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Diabetic Reaction Symptoms

• Low blood sugar
  
  
  • Symptoms include rapid onset of cool, pale, moist, and clammy skin; dizziness; headache; rapid pulse; and shallow breathing.
  
  
  • If untreated, symptoms may progress to confusion, bizarre behavior, coma, and death.


• High blood sugar
  
  
  • Symptoms occur gradually over several days.
  
  
  • The person with high blood sugar develops increasing thirst and urination due to large amounts of unused glucose being lost in the urine.
  
  
  • Skin is warm and dry, respirations may be shallow, pulse is rapid and weak, and breath may have a sweet odor (due to fat breakdown called ketoacids).
  
  
  • The person with high blood sugar may become confused or comatose, and death may result.