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What is Low Blood Sugar?
Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is a serious condition that describes deficiency of blood sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream. Glucose is the body’s main source of energy, and when it is low than normal, it can lead to serious complications.
Low blood sugar is common in people who take diabetes medications meant to increase insulin in the bloodstream. Most individuals with diabetes experience low blood sugar when they skip meals, take too much medication, exercise more, or eat less than normal.
When the levels of blood sugar drop below 70 mg/Dl, your blood sugar level is low. At this point, immediate action is needed to prevent serious symptoms from developing.
Types of Low Blood Sugar
There are two types of hypoglycemia; nighttime and severe low blood sugar.
Nighttime Low Blood Sugar
In most cases, hypoglycemia happens during the day. However, some people can experience low blood sugar at night while sleeping for different reasons, including:
- Taking alcohol at night
- Having an active day
- Exercising or being active close to bedtime
- Taking too much insulin
If you want to avoid nighttime low blood sugar, eat regular meals without skipping them. You can have a snack before bedtime if you are at risk of overnight low blood sugar.
Severe Low Blood Sugar
Whether you experience hypoglycemia during the day or at night, it can be life-threatening when it reaches severe levels. When blood sugar becomes worse, you experience serious symptoms, including:
- Having seizures
- Feeling stressed or acting strange
- Feeling weak
- Finding it difficult to see well or walk
The level of severe hypoglycemia is 54 mg/dL, and it can make you faint. With severe low blood sugar, you will need someone to help you out.
What are the Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar?
Most people experience the symptoms of low blood sugar when levels drop to 70 mg/Dl or lower. Every person with diabetes can have different symptoms and it is good to spot yours. The common symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
- Sudden mood changes
- Rapid heartbeat
- Pale skin
- Blurry vision and dizziness
- Headache
- Unexplained fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Shaking
- Confusion, anxiety, irritability, and nervousness
- Hunger
- Unexplained fatigue and tiredness
- Coma, seizure, and loss of consciousness
You may not have symptoms when blood sugar is low (low blood sugar unawareness). This way, it’s hard to treat hypoglycemia early, and this increases your risk of severe low blood sugar. Without proper or immediate treatment, you can experience a seizure, coma, or faint.
How to Deal with Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar?
Low blood sugar is a condition that requires immediate medical attention. If you have diabetes or know someone experiencing symptoms, have them take 15 grams of digestible carbohydrates, such as:
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- 5 saltine crackers
- 1 tablespoon of honey (put it under the tongue for faster absorption)
- Drink half a cup of regular soda or honey
- 3 to 4 pieces of glucose tablets or candy
- 1 cup of skim milk
After eating any of the above, check your blood sugar again. If it is still less than 70 mg/dL, take or drink another serving. You can repeat the steps until the blood sugar becomes normal. If the person is unconscious, avoid giving them anything by mouth because it can lead to choking.
What are the Causes of Low Blood Sugar?
There are many reasons that cause hypoglycemia. Mostly, low blood pressure occurs as a side effect of different treatments for diabetes. Many medications are effective in treating diabetes but they carry the risk of lowering blood sugar too low, causing some symptoms.
Still, you don’t need to have diabetes to have low blood sugar. There are other causes of low blood sugar including:
- A tumor that produces excess insulin
- Taking excess insulin
- Drinking excess alcohol
- Menstruation
- Level of physical activity and timing
- Medical conditions, such as hepatitis and kidney disorders
- Certain medications, such as quinine.
How is Hypoglycemia Prevented?
Because the cause of low blood sugar is diabetes medications, there are different methods you can use to prevent diabetes. If you have diabetes, here are some ways you can use to prevent hypoglycemia:
- Plan your meals only 4 to 5 hours apart
- Follow your meal plan
- Double-check your diabetes and insulin medicine before taking them
- Test your blood sugar levels as advised
- Always carry an identification bracelet saying you have diabetes
- Exercise 30 minutes to 1 hour after your meal
- Drink alcohol moderately and keep monitoring your blood sugar
- Always have a snack leaving home