When people hear diabetes they think of either high or low glucose levels. Some of the complications people think of are losing a limb, going blind, nerve pain, and kidney failure. There are actually complications that could end in death if not treated immediately. The main complications directly relating to high or low blood glucose levels are diabetic coma, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, hyperosmolar syndrome, and ketoacidosis.

Diabetic coma comes on after extended lengths of high or low blood sugar levels. Signs of blood sugar being higher than normal include increased thirst, frequent urination, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath. If blood sugars are lower than the normal of 70 it could make you shake or nervous, tired, sweaty, and hungry. Having extreme glucose levels either to high or to low can lead to coma and death. The risk factors for diabetic coma include having glucose levels elevated, and already having ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar syndrome, and hypoglycemia. Prevention is mainly eating right, taking medication as directed, making sure loved ones are educated as well as friends and co-workers and keeping glucose levels in the normal range as well as being alert to "dangerous highs or lows" (MayoClinic.com, Diabetic Coma).

Hyperglycemia is when your glucose levels are high and there will be high levels of sugar in your urine. A sign of being hyperglycemic is having to urinate frequently and you will have an increased thirst. If not treated it could lead to diabetic coma or ketoacidosis. If you are type 1 a cause of your glucose being high could be you didn't give yourself enough insulin. In type 2 you may have enough insulin but it is not being used effectively. Problems such as an illness or stress could cause hyperglycemia (MayClinic.org, Hyperglycemia).

Hypoglycemia is when glucose levels are low. Some of the symptoms include being shaky, dizziness, sweating, hunger, headache, pale skin color, moodiness and changes in behavior, confusion and or difficulty paying attention. A way to know if you are hypoglycemic is to check you glucose levels at least three times a day. Having good control over your diabetes will help prevent this. The worst thing about this is some people do not have symptoms of hypoglycemia and could "lose consciousness without ever knowing their glucose levels were dropping." They call this "hypoglycemia unawareness" (diabetes.org, hypoglycemia).

Diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome is what a type 2 diabetic who doesn't follow their treatment plan will end up with. The syndrome "can lead to life threatening dehydration." Warning signs include high glucose level, excessive thirst, dry mouth, increase in urination, warm-dry skin, rapid pulse, shortness of breath, sleepiness, and confusion. An underlying cause can be an infection "such as pneumonia or a urinary tract infection." Another cause could be "undiagnosed diabetes" or not having your diabetes under control. The diabetic hyperosmolar could lead to "convulsions for coma." If muscle fibers are starting to break down you could end up with kidney damage. Let untreated it could be fatal.

Diabetic ketoacidosis happens to be a "serious complication of diabetes mellitus." Not the right insulin levels in the body could "result in high blood sugar" and a "buildup of ketones in the blood." Ketoacidosis is brought on by stress, illness or not the proper insulin. This mainly occurs in type 1 diabetes but it has been seen in type 2 as well. Signs that there is a problem resemble other complications such as excessive thirst and urination, weakness and fatigue, deep slow breathing, nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, decreased appetite which brings on weight loss, and a fruity-scented breath which is because of the high ketones levels. People tend to get dehydrated when they have ketoacidosis because they produce large amounts of urine. A rapid heart is a sign that you are dehydrated as well as a low blood pressure. Untreated you could end up in a coma or dead (MayoClinic.com, Ketoacidosis).

There are many complications related to diabetes and I have only touched on the complications that could result in being in a coma or as fatal as death. A person can live with diabetes for a long time if they take control of their diabetes and not let the diabetes control them.

References:
MayoClinic.com. Diabetic Coma
http://mayoclinic.com/health/diabetic-coma/DS00656

MayoClinic.Com Diabetic Ketoacidosis
http://mayoclinic.com/health/diabetic-ketoacidosis/DS00674

American Diabetes Association. Hyperglycemia
http://diabetes.org/utils/printthispage.jsp

American Diabetes Association. What is Hyperosmolar Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS)
http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/treatment-conditions/hhns.jsp

American Diabetes Association. Hypoglycemia
http://diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/hypoglycemia.jsp