How low of blood sugar can a Type II diabetic have before going into a coma?

My husband has type II diabetes, he is on Metformin and Glyburide. He is now getting far more excersise and eating healthier, but has not adjusted medication. The other morning he woke up because he wasn't feeling well. He tested his blood sugar and it was 36. He drank a soda and had some crackers and peanuts before he felt safe to go back to sleep. He would like to know how dangerous that 36 reading was. We have a friend who we think had a reading of somewhere in the thirties, and when she woke up, she couldn't move or speak. She is fine now, but that was pretty frightening.

Your husband needs to see his doctor to adjust his medication dosage if he is having regular lows. If he has lost weight and changed his lifestyle, he needs to change his medication doses accordingly.

36 mg/dl (2.0 mmol/l) is dangerously low. Symptoms can vary depending on factors such as how FAST his blood glucose dropped. Regardless, this is a dangerous level independent of whether or not it results in a coma. A coma can occur at this level in some people.

Your husband should not drive unless his BG is above 60 mg/dl, and he should have a snack. He needs to test his BG regularly, and should carry glucose gel on him. He needs to see his doctor right away. Hypoglycemia can be very dangerous.

Type 2's generally don't usually go into actual hypoglycemic comas without insulin, as their counter mechanisms to prevent this are intact. However, anything is possible, especially if his medication dose is way too high. It is still unsafe though, and I suggest he call his doctor today and explain the problem.

Any reading below 60 you have to monitor carefully. If it drops to 20 its definite coma.

I think it's like 30....might want to make sure that your husband goes and gets his meds adjusted because it's important...best of luck

Going into coma depends on a few matters, mainly your sugar level, but also your body weight. Make sure your levels are always between 50 and 100. That is considered safe mode. Usually you shouldn't start feeling well when you levels drop fast. Also when taking insulin shots before eating and start to exercise right after your body has to engines burning the sugar level down, because exercise makes your levels go down. Make he can check his rates before and 15 minutes after a meal and depend the level of exercise upon that or if possible adapt the intake of medication based on what you're planning to do after a meal. If exercising straight after a meal is what you want to do, maybe you could request for a slower working insulin. It more gradually brings that into your body, not making your levels go down fast.

Diabetic coma is a medical emergency in which a person with diabetes is unconscious because the blood glucose level is too low or too high. If the glucose level is too low, the person has hypoglycemia and if the level is too high, the person has hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is just a term for raised blood glucose but in some cases it can lead to a life-theathening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. Patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 are especially prone to this condition.

Causes for this condition vary; in the case of diabetes, it could be due to too much food too quickly or forgetting to inject oneself with insulin, while in the case of hypoglycemia it could be due to a lack of food, too much exercise for current conditions, or to an insulin or other medication overdose.

While no particular amount of sugar in the blood is generally recognized as the starting point to acute problems of glucose management (people vary), usually the person who has hyperglycemia has a blood glucose reading of 500 mg/dL (28 mmol/L) or more is at risk of hyperglycemic osmotic coma (the high gluocse sort), while a patient whose blood glucose level is 50 mg/dL (3 mmol/L) or less is at risk of a hypoglycemic diabetic coma. Without performing a blood glucose test, it is difficult to tell with certainty whether the coma is caused by hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia as symptoms can be similar.

In both cases, the coma is caused by brain cell malfunction. In the case of hypoglycemia, there simply isn't enough glucose in the blood, leaving brain cells without enough glucose to satisfy their metabolic needs. In the case of hyperglycemia, while glucose is plentiful, indeed too plentiful, the consequences of so much blood glucose produce chemistry abnormalities which cause brain cells to malfunction. These include cell dehydration due to osmotic pressure, electrolyte balance problems both inside brain cells and in the blood, and in some cases acidosis.

Sometimes lows happen. Your husband should be keeping a diary of his fingerstick readings -- times of day taken, the result and action taken, if any. If he has a low and eats to correct it, he needs to retake his glucose in one hour. Record it. If it appears that he's having a lot of lows, he can contact his doctor to discuss a possible dosage adjustment of his meds. You should also know what to do in the event of an emergency.

A level of 60 or less would be considered a danger area in most people and a reading in the 30s can cause coma. It's most fortunate that your husband woke up. Sometimes, diabetics are instructed to eat a turkey sandwich and drink a glass of milk at bedtime to prevent the overnight lows. He can talk about this with his doctor as well.

He should be certain his glucometer is functioning accurately and test it at least once a week.

I am a type 1 diabetic, but blood sugar levels are the same for both types. I have been in a coma before and had very low blood sugars.The numbers are not the same for every person. Coma's are somewhat rare - most of the time one will lose consciousness, but once blood sugar is returned to normal they will be practically back to normal. There is no specific number that he will go into a coma in. For example, I have been fully conscious (though confused) while my blood glucose meter read 17. I am guessing that some people could easily lose consciousness around 30, but it all depends. If you guys are worried, just try to adjust meds and wake up for a 3 a.m. blood test.

Good luck.

PS - My doctor told me that permanent effects from a coma as a result of low blood sugars is rare because the body does have an emergency response when it gets too low. It can break down different things for glucose, and there will be no loss if the body still has glucose to keep the body functioning.

Anything under 60 can become dangerious. I am a type 1 (low blood sugar is low blood sugar same for all types) and I have been in the 30's it is just a nasty side effect the nature of the disease. I have seen children in the 20's playing and my friend watches a girl that was still playing and tested 19. But I do know of people that have passed out in the 50 range.

Having your blood sugar in the 30s is definitely dangerous. I think it all depends on what has been eaten before hand the whole day if theres anything at all in your system. Im a type 1 and have been down to 17 and just barely conscious. The doctor said I was lucky to be alive at that level. Ive had quite a few severe seizures. Ive also started to have bad symptoms starting in the 40s. Its recommended NEVER to let it drop below 70 regardless. Because once its there its only going to go down further.