Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) – unusual symptoms. Methods of treating hypoglycemia

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Hypoglycemia is defined as sugar levels that are too low, which is not only a determinant of diabetics. It can be dangerous to health and life, so we decided to check which symptoms should be a cause for concern, and what treatments exist for low blood sugar.

Hypoglycemia – general characteristics of the disease

Hypoglycaemia is also called hypoglycaemia. It refers to a disturbance of carbohydrate metabolism in the body, which is manifested by low blood sugar levels (below 70 milligrams per deciliter of plasma). Hypoglycemia rarely occurs alone. Most often it is a symptom accompanying another disease. For many people with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, hypoglycaemia can happen at virtually any time.

Even if they follow a diet, they take medications and do their best to keep their glucose levels at the correct level. Therefore, part of managing diabetes is educating the patient to recognize the symptoms of hypoglycaemia.

Hypoglycemia – in whom is the most common?

Hypoglycemia most often occurs in:

1. people who have type 1 diabetes;
2. people who have type 2 diabetes;
3. pregnant women who have gestational diabetes;
4. newborns;
5. patients with a pancreatic tumor;
6. patients who have undergone gastric resection.

Learn more: What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

The most common causes of hypoglycemia

The most common cause of hypoglycaemia is inadequate dosing of drugs, including insulin. It can also be caused by too little carbohydrate in the food, and a missed meal. It can be the result of excessive exercise or drinking too much alcohol. In type 1 and type 2 diabetes, low blood sugar may occur when:

1. after the insulin injection, no meal was taken;
2. the meal after insulin injection was not caloric enough;
3. insulin was absorbed too quickly;
4. there was too much physical exertion;
5. you have been given too much insulin.

Types of hypoglycemia

There are four types of hypoglycemia:

1. severe hypoglycaemia – the most serious type of hypoglycaemia. During an attack, the patient may become unconscious. Then it is necessary to administer glucose or glucagon;
2. documented symptomatic hypoglycemia – the glucose level drops below 70 milligrams per deciliter of plasma, but such a situation occurs only occasionally;
3. possible symptomatic hypoglycaemia – although he did not develop symptoms typical of hypoglycaemia, his glucose level may have fallen below 70 milligrams;
4. pseudohipoglikemia – it happens when a diabetic patient shows the presence of one of the symptoms, although the measured blood glucose level shows no abnormalities.

People who do not have diabetes and experience symptoms of hypoglycemia require diagnosis and should see a doctor. Untreated hypoglycaemia can even lead to unconsciousness. Then, most often the patient is administered intravenous glucose infusion. Patients who are unconscious are given glucagon, which stimulates the liver to release the glucose stored there into the bloodstream.

Prescription glucagon injection kits are available from pharmacies. You should discuss with your attending physician whether it is worth having such a kit at home. The patient’s family, friends or colleagues should then learn to use it.

Nocturnal hypoglycaemia – what is it characterized by?

Nocturnal hypoglycaemia is a very dangerous state of low blood sugar, usually preceded by excessive exercise during the day, drinking alcohol or eating an inadequate amount of complex carbohydrates. Nocturnal hypoglycaemia is associated with symptoms such as:

1. nightmares;
2. hyperhidrosis;
3. tiredness;
4. a headache that does not appear until you wake up.

Unfortunately, frequent repetition of episodes of nocturnal hypoglycaemia can lead to severe hypoglycaemia, especially as in most cases the patient is not aware of the occurrence of hypoglycaemia.

Hypoglycaemia – symptoms of hypoglycaemia

The early symptoms of hypoglycaemia include:

1. anxiety;
2. blurred vision;
3. dizziness;
4. tiredness;
5. paleness;
6. palpitations;
7. feeling hungry;
8. nervousness;
9. trembling;
10. sweating.

If the patient does not respond, severe headache, impaired coordination, numbness of the tongue and mouth, loss of consciousness, epilepsy and coma may occur. Unfortunately, some patients may not experience symptoms of hypoglycaemia at all.

