Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Kussmaul's coma

Kussmaul's coma

9.9
A very deep unconscious state that happens when severe diabetes is not treated
  • noun
  • /ˈkʊsmaʊlz ˈkoʊmə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : coma de Kussmaul
  • Ketoacidosis can progress to Kussmaul's coma if left untreated in diabetic patients.

Examples

  • Prompt medical intervention is needed to prevent Kussmaul's coma in severe diabetes cases.

  • The patient was diagnosed with Kussmaul's coma after showing severe symptoms.

  • The doctor explained the dangers of Kussmaul's coma to the patient's family.

  • Doctors must quickly identify Kussmaul's coma to provide appropriate treatment.

  • If diabetes is not properly managed, it can lead to Kussmaul's coma, which is a critical condition that requires immediate attention.

  • The symptoms of Kussmaul's coma are often a sign of severe diabetic complications, indicating the need for urgent medical care.

  • Education about Kussmaul's coma is essential for patients with diabetes to recognize the signs and prevent serious outcomes.

Synonyms

diabetic coma
vsKussmaul's coma
  • Specialized
2 5.0

A state of unconsciousness when blood sugar is very high or very low in a person with diabetes

is a specific coma following inadequately treated diabetes rather than any sugar extremes

Surface Forms

Kussmaul's coma singular
Kussmaul's comas plural

Morphology

Kussmaul's + coma

The headword contains the clear noun 'coma', and the possessive proper name 'Kussmaul's' signals an eponymous subtype, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would correctly infer this refers to a kind of coma. However, the specific clinical sense (a coma due to inadequately treated diabetes) is not derivable from the proper name alone and requires medical or prior exposure, making the expression only partially predictable.

Etymology

Kussmaul's coma is named after a doctor, Kussmaul, who noticed very deep, heavy breathing in very sick patients just before they stopped responding. So the name links his observation to the serious coma that can happen in badly treated diabetes.