What are the symptoms of a diabetes-related coma?

The three main symptoms of a coma include:

Unconsciousness: This is like a very deep sleep, and it’s impossible to wake you up.

Lack of eye response: This means your eyes stay closed, and someone holding your eye open doesn’t cause you to react. Your eyes might have some reflex responses, such as reacting to light.

Lack of motor (movement) response: This means you don’t consciously move. You may still have some reflex responses.

Severe symptoms of DKA that could happen before a diabetes-related coma include:

Symptoms of HHS that could happen before a diabetes-related coma include:

Symptoms of severe low blood sugar that could happen before a diabetes-related coma include:

If someone near you goes into a diabetes-related coma, follow these first-aid steps:

Immediately call 911 or your local emergency services number for an ambulance. If you know the person in a coma has diabetes, let the 911 operator know.

Don’t give them anything to eat or drink. They could choke.

Turn them onto their side so nothing can block their breathing (like spit or vomit).

Follow any instructions that the 911 operator gives you until the ambulance arrives.

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Three diabetes complications can lead to a coma if you don’t get proper treatment for them in time, including:

Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS).

Diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA).

Severe low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

HHS and DKA can both cause severe dehydration, which can trigger a coma. As your brain needs glucose to function, a severe lack of glucose from low blood sugar can cause your brain to “shut down” and go into a coma.

Anyone who has diabetes — or undiagnosed diabetes — is at risk for a diabetes-related coma. But the increased risks for specific causes depend on the type of diabetes:

People with Type 1 diabetes have a greater chance of going into a diabetes-related coma from DKA or severe low blood sugar. This is because people with Type 1 diabetes always need insulin and have a wider range in their blood glucose levels than people with Type 2 diabetes.

People with Type 2 diabetes have a greater chance of going into a diabetes-related coma from HHS than DKA or severe low blood sugar.

Other factors that may increase your risk include: