Medical
Diabetic Emergencies
If a person with diabetes is confused, sweaty or unwell, assume low blood sugar (hypo) and give sugary food or drink if they can swallow. Call 000 if they do not improve, lose consciousness, or seem severely dehydrated.
If a person with diabetes is confused, sweaty or unwell, assume low blood sugar (hypo) and give sugary food or drink if they can swallow. Call 000 if they do not improve, lose consciousness, or seem severely dehydrated.
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
Signs: weakness, sweating, trembling, hunger, confusion, headache, slurred speech, irritable behaviour.
If conscious and able to swallow:
- Give sugar — soft drink (not diet), juice, jelly beans, glucose tablets.
- Repeat every 15 minutes until they recover.
- Follow with a longer-acting carbohydrate (sandwich, biscuit).
- If no improvement, call 000.
If unconscious: call 000, follow DRSABCD, place in recovery position. Do NOT give anything by mouth.
Hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar)
Signs: excessive thirst, frequent urination, nausea, fruity breath, drowsiness — develops over hours or days.
- Follow DRSABCD.
- Help them with their own insulin if they ask.
- Call 000 if their condition is worsening or they become drowsy.
When in doubt, give sugar
If you are unsure whether it's a hypo or a hyper, give sugar. It will help a hypo and will not significantly worsen a hyper in the short term.
Questions & answers
How can I tell if blood sugar is too high or too low?
When in doubt, treat as low (hypo) — give sugar. Low blood sugar comes on quickly with sweating, shakes and confusion; high blood sugar develops over hours with thirst, frequent urination and fruity breath.
What sugar should I give a conscious person?
150 mL of regular soft drink, half a glass of fruit juice, 3 teaspoons of sugar or honey, or 6–7 jellybeans. Follow up with a longer-acting carb like a sandwich.
What if they are unconscious?
Do not give anything by mouth. Place in the recovery position and Call 000.
Related topics
DRSABCD Action Plan
The DRSABCD action plan is the Australian Resuscitation Council's seven-step primary survey for any emergency: Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation.
Recovery Position
The recovery position protects the airway of an unconscious person who is breathing normally by keeping them on their side so the tongue cannot block the throat and fluids can drain.
Dehydration
Move the person to a cool place and let them sip water or an oral rehydration solution slowly. Severe dehydration — confusion, no urine output, rapid pulse — needs an ambulance.
Fainting (Syncope)
Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness from reduced blood flow to the brain. Lay the person flat, raise their legs above heart level, and look for an underlying cause if recovery is slow.
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