Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar levels drop too low and the body does not have enough glucose for energy needs. Levels are considered too low when below 70 mg/dL.
This is a time when many people with diabetes joke they have permission to "eat the refrigerator," or in other words, license to eat large quantities of foods that are usually considered off-limits. It is important not to overdo treatment because this could start a cycle of blood sugar levels rising and crashing. Regaining control can be difficult.
The "Rule of 15" is a good strategy to avoid over-treatment of low blood sugar levels:
- Eat 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates.
- Wait 15 minutes and test blood sugar.
- Repeat until blood sugar is within recommended limits.
- Recheck your blood sugar level in an hour.
If you are taking Precose (acarbose) or Gyset (miglitol), you should use pure glucose or dextrose to treat hypoglycemia. These come in tablets or as a gel. These medications slow digestion, so regular fast-acting carbohydrates may not act fast enough for treatment.
Alert your friends and family to the signs of hypoglycemia. If you lose consciousness, instruct them not to treat you with food, fluids, or insulin. They should call 911 immediately.
Make sure and talk to your health care team if you are at risk for hypoglycemia and follow their advice for treatment, which will be tailored to your own situation.
Sources:
Hypoglycemia. National Diabetes Clearinghouse. Accessed: June 15, 2001. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/hypoglycemia/
Hypoglycemia. Pub Med Health. National Institutes of Health. Accessed: June 10, 2011. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001423/
Living with Diabetes. American Diabetes Association. Accessed: June 10, 2011. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/hypoglycemia-low-blood.html
