Introduction
Low blood
sugar, also called
, occurs when the sugar (glucose) level in
the blood drops below what the body needs to function normally.
Key points
- Not all oral medicines for diabetes cause low
blood sugar. Usually, these medicines cause blood sugar to drop low enough to
cause only mild symptoms, such as sweating, shakiness, and hunger. If your
child eats something that contains sugar, his or her blood sugar level will
rise. But if your child doesn't eat something that contains sugar, his or her
blood sugar may continue to drop to a very low level. Symptoms of severe
hypoglycemia can include disorientation, confusion, combativeness, and loss of
consciousness.
- Taking
too many doses of oral medicine for diabetes in one day, not eating enough
food, or doing strenuous exercise can cause your child's blood sugar level to
drop below the target range. Children who take insulin are also at risk for low blood sugar. If your child's blood sugar drops very low, he or
she could go into a coma and possibly die.
- To prevent serious
problems from low blood sugar:
- Test your child's blood sugar often. Or
have your child test his or her own blood sugar.
- Be alert to the
early signs of low blood sugar, such as sweating, shakiness, hunger, blurred
vision, and dizziness.
- Keep some hard candy, raisins, or other
quick sugar foods with your child at all times. Have your child eat some at the first
sign of low blood sugar.
- Teach your child's caregivers, teachers,
and coaches what to do if your child has low blood sugar.
More information about children with diabetes can be
found in these topics:
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