Hypoglycemia diabetic

Description

Hypoglycemia diabetic occurs when a person with diabetes does not have enough sugar (glucose) in your blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body and the brain, so it may not work well if you don't have enough.

For many people, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is a blood sugar level below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 3.9 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). But your numbers may be different. Ask your health care provider about the appropriate range to keep your blood sugar (target range).

Pay attention to the early warning signs of hypoglycemia and treat low blood sugar quickly. You can increase your blood sugar quickly by eating or drinking a simple source of sugar, such as glucose tablets, hard candy or fruit juice. Tell your family and friends what symptoms to look for and what to do if you are not able to treat the condition yourself.

Symptoms

The early warning signs and symptoms

Initial signs and symptoms of diabetes hypoglycemia include:

  • Paleness of the skin (pallor)
  • Tremors
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Sweating
  • Hunger or nausea
  • An irregular or fast heartbeat
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Feeling of weakness and lack of energy (fatigue)
  • Irritability or anxiety
  • Headache
  • Tingling or numbness of the lips, tongue, or cheek

The night of the signs and symptoms

If you are diabetic hypoglycemia occurs when you are sleeping, the signs and symptoms that can disrupt your sleep include:

  • Damp bed sheets or clothes from sleep due to perspiration
  • Nightmares
  • Tiredness, irritability or confusion upon awakening

Serious signs and symptoms

If the hypoglycemia diabetic goes untreated, the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia worsen and may include:

  • Confusion, unusual behavior, or both, such as the inability to complete routine tasks
  • Loss of coordination
  • Difficulty speaking or slurred speech
  • Blurred or tunnel vision
  • Inability to eat or drink
  • Muscle weakness
  • Drowsiness

Severe hypoglycemia can cause:

  • Convulsions or seizures
  • Unconsciousness
  • Death, rarely

The symptoms may vary from person to person or from one episode to episode. Some people have no noticeable symptoms. It is also possible that you do not have symptoms of hypoglycemia. It is important to monitor blood sugar levels regularly and keep a track of how you feel when your blood sugar is low.

When to see a doctor

Severe hypoglycemia can lead to serious problems, such as seizures or loss of consciousness, which may require emergency care. Make sure that your family, friends and co-workers know what to do in case of an emergency.

Let the people you trust about hypoglycemia. If others know what symptoms to look for, you may be able to alert you to the first symptoms. It is important that family members and close friends know where it is saved glucagon, and how to give to a potentially serious situation can be more easily managed in a secure way. Glucagon is a hormone that stimulates the release of sugar in the blood.

Here's a little bit of emergency information to give to others. If you're with someone that is not responding (lose consciousness) or is unable to swallow due to the low blood sugar:

  • Do not self-inject insulin, as this will cause blood sugar levels to fall even more
  • Do not give liquids or foods, as these may cause choking
  • Give glucagon by injection or nasal spray
  • Call 911 or emergency services in your area for the immediate treatment if glucagon is not in the hand, you don't know how to use it, or the person is not responding

If you have symptoms of low blood sugar several times a week or more, consult your health care provider. You may need to change the doses of your medications or time, or otherwise, adjust your diabetes treatment regimen.

Causes

Low blood sugar is more common among people who take insulin, but it can also occur if you are taking certain oral diabetes medicines.

The common causes of diabetes hypoglycemia include:

  • Taking too much insulin or diabetes medications
  • Not eating enough
  • Postponing or skipping a meal or snack
  • Increased exercise or physical activity without eating more or adjust your medications
  • Drinking alcohol

The regulation of sugar in the blood

The greater part of the body of the glucose comes from the food. The hormone insulin lowers blood sugar (glucose) when the levels of sugar in the blood is too high. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and need insulin to control your blood sugar, take more insulin than you need can cause your blood sugar level to drop too low and the result of hypoglycemia.

Your blood sugar may drop too low if, after taking your medication for diabetes, you eat less than usual, or if you exercise more than usual, which uses the excess of glucose. To keep the balance among insulin, food and activity it is not always easy. But your health care provider, certified diabetes care and education specialist, and a registered dietitian can work with you to try to prevent low blood sugar levels.

