If you have Diabetes, it is likely that you will experience one or more episodes of low blood sugar, or insulin reaction, called hypoglycemia. Even if you actively manage your diabetes, hypoglycemia can still sneak up on you, which is why it’s important to understand what it is and how to treat it.
Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
There are a wide range of low blood sugar symptoms, and they can vary among diabetics. In addition, you might have some insulin reaction symptoms one time and completely different symptoms the next time. Hypoglycemia symptoms you should be aware of include:
- Dizziness
- Shakiness
- Sweating
- Headache
- Hunger
- Blurred vision
- Irritability or confusion
- Sudden behavior changes
- Difficulty paying attention
- Pale skin color
- Tingling and numbness around the mouth
- Seizure
If you have Diabetes and you experience any of these symptoms, check your blood glucose level immediately. If your blood glucose is below 60 to 70 mg/dl, you are most likely having an insulin reaction. If you cannot test your blood sugar levels, it is best to treat the symptoms rather than wait. If you do not treat hypoglycemia immediately, you could lose consciousness and need emergency care.
Treating Hypoglycemia
To counteract an insulin reaction and quickly increase your blood sugar level, you should eat some form of sugar, such as glucose tablets or other fast-acting carbohydrate like fruit or hard candy. Use 15 to 20 grams of quick carbohydrate for all low blood sugars. Because hypoglycemia can occur anywhere, anytime, you should always carry at least one type of sugar with you.
Once you have treated your low blood sugar, recheck your glucose levels after 15 to 20 minutes. If they are still low, repeat treatment. After treating an insulin reaction, it can take 30 minutes for your mind to clear and coordination to return, so you should wait 30 to 45 minutes to allow your blood glucose level to stabilize before driving a car or operating machinery.
Preventing Hypoglycemia
The best way to prevent hypoglycemia is to closely manage your diabetes. Test your glucose levels often and try to identify what might have triggered your insulin reaction. Did you take too much insulin? Did you skip a meal or eat less than you normally do? Have you lost weight? Maybe you exercised more intensely or for a longer period of time than usual? All of these factors can affect your blood sugar levels.
If you are not sure how to control your glucose levels or treat hypoglycemia, talk to your doctor or diabetes educator right away. You should never put off blood sugar control problems, as they usually escalate into more serious problems.
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