A coma is a state of unconsciousness, in which the patient does not show any spontaneous activity, and does not respond to external stimuli.  There are many causes of coma, but they are broadly broken into two categories.  The first category includes traumatic causes (head injury, smoke inhalation, motor vehicle collisions, falls, shipwrecks and airplane crashes).  The second category involves non-traumatic causes (poisoning, stroke, heart attack, diabetes etc.)

More information about coma can be found by clicking on the links below.  All links will open in a new window.

Coma explained

• coma
• coma - vegetative state
• coma and persistent vegetative state

Diabetes and coma

• diabetes and coma
• diabetes and coma

Research and news

• new tool to measure coma depth
• glucose byproduct prevents brain damage after diabetic coma
• pill hope for coma patients
• post-coma unresponsiveness (vegetative state): a clinical framework for diagnosis