Risk factors

Some people have a greater risk of hypoglycemia diabetes, including:

  • People using insulin
  • People who take diabetes medications called sulfonylureas, such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glimepiride (Amaryl), or glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase)
  • Young children and older adults
  • Those with liver or kidney failure
  • People who have had diabetes for a long time.
  • People do not feel symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia unawareness)
  • Those who take multiple medications
  • Any person with a disability that prevents a quick response to the fall of the blood sugar levels
  • People who drink alcohol

Complications

If you ignore the symptoms of low blood sugar for too long, you may lose consciousness. That is because the brain needs glucose to function. Recognize the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia early, because if left untreated, hypoglycemia can lead to:

  • Seizures
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Death

Take your early symptoms seriously. Hypoglycemia diabetes can increase the risk of serious — even deadly — accidents.

Prevention

To help prevent hypoglycemia diabetic:

  • Monitor your blood sugar. Depending on your treatment plan, you may check and record your blood sugar level several times a week or several times a day. Careful monitoring is the only way to make sure that your blood sugar level remains within your target range.
  • Do not skip or delay meals or snacks. If you take insulin or oral medications for diabetes, to be consistent with respect to the amount that you eat and the time of the meals and snacks.
  • Measure the medication with care and take the time. Take your medicine as recommended by your health care provider.
  • Adjust the medication or eat additional snacks if you increase your physical activity. The setting depends on the blood sugar of the results of the test, the type and duration of the activity, and what medications you take. Follow your treatment plan for diabetes when adjustments are made.
  • Eat a meal or snack with the alcohol, if you choose to drink. Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach may cause hypoglycemia. Alcohol can also cause the delay of hypoglycemia hours later, doing blood sugar monitoring even more important.
  • Registry of your low blood glucose reactions. This can help you and your health care team to identify patterns that contribute to hypoglycemia and to find ways of preventing them.
  • Carry some form of diabetes identification, so that in case of an emergency that others know that you have diabetes. The use of a necklace medical id or a bracelet and wallet card.

Hypoglycemia diabetic

Diagnosis

If you have signs or symptoms of low blood sugar, check your blood sugar with a blood glucose meter — a small device that measures and displays your blood sugar level. Have hypoglycemia when your blood sugar drops below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) (3.9 millimoles per liter (mmol/L)).

Treatment

If you think that your blood sugar can dip too low, check your blood sugar with a blood glucose meter. If you have symptoms of low sugar level in the blood, but can't check your blood sugar level immediately, it is assumed that your blood sugar is low, and the treatment for hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemic management

Eating or drinking something that the majority of sugar or carbohydrates to increase your blood sugar level quickly. Pure glucose is available in tablets, gels, and other forms — is the preferred treatment.

Foods with more fat, such as chocolate, do not raise the blood sugar quickly. And diet soda may not be used for the treatment of an episode of hypoglycemia due to not having sugar.

Examples of foods that increase your blood sugar level quickly include:

  • Four glucose tablets (available over the counter in the most pharmacies)
  • A serving of glucose gel (read the label for amount)
  • Five to 6 pieces of hard candy, or gummy bears (check the food label for the exact portion)
  • Four ounces (120 milliliters) of fruit juice or regular — not diet soda
  • A tablespoon (15 ml) of sugar, corn syrup, or honey

In general, the food or the drink with 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrates is often enough to raise your blood sugar levels back into a safe range.

Check your blood sugar 15 minutes after eating or drinking something to treat your hypoglycemia. If your blood sugar is still low, eat or drink another 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrates. Repeat this pattern until the blood sugar is above 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L ).

Take an appetizer or a meal to keep your blood sugar to drop again. If you take insulin with food, you generally don't need the extra insulin if you are eating a snack after having a low level of sugar in the blood. If you're going to eat a meal, however, you may need a dose reduction of insulin to make sure that your blood sugar does not rise too fast.

It is important to try not to overtreat their low blood sugar. If you do, you can make your blood sugar level to rise too high, which will make you feel thirsty and tired.

Emergency treatment

Glucagon is a hormone that raises the blood sugar quickly. It can save your life if someone is not alert enough to eat or drink something to raise your blood sugar. Glucagon is available only with a prescription.

