Symptoms of low blood sugar or hypoglycemia

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  

 Sweating 

 Trembling 

 Pounding  heart 

Neuroglycopenic

   Hunger

   Anxiety

   Delirium

   Drowsiness

   Speech  difficulty 

Non-specific

  Inability to concentrate 

  In coordination

   Irritability,  anger

   Nausea

  Tiredness 

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 treatment

  If 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 IV 

 Once 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. 

 See more about 

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 1, Type 2 , Definition, Cause, Symptoms, Complication