15 Rules of treating low sugar (Hypoglycemia)

Hypoglycemia

Introduction.

#hypoglycemia reading  by glucometer

People with diabetes can achieve and maintain blood glucose levels very close to normal with adequate care. However, patients with the disease need to be conscious of the severe problems that can arise from having high sugar and low sugar level.

However, this write up is about hypoglycemia and its home management in case you or your neighbors who are diabetics paradventure fall victim of low sugar.
A very low sugar also known as hypoglycemia is a medical emergency and  complication arising from as well as a common side effect of some glucose-lowering medications.

What is Hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia simply means very low sugar. Low sugar is a potential problem for anyone who takes self-injectable insulin or other sugar-lowering medications, such as sulfonylureas (which include glimepiride,glibenclamide and gliclazide e.t.c), either alone or in combination with other oral hypoglycemic agents i.e antidiabetic drugs.

Mechanisms of low sugar

Blood sugar can become abnormally low in people who take too high dose of medications in the setting of exercise, very little food such as carbohydrates. Hypoglycemia may also be seen in a patient with missed or delayed meal, or any of these combination factors.

However, the risk of hypoglycemia is increased when there is aggressive control to achieve normal glucose and too low sugar is far less common among patients with type 2 diabetes than among those with type 1 diabetes, but it can be life threatenings when it happens in them.






It’s a must that diabetic patients and people who live and work with them know how to recognize and manage hypoglycemia before it becomes a life-threatening conditions.

What are the pointers to hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemic reactions is a blood glucose levels below 50 mg/dL(2.5mmol/L), though,  this value differs by regions and laboratory with some accepting 60mg/dL(3.0mmol/L).
However, hypoglycemic symptoms may affect individuals differently because of individual body responds to medications.

Hypoglycemic syndromes 

For example, hypoglycemia unawareness-an unusual condition in which the person experiences no warning symptoms even when their blood glucose levels are too low- i.e. patient blood sugar might fall below 40 mg/dL, yet he/she may not manifest any symptoms, while some patients would feel the symptoms when his or her blood glucose falls below 70 mg/dL(3.5mmol/L).

The first signs of hypoglycemic reaction is similar to those of an anxiety attack because a decline in blood sugar initiates the automatic system of the brain leading to adrenaline secretion. The release of adrenaline is a corrective response to hypoglycemia as well as a signal informing you to eat, but also prompts the liver to make more sugar for body usage. These pointers (signs and symptoms ) as regard to autonomic response are listed below

sweating
nervousness
trembling
palpitations(fast heart rate beat or awareness of your heart beat)
lightheadedness
Feelings of hunger.

Hypoglycemia needs urgent treatment and attention, a lag in time may worse the condition which later affect the brain function. Affectation of the brain functions result to the following ,

fuzzy thinking
blurred vision
slurred speech
confusion
loss of consciousness
seizures
death

Failure to give urgent attention to hypoglycemia or further lowering of the sugar may result into the last three aforementioned signs I.e death, seizure and loss of consciousness. An episode of hypoglycemia while driving can cause a fatal car accident. Don’t risk your life for it is precious to your families and friends

Medications such as beta blockers, an antihypertensive drugs that is used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease, can mask the first symptoms and resulting in severe hypoglycemia. Alcohol, this is more common among those consuming alcohol, do mask hypoglycemic symptoms , which is why it must be used cautiously.

Signs and symptoms of low sugar

If hypoglycemia occurs during sleep, the only clues may be excessive sweating that results to a well soaked nightwears as if you bedwet, vivid nightmares, or an early morning nagging headache.



KEYNOTES
Preventing hypoglycemia is more preferable than to treat it.

Possible risk factors for hypoglycemia

Insulin Injection due to a change in eating patterns

Engagement in binge drinking of alcohol

Irregular eating patterns

Diseases of the Liver or kidney

How do we treat low blood sugar(Hypoglycemia)

Most time when hypoglycemia occur, there is no space nor time to check our sugar level but you will have a stranged feeling when it happens. Our treatment is based on the common guideline called rule of 15.

The rule of 15 is commonly used as a guideline for treatment of hypoglycemia which state that you consume 15 grams of carbohydrate(sugar) and wait about 15 minutes, then recheck your blood glucose level.

The following foods will provide about 15 grams of carbohydrate:

After correction of low sugar 

3 glucose tablets

An half cup of fruit juice

An half cup of regular soda

A glass of milk

6 or 7 hard candies

1 tablespoon of sugar

2 tablespoons of raisins


Note
Raisins are dried grape produced in many regions of the world that can be eaten raw or used in cooking and baking. They are packed with energy and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Raisins are naturally sweet and high in sugar and calories. They aid digestion, boost iron levels, and keep your bones strong.

Finally , If you do not feel better within 15 minutes, more carbohydrate can be consumed and if still remains the same in which most cases a drastic improvement will be seen, please see your doctor.

Thanks for reading

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