Talk:Katy Harris (Coronation Street)

I saw the episode where Katy died, and I have a query. Diabetes U.K., incidentally, the U.K.'s leading diabetes charity, were quite positive about how diabetes was depicted on "Coronation Street". However, in a former episode, Katy had passed out, and a nurse said that this was NOT due to lack of insulin, but to eating too much sugar. Is this medically accurate? I am NOT a qualified diabetologist, but my understanding is that to faint due to ketoacidosis after eating excess amounts of sugar when one has diabetes mellitus is unlikely, PROVIDING THE DIABETIC HAS INJECTED SUFFICIENT amounts of insulin. I shall appreciate any comments from medically qualified contributors to Wikipedia on this. ACEO 08:50, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

Diabetics have characteristic (but not inevitable) reactions to surplus sugar (especially in large amounts) depending on type. Because of individual variations, it's not possible to say that this or that always happens when blood sugar levels become very high. However, it is not beyond possibility that any diabetic whose sugar levels are very high will have what is called hyperosmotic diabetic coma, and pass out. Both lack of sugar, nad far too much sugar can have an unconsciousness effect. That said drinking sugar wate is an exceptionaly silly way to commit suicide as there are so many other more efficient and surer methods. but that was a concern for the script writers, not a medical judgement. Ketoacidosis is not usually a cause of fainting, as the brain typically continues to function up the point of multiple organ failure from the acidosis. Riveted by discomfort and distress to be sure, but still functioning. Perhaps that helps clarify the diabetic side of things? ww 16:38, 11 May 2006 (UTC)