EMS Care Chapter 20 | EMT Diabetic and endocrine emergencies

EMS Care Chapter 20 | EMT Diabetic and endocrine emergencies | Diabetic and endocrine emergencies Training begins with an introduction to the care of the subject. We subsequently explore  in-depth the following lessons:

• Diabetes | Pathophysiology.
• Diabetic Emergencies.
• Diabetes | Assessment.
• Patient Care.

We cover the following core concepts

• Anatomy and Function of the Pancreas.
• Diabetes – Types I and II.
• Introduction – Hypoglycemia, Hyperglycemia, and Diabetic Ketosis.
• General Assessment Findings and Symptoms.
• Hypoglycemia – Assessment, and Management.
• Hyperglycemia – Assessment, and Management.
• Diabetic Medications.

Important Notes:

• If you only want to take the online course for CME credit, you can pay here.  The fee for online-only does NOT include a skills session nor (re)certification.  You will receive a certificate for CME credit after successful completion of the course.
• This course is part of the EMT Recertification Day 5 curriculum and the New Initial EMT Course.  Hence, if you sign up for one of those courses, you will be automatically enrolled in this course. Click here for scheduled courses.
• To get credit for this course, you must watch all the lessons in their entirety, the course review, and pass the quiz at the end with a score of 75% or better.

An Excerpt from the course on Diabetic and endocrine emergencies

Hyperglycemia doesn’t cause symptoms until glucose values are significantly elevated — usually above 180 to 200 milligrams per deciliter; or 10 to 11 millimoles per liter. Symptoms of hyperglycemia develop slowly over several days or weeks. The longer blood sugar levels stay high, the more serious the symptoms become. However, some people who’ve had type 2 diabetes for a long time may not show any symptoms despite elevated blood sugar levels.

Early signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia can help treat the condition promptly. These include: Frequent urination, Increased thirst, Blurred vision, Fatigue, and Headache.

If hyperglycemia goes untreated, it can cause toxic acids (ketones) to build up in your blood and urine (ketoacidosis). Later signs and symptoms of untreated type 2 diabetes may include:

• Fruity-smelling breath.
• Dehydration, poor skin tugor, pale, warm and dry.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Shortness of breath.
• Dry mouth.
• Weakness.
• Confusion.
• Coma, and.
• Abdominal pain.