What is Hypoglycemia: Know its Symptoms and Treatment
2024-10-08 00:00:00
Hypoglycemia (Low blood sugar) is when your blood sugar level drops so low that you need to take steps to get it back into a normal range. This usually happens when your blood sugar is below 70 mg/dl. Hypoglycemia is common in people with type 1 diabetes and in people with type 2 diabetes who take insulin or other diabetes medications. Low blood sugar can also be referred to as an insulin reaction or insulin shock.
Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
Symptoms of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar include-
- Rapid heartbeat
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Sudden mood swings
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Sudden nervousness
- Pale skin
- Sleep disorders
- Extreme hunger
- Dizziness
- Tingling skin
- Loss of consciousness
What causes Hypoglycemia?
If you have diabetes, there are common causes that you should avoid. It is important that you tell your doctor whether you have extremely low blood sugar.
Lack of carbohydrates-
Carbohydrates are the main source of glucose for the body, lack of carbohydrates can cause a drop in blood sugar levels.
Skipping meals-
Skipping meals can prevent your body from getting the energy it needs from glucose.
Heavy physical activity-
Exercising more than usual, especially if you haven't eaten enough carbohydrates at meals, can lead to hypoglycemia.
Excessive drinking-
Alcohol can affect your body's ability to metabolize glucose.
Too much insulin-
Injecting too much insulin can cause low blood sugar in the body.
Risk factors of Hypoglycemia
Some people are at a higher risk of developing hypoglycemia. These include-
- People taking insulin.
- People taking oral diabetes medications called sulfonylureas, such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glimepiride (Amaryl), or glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase).
- Young children and adults.
- People with impaired liver or kidney function.
- People who have had diabetes for a long time.
- Those who take a lot of medicines.
- Anyone with a disability which prevents them from responding quickly to fall in blood sugar levels.
- People who drink alcohol.
Preventive Measures for Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is common in adults and is easily preventable. Some preventive measures are-
- Eat on time and in the right proportions. Avoid skipping meals.
- Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach as it can cause hypoglycemia.
- You should check and record your blood sugar levels several times a week. Only careful monitoring can keep your blood sugar levels under control.
- As your physical activity increases, consider eating additional snacks.
- Take your medication on time as recommended by your doctor.
Treatment for Hypoglycemia
Make an appointment with an endocrinologist if you think you have hypoglycemia, even if you are not diabetic. They will advise you on treatment strategies, including-
Adjust your medication-
You may need to change how often you take insulin or other medications, what medications you take, how much you take them, and when you take them.
Improve self-control of your blood sugar levels-
Knowing your blood sugar levels throughout the day—when you wake up, before and after meals, etc. can help prevent them from getting too low.
Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages-
If you are prone to hypoglycemia, you should reduce the amount of alcohol you consume.
Glucose tablets (dextrose)-
Make sure you always have a dextrose tablet. Check your blood sugar after taking the tablets. If it's still low, take another tablet. If this doesn't help, call your doctor.
Home remedies for Hypoglycemia
Honey-
It provides a fast supply of glucose as it is easily absorbed and digested into the blood. Take a tablespoon of honey when you feel the symptoms. Honey provides a lot of relief from low blood sugar immediately.
Candy-
It ensures a fast supply of glucose to the blood. Candy is the main treatment for low blood sugar because it is easily digested.
Dandelion roots-
Dandelion roots help increase blood sugar levels by regulating the flow of insulin from the pancreas. You can drink dandelion root extract. It is one of the best treatments for low blood sugar.
Licorice roots-
It tastes sweet and quickly raises blood sugar levels. Mix licorice root powder in a glass of warm water and drink it twice a day to normalize sugar levels.
Protein rich breakfast-
Protein provides a slow and continuous supply of sugar to the blood throughout the day. You can eat egg, milk, cheese, meat, chicken, avocado, and nuts for breakfast. It is one of the best diets for low blood sugar.
Cashew powder-
Cashew contains natural sugars that keep blood sugar levels normal. These ensure a slow supply of sugar in the blood throughout the day. Mix three teaspoons of cashew powder in honey and add water. Drink this every day before going to bed.
Tomatoes-
Tomatoes also supply sugar to the blood and prevent low blood sugar. Eat four to five tomatoes a day. This is one of the best Indian home remedies for low blood sugar.
Magnesium rich foods-
Consume magnesium rich foods such as avocado, spinach, nuts, and fish. This helps in maintaining normal blood sugar levels and prevents hypoglycemia.
Raisins-
Raisins contain fiber and antioxidants and have a relatively low glycemic index, all factors that help control blood sugar. Thus, it prevents hypoglycemia.
Banana-
Bananas have sugar content of about 15% which are effective in relieving symptoms of hypoglycemia.
When to see a doctor?
Call your doctor or make an appointment if you-
- Can’t control your hypoglycemia, although you are taking steps to correct it.
- Have two to three readings in a row with a result of 70 mg/dL or less.
- Have had more than two episodes of unexplained hypoglycemia in one week.