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What to do with a drop in blood sugar caused by diabetes?
What is hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia is a decrease in glucose levels in the blood.
The human body, and especially the brain, needs blood sugar to survive. If the body does not have sugar, the consequences can be very serious.
Hypoglycemia is a serious situation, because the brain can run out of energy to perform its functions.
Causes of hypoglycemia
- Food taken late with respect to medication. If you take your medication long before you eat, it starts to work without having eaten carbohydrate-rich foods, causing your blood sugar to drop too low.
- A lot of exercise or more than usual.
- Inadequate diet: little or few carbohydrate foods.
- Too much insulin Review your insulin regimen with your doctor. It is recommended to carry a 2-3 day intake, medication and blood glucose reminder.
Summary table of the symptoms of hypoglycemia and how to act
Symptoms of hypoglycemia
- Cold sweat and dizziness
- Headache
- Hunger
- Palpitations, tremors, difficult vision
- Trouble waking up
- Irritability
Treatment of hypoglycemia
- If conscious, give to drink juices or liquids with sugar.
- NEVER GIVE INSULIN. Insulin further lowers hypoglycemia and can cause serious repercussions.
- Notify the doctor.
- Inject glucagon if there is loss of consciousness.
- If he is unconscious, no attempt should be made to give him liquids or anything to swallow. Food can go down the trachea and cause choking. Call the doctor.
More information on other types of diabetes
This article was endorsed by Elisenda Carballido - Dietitian nutritionist. Postgraduate in Phytotherapy and master in Nutrition and Metabolism.
