insulin shock

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Related to insulin shock: insulin shock therapy, hyperglycemia, diabetic coma

insulin shock

Acute hypoglycemia usually resulting from an overdose of insulin and characterized by sweating, trembling, dizziness, and, if left untreated, convulsions and coma.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

in′sulin shock`

a state of collapse caused by a decrease in blood sugar resulting from the administration of excessive insulin.

[1920]

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Noun	1.	insulin shock - hypoglycemia produced by excessive insulin in the system causing coma insulin reaction shock - (pathology) bodily collapse or near collapse caused by inadequate oxygen delivery to the cells; characterized by reduced cardiac output and rapid heartbeat and circulatory insufficiency and pallor; "loss of blood is an important cause of shock" hypoglycaemia, hypoglycemia - abnormally low blood sugar usually resulting from excessive insulin or a poor diet
	2.	insulin shock - the administration of sufficient insulin to induce convulsions and coma insulin shock therapy, insulin shock treatment shock therapy, shock treatment - treatment of certain psychotic states by the administration of shocks that are followed by convulsions

References in periodicals archive ?

But it needed 63 takes over three days - and he ended up having to go to hospital with insulin shock.

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Some risk factors which contributed to long-term complications for DM are diet, overweight, obesity, smoking, alcohol, level of physical activity, hormones, some medical treatments, viruses, vascular or cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, heart conditions, stroke, kidney disease, eye diseases, nerve damage, impaired thinking, infections and wounds, cancer, musculoskeletal disorders, pregnancy complications, emotional difficulties, insulin shock, diabetic ketoacidosis, and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic state.

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* insulin shock therapy (1933), also for schizophrenia.

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Hypoglycemia, also known as insulin reaction or insulin shock, can lead to a seizure or coma if left untreated.

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The decade of the drug revolution started in 1954 with the introduction of chlorpromazine (Largactil) which replaced the hazardous insulin shock therapy for schizophrenia.