Hypoglycaemia

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) Can Be Caused By:

• not following your meal plan - not eating enough food or changing your meal times
• too much exercise - getting unplanned exercise or exercising for a long time without eating a snack
• too much medication or a change in the time you take your medication
• stress - too much stress in your life
• side-effect of other medications
• alcohol intake, especially without food 

Any one of these things, or a combination of these factors, may cause low blood sugar.

What Are The Warning Signs Of Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)?

The warning signs of low blood sugar include:

• sweatiness
• nausea
• blurred vision (seeing "spots")
• shakiness
• numb lips and tongue
• irritability
• passing out
•  fainting
• cold
• clammy skin
• confusion
• nervousness
• weakness
• rapid heart beat

Treatment Of Hypoglycemia

What should you do if you think you have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)?

If possible, you should test your blood sugar level. Testing is important for two reasons.

• There may be no warning signs, so it is important to test your blood sugar level often to know if it is low.
• You may have one of the warning signs, but not have low blood sugar. Again, it is important to test your blood sugar levels often so you know for sure if you are within your target range. 

If you have hypoglycemia, your blood glucose will be under 4.0mmol/L. Blood sugar dropping quickly in a short period of time produces symptoms of hypoglycemia, even though blood glucose may be above target range.

If you are certain that your blood sugar level is low, or if you are unable to test but have signs of low blood sugar, it is very important to treat it immediately.

How To Treat Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)

Low blood sugar should be treated immediately.

Eating special foods - fast-acting sugars - will correct hypoglycemia.

These foods and the amount you should take are:

• Fast-acting sugar foods
• • glucose gel or tablets (one packet or 2 to 3 tablets (follow the directions on the package)
  • orange or apple juice (4-6 ounces)
  • non-diet soft drink (4-6 ounces)
  • honey (one tablespoon)
  • raisins (2 tablespoons)

After you have taken one of these special foods, wait 15 minutes and test your blood sugar again.

If your blood sugar level is still too low, eat another portion of one of the foods. Wait another 10-15 minutes, then test your blood sugar again.

If your blood sugar level is still too low, treat a third time, then call a member of your healthcare team.

If you don't expect to have a meal within 30 minutes after you experience low blood sugar, you will need to have a snack (e.g. 1/2 sandwich and a glass of milk).

Always carry one of the foods that can treat low blood sugar with you. Low blood sugar can happen very quickly, so you should be prepared to act fast to correct it.

Call a member of your healthcare team if:

• you are new to diabetes medication or think your medication may need to be changed
• you have three or four low blood sugars in a row
• you have two or more low blood sugar reactions in 24 hours
• you have low blood sugar the same time every day for several days in a row
• your low blood sugar was severe enough that someone needed to help you, or it is below 2.7mmol/L

If Hypoglycemia Goes Untreated

If untreated, hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) can cause serious effects. Untreated low blood sugar can result in passing out or fainting.

Anyone who is having seizures or has passed out will need help from others. People at this severe stage will need an immediate glucagon injection. A doctor must prescribe glucagon. Your diabetes specialist nurse can show your significant other or close family member how to prepare and inject glucagon.

If you have a severe reaction and do not have glucagon, someone needs to call your local emergency number. Immediate help is very important for anyone who is having seizures or who has passed out.

It is important to wear identification stating that you have diabetes. This will assist others in knowing how to help if you begin to act noticeably different or become unconscious while not around family or friends.

Why Did Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) Occur?

After you have treated the low blood sugar, you should try to understand what caused your blood sugar to be low.

To help you understand why your blood sugar was low, ask yourself these questions.

Food

• Did you eat everything on your meal plan?
• Was your meal or snack delayed?
• Did you skip a meal?

Exercise

• Did you exercise without eating a meal or snack first?
• Did you exert yourself for a long time without eating a snack?
• Did you exercise when your blood sugar was too low? 

Medication

• Did you take more insulin or diabetes pills than the dose prescribed by your doctor?
• Were you off schedule in taking your insulin or diabetes pills?

Stress

• Were you under more stress than normal?

If you know why your blood sugar level was low, it will help you prevent it in the future.

Advice Booklet - Get the low-down on hypos

The only way to know that your blood sugar level is within your target range is to monitor your blood sugar levels by testing your blood. Testing your blood sugar levels will show if your meals, exercise, and diabetes medications are balancing each other. If you have any of the warning signs of low or high blood sugar, it is very important to test your blood so you will know for sure if you have a blood sugar level below or above your target range.

Read our advice booklet 'Get the low-down on hypos' Click here to Download (260KB)

Advice Booklet - Time to Test

Blood sugar testing is an important way of keeping an eye on what’s going on – and an essential tool for managing your diabetes. To read more about blood sugar and testing click here. Click here to download (296KB)