Having a blood sugar level that is too low can be dangerous and even life-threatening if not addressed promptly. Symptoms of low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, can include shakiness, dizziness, confusion, sweating, and even loss of consciousness. If you suspect your blood sugar levels are too low, it’s important to take action immediately.
What Causes Low Blood Sugar Levels?
In this instance, you cannot treat your blood sugar on your own. Clinical trials’and other types of clinical studies’are part of medical research and involve people like you. When you volunteer to take part in a clinical study, you help health care professionals and researchers learn more about disease and improve health care for people in the future.
In some cases, this fast could be overnight or even done over 3 days in a hospital. They’ll test your blood glucose level at different times throughout the fast. They also might order additional tests to look for tumors and other potential causes of hypoglycemia. To avoid low blood sugar, don’t skip meals if you have diabetes, particularly if you’re taking diabetes medications. A registered dietitian can help you find a meal plan that supports stable blood sugar.
There are several factors that can cause your blood sugar levels to drop too low. Some common causes include skipping meals, excessive physical activity without proper fueling, taking too much insulin or other diabetes medications, or drinking alcohol on an empty stomach. It’s important to be aware of these potential triggers and take steps to prevent low blood sugar episodes.
How to Treat Low Blood Sugar Levels
Let family members and others close to you know where you keep the glucagon kit and make sure they’ve been trained in how to use it too. Other methods, such as exercise, can help lower blood sugars for up to about 24 hours by making the body more sensitive to insulin. Notably, exercise can help by increasing insulin sensitivity, allowing muscle cells to use the hormone more effectively to take up glucose and use it for energy.
Insulin pumps may also reduce the risk for low blood glucose. Accidentally injecting the wrong insulin type, too much insulin, or injecting directly into the muscle (instead of just under the skin), can cause low blood glucose. If you experience hypoglycaemia while driving, pull over and stop as soon as it’s safe to do so. Remove the keys from the ignition and get out of the driver’s seat before treating hypoglycaemia in the normal way. You should continue to monitor the person for signs of recurring symptoms in case they need to be treated again.
If you’re being treated with insulin, you’ll usually be given a kit that contains an injection of a medication called glucagon. Family members or your carer can be trained to carry out the injection, which should be used if you lose consciousness because of severe hypoglycaemia. The symptoms of hypoglycaemia usually begin when your blood glucose level drops below four millimoles (mmol) per litre. A continuous glucose monitor, on the left, is a device that measures your blood sugar every few minutes using a sensor inserted under the skin.
It’s crucial to treat hypoglycaemia quickly in order to prevent the person’s BGL from continuing to decrease, which can cause them to become seriously unwell. When you are diagnosed with diabetes you will be given a blood glucose meter. If your blood glucose level is lower than your target range, this is low blood sugar.
If you are experiencing symptoms of low blood sugar, it’s crucial to raise your blood sugar levels quickly. You can do this by consuming fast-acting carbohydrates such as fruit juice, soda, glucose tablets, or hard candy. It’s also important to follow up with a snack or meal that includes protein and healthy fats to help stabilize your blood sugar levels.
Remember, if you continue to have frequent episodes of low blood sugar, speak with your healthcare provider. They can help adjust your medication regimen or recommend lifestyle changes to better manage your blood sugar levels. Don’t ignore the warning signs of low blood sugar – seek help and take care of your health.
