What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disorder that affects the way your body uses food for energy. It occurs when the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar (specifically, glucose) in the blood. Glucose in the blood gives you energy to perform daily activities, walk briskly, run for a bus, ride your bike and perform your day-to-day chores.
Some of the Signs and Symptoms may be:
- Excessive Thirst/Eating
- Irritability
- Feeling Weak & Tired
- Shallow Breathing
- Skin may be Cool, Clammy, Pale or Sweaty
- Confused
How to Help
- Often in a first aid situation, the patient is likely to have a low blood sugar level.Give the patient something sweet to raise their blood sugar quickly – e.g. jelly beans, honey sandwich, sugar sachet etc.
- If the patient’s condition does not improve after being given sugar CALL 111.
This information is for reference only and comprehensive life saving skills can only be gained by attending a First Aid Christchurch first aid course.