Glucagon comes in an emergency, syringe kit or as a pre-mixed injection that is ready to use. Glucagon is also available as a powder nasal spray given in a nostril. Shop glucagon as indicated on the packaging and be aware of the expiration date. When given to someone who is unconscious, the person should be turned on their side to prevent choking if vomiting occurs.

About 15 minutes after getting the glucagon, the person must be alert and able to eat. If someone does not respond within 15 minutes, call emergency medical care. If someone responds quickly to glucagon, it is still recommended that you contact your diabetes health care provider immediately.

If you have ever had a low blood sugar episode that was severe enough to require the help of others, your health care provider will likely want to find out if your insulin or other diabetes medications should be adjusted to avoid another serious episode.

Difficult to handle, and hypoglycemia

Some people have frequent and severe hypoglycemia despite medication adjustments. In these circumstances, your doctor may recommend that you keep your blood sugar higher than normal range.

Your doctor may also suggest that you use a continuous glucose monitor — a device that measures the blood sugar every few minutes, using a sensor inserted under the skin. Your health care provider is also likely to recommend that you have glucagon with you at all times. Teach to people you trust, such as family, friends, and coworkers, how to use it.

Hypoglycemia unawareness

Some people do not have or do not recognize the early symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia unawareness). If you have hypoglycemia unawareness, your health care provider may recommend a higher glucose target range.

It is also very important that you check your blood sugar consistently before you go to bed and have a snack containing carbohydrates before you go to sleep if your blood sugar is lower than that of their bedtime destination. Your doctor may also recommend a continuous glucose that can sound an alarm when your blood sugar is dropping.

Self-care

Teach people how to help

Inform the people you trust, such as family, friends and co-workers, about the hypoglycemia. If others know what symptoms to look for, you may be able to alert you to the first symptoms. It is important that family members and close friends know where it is saved glucagon, and how to give to a potentially serious situation can be more easily managed in a secure way.

Plan ahead

Always carry a low blood sugar treatment with you, such as glucose tablets, hard candy or gel. Also carry glucagon if it is prescribed for you.

Carry a medical IDENTIFICATION

It is a good idea to wear a necklace or a bracelet, and have a portfolio of the card that identifies you as someone who has diabetes.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have low blood sugar levels several times a week, make an appointment with your health care provider. Together, you will be able to determine what is leading to their low blood sugar and find out what changes to make to avoid it.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

  • Be aware of pre-appointment restrictions. Sometimes it is necessary to not eat or drink anything but water for 8 to 12 hours (fast) for blood tests. When you make the appointment, ask if the fasting is necessary. If so, ask what changes you need to make in your diabetes management because you are not eating or drinking.
  • Make a list of your symptoms and the frequency with which they occur. Helps to keep a record of their readings of blood sugar and low blood sugar reactions, so that you and your health care provider may see the patterns that lead to hypoglycemia.
  • Make a list of the personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes. If you are monitoring your blood glucose levels at home, keep a record of the results of the glucose, detailing the dates and times of testing.
  • Make a list of the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you are taking.
  • Create a log of blood glucose meter values. Give your health care provider a written or printed record of your blood sugar levels, and times, and the medication.
  • Bring your glucose meter with you. Some meters allow your provider's office to download the recording of the glucose values.
  • Write questions to ask their health care provider. Ask your doctor about any part of your diabetes management plan that is in need of more information.

Questions to ask include:

  • With what frequency do I need to check my blood sugar?
  • What is my target blood sugar range?
  • How to do the diet, the exercise, and weight changes affect my blood sugar?
  • How can I prevent a low level of sugar in the blood?
  • Do I need to worry about high blood sugar? What are the signs and symptoms should I watch for?
  • Do I need a prescription for the emergency glucagon?
  • If you still have hypoglycemia, when I need to see you again?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask a series of questions, such as:

  • What are the symptoms of notice when you have a low level of sugar in the blood?
  • How often do you have these symptoms?
  • What to do to raise your blood sugar levels?
  • What is a typical day in the diet?
  • Are you exercising? If so, how often?
  • Does your family, friends and co-workers know what to do if you have hypoglycemia?
Symptoms and treatment of hypoglycemia in Diabetic