Hypoglycemia

What is hypoglycemia?

Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is a common effect of having diabetes since your body doesn’t have enough sugar to use as energy. The condition can be triggered by diet, certain medications, exercise, or other health conditions.

What are symptoms of hypoglycemia?

Symptoms arise when your blood sugar is 70 mg/dL or lower. Signs of hypoglycemia may vary among different individuals with diabetes. Early symptoms include:

• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Feeling shaky
• Hunger
• Irritability
• Pounding heart and racing pulse
• Pale skin
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Weakness
• Anxiety
  
  

More severe symptoms arise if initial symptoms go untreated. These include:

• Poor coordination
• Poor concentration
• Numbness in the mouth and tongue
• Passing out
• Nightmares or bad dreams
• Coma
  
  

Contact Dr. Gangupantula as soon as you notice any symptoms of hypoglycemia.

What can cause hypoglycemia?

Some drugs prescribed for diabetes can cause low blood sugar. Insulin treatment is one such drug, as are variations of sulfonylureas. Your insulin intake must correspond with the amount of carbohydrates you eat or drink. Taking a disproportionate amount of insulin can lead to a hypoglycemic reaction. Therefore, be careful not to:

• Eat a meal that has a lot of simple sugars
• Miss a snack or don’t eat a full meal
• Eat later than usual
• Drink alcohol without eating any food
  
  

Drinking alcohol or taking certain medications with your diabetes medications can also trigger a hypoglycemic occurrence.

How is hypoglycemia managed?

If you feel as though you may be affected by hypoglycemia, constantly check your blood sugar level alongside your diet. If your levels tend to drop after eating sugary meals, it’s recommended you change your diet to avoid sugary foods and frequently eat small meals throughout the day. A drop in levels when you haven’t eaten means you should have a protein or carbohydrate-filled snack before bedtime.

After evaluation, Dr. Gangupantula may also suggest lowering your insulin dosage or changing the time of your dose. She can also interpret available data to prevent further episodes.

How can I prevent hypoglycemia from occurring?

If you have diabetes, there are measures you can take to avoid low blood sugar levels. These include:

• Following your meal plan
• Eating at least three evenly spaced meals each day with prescribed snacks in between
• Planning your meals no more than four to five hours apart
• Exercising 30 minutes to one hour after meals
• Double-checking your insulin and dose of diabetes medicine before taking them
• Moderating alcohol consumption and monitoring your blood sugar levels
• Being aware of your medicine’s peak level
• Testing your blood sugar as often as directed by Dr. Gangupantula