These sources of glucose often briefly correct hypoglycemia, but then another drop in blood sugar often follows. Eating foods that are high in complex carbohydrates , such as pasta and whole grains, will sustain blood sugar levels after a period of hypoglycemia. Symptoms of hypoglycemia can become so severe that they interfere with daily routines and activities. If you have severe hypoglycemia, you might need to carry glucose tablets or injectable glucose glucagon.
Your doctor may ask you to take a fasting test. This test can last as long as 72 hours. Another test is a mixed-meal tolerance test. This test is for people who experience hypoglycemia after eating. The results are usually available within a day or two. Keep track of your symptoms with a symptom diary. This information will help your doctor make a diagnosis. Your body needs glucose to function. Without the right level of glucose, your body will struggle to perform its normal functions. As a result, you may have difficulty thinking clearly and performing even simple tasks.
In severe cases, hypoglycemia can lead to seizures , neurological problems that may mimic a stroke , or even loss of consciousness. For this reason, you may not realize that your blood sugar levels have dropped, which can make you more susceptible to severe symptoms of hypoglycemia, including confusion, loss of consciousness, or seizures. If you think that you may have hypoglycemia unawareness, talk with your doctor to determine the best course of treatment.
This may include checking your blood sugar levels more frequently, adjusting your medications, or working with a certified diabetes educator to learn to recognize the warning signs of hypoglycemia. Having low blood sugar levels can increase your risk of many conditions, including heart disease.
In fact, research shows that severe hypoglycemia could be linked to a higher risk of heart disease and death in people with type 2 diabetes. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can have several serious side effects. Severe complications of hypoglycemia include :. Simple changes to your diet and eating schedule can resolve hypoglycemia and prevent future episodes. Follow these tips to prevent hypoglycemia:. Eating consistently and following a healthy, well-rounded diet are also crucial.
Your doctor or dietitian can help you determine how many carbohydrates you should eat at each meal to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Take any medications for diabetes as directed by your doctor.
Discuss any changes to your diet or exercise routine with your doctor, as they may need to adjust the dosage or timing of your medications. Wearing a medical ID bracelet with basic information about your medical history can also be beneficial in case of an emergency.
Ideally, meals and snacks should contain a balance of carbs, protein, and heart-healthy fats to help support healthy blood sugar levels. You may also want to keep a few healthy snacks on hand in case you start feeling side effects such as hunger, sweating, or shakiness.
Fresh fruit, trail mix, and crackers with peanut butter are a few quick and easy snack ideas for low blood sugar levels.
If you regularly experience low blood sugar levels, talk with your doctor to see whether underlying factors could play a role. If they wake up within 10 minutes of getting the injection and feel better, move on to step 5. If they do not improve within 10 minutes, call for an ambulance. If they're fully awake and able to eat and drink safely, give them a carbohydrate snack.
How to treat someone who's having a seizure or fit Follow these steps if someone has a seizure or fit caused by a low blood sugar level: Stay with them and stop them hurting themselves — lie them down on something soft and move them away from anything dangerous like a road or hot radiator.
Call for an ambulance if the seizure or fit lasts more than 5 minutes. After the seizure or fit stops, give them a sugary snack. What causes a low blood sugar level In people with diabetes, the main causes of a low blood sugar level are: the effects of medicine — especially taking too much insulin, medicines called sulfonylureas such as glibenclamide and gliclazide , medicines called glinides such as repaglinide and nateglinide , or some antiviral medicines to treat hepatitis C skipping or delaying a meal not eating enough carbohydrate foods in your last meal, such as bread, cereals, pasta, potatoes and fruit exercise, especially if it's intense or unplanned drinking alcohol Sometimes there's no obvious reason why a low blood sugar level happens.
Very occasionally, it can happen in people who do not have diabetes. Preventing a low blood sugar level If you have diabetes, you can reduce your chance of getting a low blood sugar level if you: Check your blood sugar level regularly and be aware of the symptoms of a low blood sugar level so you can treat it quickly. Always carry a sugary snack or drink with you, such as glucose tablets, a carton of fruit juice or some sweets. If you have a glucagon injection kit, always keep it with you.
