People who have diabetes and use insulin or
diabetes pills can have low blood sugar (glucose). Low blood sugar,
called hypoglycemia, happens when the level of sugar in the blood
falls below 70 mg/dl. Blood sugar drops when there is more insulin
than needed to regulate the sugar level.
Causes of hypoglycemia
- Eating meals late or skipping meals
- Not eating the whole meal or enough carbohydrates
- Being more active than usual
- Taking more medicine than needed
- Drinking alcohol without eating
- Any combination of the above
Symptoms of hypoglycemia
- Weakness or shaking
- Moist skin, sweating
- Fast heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Sudden hunger
- Confusion
- Pale skin
- Numbness in mouth or tongue
- Irritability, nervousness
- Unsteadiness
- Nightmares, bad dreams, restless sleep.
You might pass out if your hypoglycemia is not treated.
Treatment for hypoglycemia
1. Test your blood sugar level, if possible. If you think
your blood sugar is low but are unable to test your blood, treat
with one of the following:
- ½ cup fruit juice
- 3 glucose tablets
- 5 Lifesavers candies
2. Wait 15 minutes. If your symptoms do not lessen, retest if
possible. If your blood sugar is less than 70, repeat
treatment.
3. If your next meal is more than ½ hour away, follow up
with a small snack such as one of the following:
- ½ sandwich
- 1 oz. cheese with four to six crackers
- 1 Tbsp. peanut butter with four to six crackers
4. If you still do not feel better, call your doctor or
911.
5, Record this episode. Write down the date and time your
low blood sugar occurred, any possible causes, and what you did to
treat it.
Safety tips
- Have both a sugar, such as hard candy, and a snack, such as
peanut butter or cheese crackers, with you at all times.
- Treat the symptoms early.
- Wear a diabetes ID bracelet or necklace, and carry a card in
your purse or wallet.
- Be sure your family, friends, and co- workers know what they
can do to help you (Give them copies of this handout.)
- Check your blood sugar level before, during, and after
exercise/increased activity. Talk to your doctor if you have more
than one episode of low blood sugar.
- Learn about diabetes. Talk to your doctor and diabetes
educator, and arrange a personal treatment plan.
Source: Human Resource Development