Identifying the cause Diabetic coma was a more significant diagnostic problem before the late 1970s, when glucose meters and rapid blood chemistry analyzers were not available in all hospitals. In modern medical practice, it rarely takes more than a few questions, a quick look, and a glucose meter to determine the cause of unconsciousness in a patient with diabetes. Laboratory confirmation can usually be obtained in half an hour or less. Other conditions that can cause unconsciousness in a person with diabetes are stroke, uremic encephalopathy, alcohol, drug overdose, head injury, or seizure.
Identifying the cause Diabetic coma was a more significant diagnostic problem before the late 1970s when glucose meters and rapid blood chemistry analyzers were not available in all hospitals In modern medical practice it rarely takes more than a few questions a quick look and a glucose meter to determine the cause of unconsciousness in a patient with diabetes Laboratory confirmation can usually be obtained in half an hour or less Other conditions that can cause unconsciousness in a person with diabetes are stroke uremic encephalopathy alcohol drug overdose head injury or seizure