insulin shock

noun

, Pathology.

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of insulin shock¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Doctors had experimented with insulin shock therapy and Electro-Convulsive Therapy with limited success and asylums were filled with patients, including shell-shocked soldiers, who had no hope of a cure, or of going home.

From BBC

"You know how come. She had diabetes. She went into a insulin shock."

From Literature

Songs many of us have heard our whole lives sentimentalized, usually arranged with enough saccharine to produce insulin shock, are given weight and take on deep meaning.

From Los Angeles Times

The aggregate effect is like aesthetic insulin shock, albeit from an artificial sweetener.

From New York Times

Elizabeth’s life with diabetes has not been without high and low sugar episodes; one such episode left her in insulin shock, unconscious for an entire day before being found, she said.

From Washington Times