Today, diabetes mellitus is one of the most serious health challenges facing more than 14.6 million Americans. According to a recent study released by the American Diabetes Association, the incidence of diabetes has ballooned as more Americans become overweight or obese with more than 1 million new cases occurring each year. As if these statistics weren't frightening enough, the disease is almost two times more likely to occur in African Americans than non-Latino white Americans. The disease killed more than 284,000 Americans last year—making it the fifth deadliest disease in the United States.

Responding to Diabetic Emergencies
It is important to know how to respond to and identify someone who is suffering from a diabetic emergency. People who are diabetic may suddenly become ill because there is too much or too little sugar in their blood—conditions known as hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. If left untreated, both conditions can result in life-threatening emergencies known as diabetic coma and insulin shock.

Although hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia are different conditions, their major signs are similar and include -

• Changes in levels of consciousness, including dizziness, drowsiness and confusion.
• Irregular breathing.
• Abnormal pulse (rapid or weak).
• Feeling or looking ill.

Care for Diabetic Emergencies
The basic care for both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia is also the same. First, check and care for any life-threatening emergencies. If the person is conscious, ask the person if he or she has diabetes or look for a medical alert tag. If the person tells you that he or she has diabetes and exhibits the symptoms above, then suspect a diabetic emergency.

If the conscious victim can take food or fluids, give him or her sugar, preferably in liquid form. Most candy, fruit juices and non-diet soft drinks contain enough sugar to begin to reverse hypoglycemia. Common table sugar, either dry or dissolved in a glass of water, also works well to return the victim's blood sugar to an acceptable level. If the person's problem is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), the sugar you give will help quickly. If the person's blood sugar level is already too high (hyperglycemia), the additional sugar will do no further harm.

Often, a person who has diabetes will know what is wrong and will ask for something with sugar in it. He or she may carry a readily available source of sugar for such situations. If the person is conscious, but does not feel better approximately five minutes after taking sugar, EMS personnel should be called immediately.

If the person is unconscious, call EMS personnel immediately. Do not give the victim anything by mouth. Instead, monitor signs of circulation and breathing and keep him or her from getting overheated or chilled.

To learn more about responding to diabetic emergencies and other sudden illnesses, call your local Red Cross chapter; enroll in a first aid course or visit www.redcross.org.

American Diabetes Association. "Diabetes Statistics for African Americans."
(www.diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/african-americans.jsp)

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