Woman Forgets to Take Medication and Insulin During Mazu Pilgrimage, Nearly Dies from Diabetic Ketoacidosis
A 53-year-old woman nearly died from diabetic ketoacidosis after forgetting to take her medication and insulin during the Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage. Her blood sugar level reached 7.2 times the normal, but she recovered after emergency treatment in the intensive care unit.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 12:16
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 12:31 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 13:45 (1h 13m after Collected)
TAICHUNG (CNA reporter Chao Li-yen) – A 53-year-old woman, Ms. Kuo, participated in the Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage for the first time this year. She ate snacks provided by devotees along the way, but failed to take her medication and inject insulin on time, leading to uncontrolled blood sugar and dizziness. She was rushed to the hospital, where examinations revealed her blood sugar level was 7.2 times the normal, and she nearly died from diabetic ketoacidosis.
Dajia Lee General Hospital issued a press release today, stating that Dr. Chen Tsai-feng, a nephrologist, said the patient, who has diabetes and takes insulin, had an irregular diet during the Mazu pilgrimage. She ate snacks whenever she was hungry, forgot to inject insulin, and did not take her medication.
This led to uncontrolled blood sugar and dizziness. She fainted halfway through the walk and was rushed to the emergency room by ambulance in a comatose and shocked state. Blood tests showed her blood sugar level soared to 1800mg/dl, which is 7.2 times the highest standard value.
Dr. Chen Tsai-feng said that if the patient had drunk even less water during the pilgrimage, her blood concentration would have become thicker, further raising her blood sugar. Forgetting to inject insulin prevented sugar from entering cells, leading to ketoacidosis, a highly dangerous acute complication of diabetes that can severely cause multiple organ failure or acute kidney failure.
Dr. Chen Tsai-feng stated that due to severe insulin deficiency, the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit for emergency treatment, including intravenous insulin and massive electrolyte replenishment, with close monitoring of blood sugar to prevent hypotension or acute kidney failure. After 3 days of treatment, her blood sugar gradually returned to normal, and she was successfully discharged.
The woman revealed that when things don't go well at work, she often visits temples to pray to Mazu. This time, she took leave to travel south from Taoyuan to participate in the Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage for the first time, walking from Miaoli Tongxiao southward and then northward, hitchhiking when tired.
She recounted that on the day she was sent to the hospital, she had been rushing all day, eating sweet zongzi, red bean cakes, candies, and other snacks along the way, but forgot her usual medications, did not inject insulin, and did not take her diabetes medication. She felt dizzy halfway through and asked someone to call an ambulance. When she woke up, she found herself in the intensive care unit.
Having faced a life-or-death situation, the woman reminded elderly devotees not to "overdo it." She said that walking during the pilgrimage is very tiring, and she forgot to take her medication and inject insulin, leading to diabetic ketoacidosis. She plans to participate in the Mazu pilgrimage again next year, reminding herself to take her medication on time. (Edited by Li Shuhua) 1150424
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Dajia Lee General Hospital issued a press release today, stating that Dr. Chen Tsai-feng, a nephrologist, said the patient, who has diabetes and takes insulin, had an irregular diet during the Mazu pilgrimage. She ate snacks whenever she was hungry, forgot to inject insulin, and did not take her medication.
This led to uncontrolled blood sugar and dizziness. She fainted halfway through the walk and was rushed to the emergency room by ambulance in a comatose and shocked state. Blood tests showed her blood sugar level soared to 1800mg/dl, which is 7.2 times the highest standard value.
Dr. Chen Tsai-feng said that if the patient had drunk even less water during the pilgrimage, her blood concentration would have become thicker, further raising her blood sugar. Forgetting to inject insulin prevented sugar from entering cells, leading to ketoacidosis, a highly dangerous acute complication of diabetes that can severely cause multiple organ failure or acute kidney failure.
Dr. Chen Tsai-feng stated that due to severe insulin deficiency, the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit for emergency treatment, including intravenous insulin and massive electrolyte replenishment, with close monitoring of blood sugar to prevent hypotension or acute kidney failure. After 3 days of treatment, her blood sugar gradually returned to normal, and she was successfully discharged.
The woman revealed that when things don't go well at work, she often visits temples to pray to Mazu. This time, she took leave to travel south from Taoyuan to participate in the Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage for the first time, walking from Miaoli Tongxiao southward and then northward, hitchhiking when tired.
She recounted that on the day she was sent to the hospital, she had been rushing all day, eating sweet zongzi, red bean cakes, candies, and other snacks along the way, but forgot her usual medications, did not inject insulin, and did not take her diabetes medication. She felt dizzy halfway through and asked someone to call an ambulance. When she woke up, she found herself in the intensive care unit.
Having faced a life-or-death situation, the woman reminded elderly devotees not to "overdo it." She said that walking during the pilgrimage is very tiring, and she forgot to take her medication and inject insulin, leading to diabetic ketoacidosis. She plans to participate in the Mazu pilgrimage again next year, reminding herself to take her medication on time. (Edited by Li Shuhua) 1150424
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
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The text, pictures, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.