Insulin shock is a severe condition in which glucose (blood sugar) levels drop quickly, leading to unconsciousness. To occur, it almost always requires the presence of injected insulin or certain oral diabetes medications that cause the body to release its own insulin.

Because insulin shock is the result of severe hypoglycemia (low blood glucose), to prevent insulin shock, patients must first avoid hypoglycemia. Although hypoglycemia occasionally occurs in almost all people with diabetes, there are steps to prevent it.

Patients should be aware of what triggers hypoglycemia, know the signs and symptoms of low glucose and be prepared to follow their physician-recommended plan for hypoglycemic episodes. Recognizing low glucose and treating it promptly can prevent insulin shock. Left untreated, a patient may lose consciousness and require an injection of glucagon or intravenous glucose to restore normal blood glucose levels.