Methods of treating hypoglycemia

The treatment chosen depends on the severity of the disease causing the hypoglycaemia. In the case of a mild form of hypoglycaemia, simple sugars (a sweet drink) should be administered to the patient as soon as possible. In severe cases of hypoglycaemia, medical attention may be indicated as the patient has difficulty swallowing. He may also become unconscious. If you become unconscious, you will be given glucagon (a hormone secreted by the pancreas that works against insulin).

Diet for hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia implies making changes to the daily menu. The diet is especially effective in the case of reactive hypoglycaemia (after eating). In this case it is very important to eat six small portions at intervals of 3-4 hours.

In case of hypoglycaemia, be very careful with simple sugars, which can cause spikes in blood glucose. You should also remember to exclude vegetables and fruits that have a high glycemic index from the diet.

Hypoglycemia – can it be prevented?

One of the effective ways to prevent hypoglycaemia is to carry glucose lozenges with you to balance the level in your blood. In addition, every diabetic patient should wear a wristband informing about his health. Thanks to it, the person who will be with her in the moment of fainting will be able to behave properly (call an ambulance, put the patient in a safe position or look for glucagon). In addition, people from the immediate vicinity of the patient should know about his health.

Adherence to the principles of diet and insulin dosage (in the case of diabetics) also affects the frequency of hypoglycaemic episodes. Dietary supplements containing ingredients that normalize blood glucose levels can also be used. Belong to them:

1. Berberysu extract;
2. white mulberry extract;
3. cinnamon extract;
4. Jerusalem artichoke extract;
5. B vitamins;
6. chrome.

Hypoglycemia in pregnancy – what to do in an emergency?

Hypoglycemia in pregnancy also happens. It results from hormonal changes in the female body. However, it is very dangerous for her. As with the fetus, which is exposed to microcephaly or too low body weight.

Hypoglycemia – complications

Frequent episodes of hypoglycemia have far-reaching consequences. The most hypoglycemic effect is on the central nervous system. Additionally, frequent seizures can lead to:

1. heart rhythm disturbances;
2. permanent damage to the central nervous system;
3. dysfunctions within the autonomic nervous system;
4. complications in the heart and blood vessels.

Hypoglycemia – unusual patient behavior

If the blood sugar level is too low, the driver of a car, riding a bicycle or crossing the road will behave like a drunk. It can also be aggressive when attacked. However, this is not the result of his indignation, but a disturbance of concentration.

Hypoglycaemia sometimes causes loss of consciousness, and even death (this especially applies to the severe form of hypoglycaemia). It can happen to any diabetic. For this reason, all patients should have glucose lozenges with them.

Hypoglycemia in Poland

Two million diabetics in Poland can drive cars and get hypoglycemia, which affects the driver similar to alcohol. Can this be avoided? In most cases, however, sometimes it is not possible.

The sober 55-year-old ran into a group of preschoolers who went for a walk with their caregivers. The whole of Poland could see the drastic recording thanks to the photos taken from the cameras of the city surveillance in Nowy Tomyśl. Two children aged 4 were injured. It turned out that the woman fainted most likely due to hypoglycemia, i.e. a drop in blood sugar levels because she had diabetes.

Hypoglycemia and glucose lozenges

Diabetics must always have glucose lozenges with them. They should be in your purse, in the car, on a desk or next to a bed. They should also be worn when practicing sports, such as jogging or cycling. In pharmacies, over-the-counter lozenges are very convenient to use, with the consistency of powdered candy, which easily dissolve in the mouth. They even have a strawberry flavor.

You must take this pill in case of symptoms of hypoglycaemia. It is also a good idea to wear a diabetes badge in the form of a necklace or bracelet. This can be of great help to paramedics who will be able to provide assistance to patients with low glucose levels.

In mild or moderate hypoglycaemia, it is usually enough to take sugar lozenges orally, eat a candy or a sugar lump, and then a carbohydrate meal. In the case of disturbances of consciousness, it is usually necessary to administer intravenous glucose or intramuscular glucagon. The main thing is to react quickly and save your own or someone else’s health and even life.

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