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Hypoglycemia definition, symptoms, cause, treatment
Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia is a condition where glucose level decrease in the blood.
It turns into a serious condition if not noticed in time. In diabetic patients with insulin are the most vulnerable group for deadly complications.
Definition of low blood sugar or hypoglycemia in people with diabetes, blood glucose of less than 3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL).
Severe hypoglycemia – the need for external assistance to provide glucose, glucagon or other corrective action actively –.
Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar symptoms:
Most common symptoms of hypoglycemia
Autonomic
SweatingTremblingPounding heart
Neuroglycopenic
HungerAnxietyDeliriumDrowsinessSpeech difficulty
Non-specific
Inability to concentrateIn coordinationIrritability, angerNauseaTiredness
in non-diabetic people, it is called ‘spontaneous’ hypoglycemia.
common causes and risk factors:
Rapid improvement in and/or strict glycaemic control
Previous severe hypoglycemia
Impaired awareness of hypoglycemia
Long-duration type 1 diabetes
Duration of insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes
Severe hepatic dysfunction
Impaired renal function
Inadequate treatment of previous hypoglycemia
Eating disorder Lifestyle issues
Exercise
Irregular lifestyle
Increasing age
Alcohol
Early pregnancy
Breastfeeding
No or inadequate glucose monitoring
Factitious (deliberately )
Treatment of hypoglycemia:
If the patient is conscious and able to swallow: Give oral refined glucose as drink or sweets. Apply glucose gel or jam or honey to the buccal mucosa
• Repeat blood glucose measurement after 10–15 mins
Symptomatic hypoglycaemia (self-treated) :
it is recommended that all glucose levels < 4.0 mmol/L (72 mg/dL) are treated. People with diabetes who recognize developing hypoglycemia are encouraged to treat immediately.
Options available include:
Oral fast-acting carbohydrate (10–15 g) is taken as glucose drink or tablets or confectionery.Repeat capillary glucose measurement 1–15 mins later. If still < 4.0 mmol/L, repeat above treatmentIf blood glucose remains < 4.0 mmol/L after three cycles (30–45 mins), contact a doctor. Consider glucagon 1 mg IM or 150–200 mL 10% glucose over 15 mins IVOnce blood glucose is > 4.0 mmol/L, take additional long-acting carbohydrate of choice •
•Unconscious hypoglycemia treatment:
If the patient is semiconscious or unconscious, parenteral treatment is required: IV 75–100 mL 20% dextrose over 15 mins. Than again check blood sugar.
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