Do not skip meals. Be careful when drinking alcohol. Do not drink large amounts, check your blood sugar level regularly, and eat a carbohydrate snack afterwards.
Be careful when exercising; eating a carbohydrate snack before exercise can help to reduce the risk of a hypo. If you take some types of diabetes medicine, your doctor may recommend you take a lower dose before or after doing intense exercise. Have a carbohydrate snack, such as toast, if your blood sugar level drops too low while you're asleep nocturnal hypoglycaemia If you keep getting a low blood sugar level, talk to your diabetes care team about things you can do to help prevent it.
A low blood sugar level without diabetes A low blood sugar level is uncommon in people who do not have diabetes. Monitoring blood sugar, with either a meter or a CGM, is the tried and true method for preventing hypoglycemia. Studies consistently show that the more a person checks blood sugar, the lower his or her risk of hypoglycemia. This is because you can see when blood sugar levels are dropping and can treat it before it gets too low. If you can, check often! Together, you can review all your data to figure out the cause of the lows.
The more information you can give your health care provider, the better they can work with you to understand what's causing the lows. Your provider may be able to help prevent low blood sugar by adjusting the timing of insulin dosing, exercise and meals or snacks. Changing insulin doses or the types of food you eat may also do the trick.
If you're new to type 2 diabetes, join our free Living With Type 2 Diabetes program to get help and support during your first year. Log in menu Manage Account Search. Donate now. Hypoglycemia Low Blood Glucose. Blood Sugar Testing and Control. Hypoglycemia Low Blood sugar. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar happen quickly Each person's reaction to low blood sugar is different.
Treatment—The " Rule" The rule—have 15 grams of carbohydrate to raise your blood sugar and check it after 15 minutes.
Note: Young children usually need less than 15 grams of carbs to fix a low blood sugar level: Infants may need 6 grams, toddlers may need 8 grams, and small children may need 10 grams. This needs to be individualized for the patient, so discuss the amount needed with your diabetes team. When treating a low, the choice of carbohydrate source is important. Complex carbohydrates, or foods that contain fats along with carbs like chocolate can slow the absorption of glucose and should not be used to treat an emergency low.
Treating severe hypoglycemia Glucagon is a hormone produced in the pancreas that stimulates your liver to release stored glucose into your bloodstream when your blood sugar levels are too low. Find products for dealing with low blood glucose Steps for treating a person with symptoms keeping them from being able to treat themselves.
If the glucagon is injectable, inject it into the buttock, arm or thigh, following the instructions in the kit. If your glucagon is inhalable, follow the instructions on the package to administer it into the nostril. When the person regains consciousness usually in minutes , they may experience nausea and vomiting.
Do NOT: Inject insulin it will lower the person's blood sugar even more Provide food or fluids they can choke Causes of low blood sugar Low blood sugar is common for people with type 1 diabetes and can occur in people with type 2 diabetes taking insulin or certain medications. Insulin Too much insulin is a definite cause of low blood sugar.
Food What you eat can cause low blood sugar, including: Not enough carbohydrates. Eating foods with less carbohydrate than usual without reducing the amount of insulin taken.
Timing of insulin based on whether your carbs are from liquids versus solids can affect blood sugar levels. Liquids are absorbed much faster than solids, so timing the insulin dose to the absorption of glucose from foods can be tricky. The composition of the meal—how much fat, protein, and fiber are present—can also affect the absorption of carbohydrates. Physical activity Exercise has many benefits.
Medical IDs Many people with diabetes, particularly those who use insulin, should have a medical ID with them at all times. Hypoglycemia unawareness occurs more frequently in those who: Frequently have low blood sugar episodes which can cause you to stop sensing the early warning signs of hypoglycemia. Have had diabetes for a long time.
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