial pulse weak 110

All mucus membranes dry
SAMPLE History

Allergies – unknown

Medications – Insulin

Past Hx: Insulin dependent diabetic, he has
had the flu for a week

Last meal – unknown

Events– Tim’s sister was worried and called the
manager
Focused Exam
 VS
– BP 80/68 P 110 R 46
 Pulse
 Blood
oximetry – 100%
sugar reads HIGH
What is going on?
 What
 What
is significant about Tim’s history?
is significant about Tim’s
breathing?
What is significant about Tim’s
history?

Tim is known to be diabetic

He has been sick for a while and may not be
eating and/or taking his insulin
What is significant about Tim’s
breathing?

Tim is breathing rapid and deep suggesting
Kussmaul’s breathing

Kussmaul’s breathing occurs with ketone
production from hyperglycemia

What is significant about Tim’s blood pressure
and skin condition?

Where did his body water go?
What is significant about Tim’s
blood pressure and skin
condition?

Tim is dehydrated

Tim is in hypovolemic shock from the
dehydration

Where did his body water go?

Tim’s body water has been depleted by the
kidney using the water to eliminate glucose and
ketones from the blood in to his urine.

Why hasn’t anyone noticed a ketone “fruity”
smell?

What is the relationship between Tim’s condition
and his mental status?
Why hasn’t anyone noticed a
ketone “fruity” smell?

Tim’s incontinence and other odors in the
apartment have masked any “fruity” Ketone
smell Tim might have.
What is the relationship between
Tim’s condition and his mental
status?

Tim is in hypovolemic shock and not perfusing
has brain well enough to remain conscious.

How serious is Tim’s condition?

How do you want to manage Tim?

Does Tim need dextrose ?
How serious is Tim’s condition?

Tim is in critical condition.

How do you want to manage Tim?
 High
flow oxygen
 Support
 Call
A, B, Cs
for ALS transport for IV fluids
Does Tim need dextrose ?

NO, he has too much glucose in his blood now.
Case 2

Dispatch: 1030 hours warm June day
34 year old confused male
Scene Size Up

You arrive at the scene of a 10 K race. It is
warm and sunny with a cool breeze.

The patient, Bob is one of the participants in the
race. He stopped running and sat down under
a tree a the 8 K marker.

Bob is pale, ashen, and diaphoretic. His eyes
are closed.

What might have happened?
What might have happened?

Heat exhaustion/heat stroke

Heart attack

Stoke

Shock

Blood glucose issues
Initial Assessment

Mental Status: Able to speak to you in short
sentences. Confused as to what is going on.

Airway: Open and clear

Breathing: Rate 30 and shallow, Lung sounds
clear

Circulation: Cold wet skin, gray and slightly
cyanotic, Rapid weak radial pulse
SAMPLE History

No identification or tags. Bob is an unknown
runner from out of town. Officials have only his
name and address.

Bob had been running well to the 7 K marker
when he began to fall behind before he
staggered off the course and sat down under a
tree
Focused Exam

VS– 98/42, P 122, RR 30

Pupils dilated and sluggish

Pulse oximetry will not register

Blood sugar reads LOW

He denies chest pain

He is able to move all extremities equally

What is significant about Bob’s history?

Could more than 1 problem be going on?
What is significant about Bob’s
history?

Bob is a runner and in good physical condition.

Bob developed problems at the 7 km
point of a 10 Km race, so he just
developed a problems during the race.
Could more than 1 problem be
going on?

Yes, he could have heat exhaustion

He could be dehydrated

He has hypoglycemia

What is the reason for Bob’s level of
consciousness?

How do you want to manage Bob?

How might you treat him differently from other
diabetic emergencies?
What is the reason for Bob’s level
of consciousness?

He has poor perfusion of the brain
 Due
to heat
 Due
to dehydration
 Due
to low blood glucose levels
How do you want to manage
Bob?

High flow oxygen

Support A, B, Cs

Oral glucose or other high sugar food to raise his
blood glucose level

Call for ALS support for IV fluids and further
evaluation
How might you treat him
differently from other diabetic
emergencies?

Bob needs to be treated for dehydration/heat
illness with fluid replacement in addition to
replacing glucose.