Diabetic Hypoglycemia

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? Diabetic hypoglycemia (hi-po-gli-SE-me-ah) is a condition that happens when the sugar (glucose) in your blood drops too low. This means there is not enough sugar in your blood to give your muscles and brain cells the energy they need to work. This may cause you to faint. When diabetic hypoglycemia happens, you will need treatment right away. After treatment, your blood sugar should raise to a normal level, and you should feel better.

What are the causes of diabetic hypoglycemia?

• Drinking alcohol.
  
  
• Exercising more than usual, without eating extra food.
  
  
• Having a high fever, or an infection (in-FEK-shun).
  
  
• Missing a meal, or eating a meal later than usual.
  
  
• Taking certain medicines, and taking too much insulin (IN-su-lin) or oral (pills taken by mouth) medicine.
  
  
• Being pregnant puts you at higher risk for diabetic hypoglycemia.

What are the signs and symptoms of diabetic hypoglycemia?

• If your blood sugar is just a little low, you may have a headache, feel hungry or nervous, have trouble thinking, feel moody or weak, or sweat.
  
  
• If your blood sugar is moderately low, you may sweat a lot, feel very weak, or feel your heart pounding. You may also forget things, see double, be confused, or have trouble walking. Other signs are feeling numb and tingly around your mouth or your fingers.
  
  
• If your blood sugar is dangerously low, you may have convulsions (seizures) or become unconscious (faint).

What can be done for diabetic hypoglycemia? Do the following if you think have low blood sugar:

• If you have any symptoms of low blood sugar, check your blood sugar. If your blood sugar is 70 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter) or below, eat or drink a source of sugar. Talk to your caregiver about low blood sugar and how it should be treated. Following are some sources of sugar that you can drink or eat to treat low blood sugar:
  
  
  • Drink four ounces (one-half cup) of fruit juice, or eat five to six pieces of hard candy, or take two to three glucose tablets.
    
    
  • Re-check you blood sugar 15 minutes later:
    
    
    • If your blood sugar is OK, your caregiver may want you to eat a snack or a meal.
      
      
    • If your blood sugar is still low, drink one-half cup juice, or eat five to six pieces of candy, or take two to three glucose tablets.
  
  
• If you have no blood glucose meter, or are very drowsy, treat yourself like your blood sugar is too low. Carry candy or some type of sugar with you at all times, especially if you are away from home. You can take this if you feel that your blood sugar is too low. Always carefully follow caregiver's instructions on how to treat your low blood sugar.
  
  
• If you feel drowsy or confused, or have fainted, you or someone nearby should call 911 or 0 (operator) right away for help. Teach your family and others to call 911 if you have symptoms of low blood sugar or have fainted and they find you. This is an emergency. Emergency caregivers will give you sugar by mouth or in your vein. Tell your family that they should never make you swallow anything if you pass out.

How do I prevent diabetic hypoglycemia? To keep from getting low blood sugar you should:

• Take diabetes medicine (pills or insulin) as directed by your caregiver. Take medicine at the right time and in the right amount.
  
  
• Eat regular meals and snacks. Talk to your dietitian (di-e-TISH-an) or caregiver about a meal plan that is right for you. Eat the same amount of food for each meal and eat at the same time each day. Do not skip meals.
  
  
• Check with your caregiver before you restart exercise. Together you can plan an exercise program. If your blood sugar is less than 100 mg/dl before exercise, eat a carbohydrate snack. Examples of carbohydrate snacks are four to six crackers, one-half banana, or four ounces (one-half cup) of juice. Have a carbohydrate snack available during and after exercise to treat low blood sugar, if needed.
  
  
• Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach can cause low blood sugar. Talk to your caregiver about alcohol. If you drink alcohol, you should always have a snack or meal at the same time.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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