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Hypoglycemia

Treating Low Blood Sugars

When your blood sugar falls below 70 mg/dL you may have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).  When this happens, most people experience unpleasant symptoms that can be both physical and emotional.  These symptoms can come on quite suddenly. 

Hypoglycemia is usually easy to treat.  However, if it is not dealt with quickly, serious reactions may result, including passing out or having convulsions.  Talk with your doctor about what steps to take in case of a low blood sugar emergency, and most importantly, how to avoid one.

What causes hypoglycemia?

The most common causes of hypoglycemia are:

• getting more exercise than usual

• taking too much diabetes medication

• eating at the wrong time for the medicine you take

• skipping or not finishing meals or snacks

• drinking alcoholic beverages

Symptoms of hypoglycemia

When blood sugar gets too low you may:

• feel shaky

• be sweaty

• feel tired

• be hungry

• have a fast heartbeat

• become crabby or confused

• have blurred vision or a headache

• have no symptoms at all

Having no symptoms at all is a dangerous situation!  Low blood sugar feels different to different people!

How to prevent hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar can be prevented if you:

• eat your meals on time

• don't skip meals or snacks

• learn to adjust your food and diabetes medicine for exercise

• test your blood sugar on schedule

• do extra tests when you feel different from normal and write down the results in your log book

How to treat hypoglycemia

You need to treat low blood sugar right away.  It will not get better on its own.  So be sure to keep foods that contain sugar or glucose products with you at all times.  When you feel your blood sugar might be low, test your blood.  If your reading is less than 70 mg/dL (or the level set by your doctor), take one of the following right away.  Each one contains about 15 grams of carbohydrate:

• 3 glucose tablets (5 grams glucose each)

• 1/2 cup fruit juice or regular soda (not sugar free)

• 6 or 7 hard candies (not sugar free)

• 1 Tbsp of honey or sugar

If you feel your blood sugar is low, but cannot test--eat one of the above items anyway.  When in doubt, it's safer to eat the extra food than to risk having a serious low blood sugar reaction.

After eating or drinking something:

• Wait 15 minutes then test your blood sugar again.  Record the number in your log book.  Also, be sure to write down that you had a low blood sugar reaction.

• If you don't feel better in 15 minutes, eat something with sugar in it again.

• If your blood sugar is still low, call your doctor's office.

• If your next meal is more than an hour away, follow the sugar with something that provides carbohydrate and protein (like half a sandwich or some crackers and cheese)

• Be sure to eat your normal meal at the regular time, even if you have eaten a snack with a high sugar reaction.

Important to do

• Learn your body's warning signs of falling blood sugars

• When you notice symptoms, test your blood and have a snack

• Always wear or carry diabetes identification

• Educate family members, friends or coworkers on symptoms and treatment for low blood sugar

Source: Managing Your Diabetes, Eli Lilly and Company, 2001