Diabetic Emergencies – Hypoglycemia, DKA & HHS

Diabetic patients often present to the ER in various crises. As a technician your ability to recognize the type of emergency and monitor your patient appropriately will help the patient get the best treatment possible and support a quick recovery. This lecture will review the most common and life threatening diabetic emergencies. The physiology of the endocrine pancreas and the pathophysiology of Hypoglycemia, Diabetic Ketotic Acidosis and Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome will be reviewed. Stabilization, treatment and nursing care will be discussed.

At the end of this lecture the participant should be able to:


• Review the purpose of the endocrine pancreas

• Discuss important things to look for when triaging a possible diabetic emergency

• Identify how to stabilize diabetic emergencies

• Examine the difference between diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome