Hypoglycemia: warning signs, ways to treat, and when to call a doctor

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Diabetes Statistical Report 2020, 34 million people living in the United States had diabetes in 2018 – and surprisingly, 21% of adults with diabetes didn’t even know they had it. The scariest part is that, if left untreated, diabetes can be fatal – and, in fact, it was the seventh cause of death in the year 2017.

And although normally associated with high blood sugar (aka hyperglycemia), diabetics can also suffer from hypoglycemia or hypoglycemia, as well as many problems including more serious and / or long-term effects like seizures, loss of consciousness, dementia and even death. Additionally, according to the Mayo Clinic, hypoglycemia can also cause hypoglycemia in people without diabetes due to a variety of conditions and medications.

So it goes without saying that it is important to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. But how come, especially if you don’t know the first thing about blood sugar?

What is normal blood sugar?

When we eat, glucose (aka blood sugar) – which is our body’s main source of energy – enters our bloodstream from our food. Then our the pancreas secretes a hormone called insulin in the right amount to help glucose pass from the bloodstream to different cells in our body for use as energy. This process generally keeps the glucose in our bloodstream in a healthy range, neither too high nor too low.

This range is measured in milligrams of blood sugar per deciliter, or mg / dL. Dr Saleh Aldasouqi, chief of endocrinology at Michigan State University, tells CNET: “Normal blood sugar is defined as ranging from 70 to 110 mg / dL in healthy physiology, as a person without diabetes. or other related diagnosed disease. Sugar below 70 is generally considered low, and above 110 is considered high (depending on the time since the person’s last meal). “

Signs of hypoglycemia

With hypoglycemia, blood sugar drops below the normal and healthy levels mentioned earlier, which can happen for a variety of reasons.

“While some people with blood sugar problems may not have symptoms,” Dr Aldasouqi continued, “there are key things to look out for. Confusion, and can get into what’s called ‘a hypoglycemic coma “… The term” diabetic coma “is also used by some.”

Other symptoms of hypoglycemia may include:

• Tired
• Tremor
• Hunger
• Irritability
• Pale skin
• Tingling or numbness of the lips, tongue, or cheek
• Blurred vision

What causes hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia often occurs in people who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Hypoglycemia problems can be experienced with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Type 1

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system kicks in fight pancreatic cells that make insulin. As a result, the pancreas stops producing insulin, and the glucose in your bloodstream cannot get into the necessary cells, so your blood sugar levels reach new highs. This usually happens in children and young adults, and they usually need to take insulin every day for the rest of their lives.

Type 2

This type of diabetes occurs when your blood sugar is too high and your body not making enough insulin, or does not work well with the insulin it produces. Your blood sugar level stays too high in your bloodstream and there is not enough to get into your cells. Type 2 diabetes is more common in middle and old age, but you can get it at any time, including in childhood.

Other causes of hypoglycemia

Although hypoglycemia is often associated with diabetes, it can be affected by other factors as well. According to Dr. Danine Fruge, medical director of the Pritikin Longevity Center in Miami, Florida, the causes of blood sugar problems can include not only “diabetes, prediabetes (a condition where blood sugar is high, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes), reactive hypoglycemia (when your body produces excess insulin after a meal) or other health problems, but also from not eating enough, taking too much insulin or even taking certain diabetes medications.

Other medicines can also cause low blood sugar, such as quinine or Qualaquin, which is used to treat malaria, or various medicines for kidney failure. Exercising more than usual can also be the cause, especially while taking such medications.

Some other potential causes of hypoglycemia include:

• Drink a lot without eating
• Eat without getting enough carbohydrates
• Eating fewer carbohydrates than usual without reducing insulin amounts, or a poor balance between liquid / solid carbohydrates and insulin timing
• Hormonal deficits due to adrenal or pituitary tumor disorders, or in children without sufficient growth hormone
• Long-term starvation, such as that which can occur with anorexia nervosa
• Serious illness such as hepatitis, kidney problems and liver disease
• Pancreatic tumors (and some other types of tumors) that cause the body to make too much insulin

Unconsciousness of hypoglycemia

You can “feel bad and not know why,” according to Dr. Fruge, whether you have high or low blood sugar. She suggests that a finger blood glucose test may “give you a clue” of the nature of the problem, but she emphasizes that “it is important to confirm with a blood glucose test. An HbA1c blood test will tell you if you are have prediabetes or diabetes. “

When the body does not give any warning signs in the form of symptoms, hypoglycemia can become very dangerous. For people with diabetes or others who constantly suffer from unawareness of hypoglycemia, a change in treatment may be appropriate, along with blood sugar awareness training.

What to do if you think you have low blood sugar

Act quickly to deal with the situation

If you suspect you are suffering from low blood sugar, Dr Fruge recommends dealing with the situation quickly, which she says should include “eating healthy foods like complex carbohydrates, beans or fruit.”

“At the Pritikin Longevity Center, we serve a cup of fruit with a cup of vegetables to avoid a spike in insulin, which can sometimes cause blood sugar levels to drop again later,” she explains. “Adjusting your diabetes treatment as prescribed by your doctor may also be necessary. It is important to retest your blood sugar 20 minutes after eating to confirm that it has improved.”

Keep a quick-acting carbohydrate or two on hand

The American Diabetes Association suggests that people prone to hypoglycemia make sure they always have a small box of juice, glucose tablets, or something similar with them, just in case their blood sugar drops below normal. . A good rule of thumb to follow is 15:15 Rule, which asks the person with declining blood sugar to eat 15 grams of carbohydrate every 15 minutes, then test to see if their blood sugar is still below 70 mg / dL, then take another 15 gram serving and repeat until normal.

The American Diabetes Association also recommends that people with low blood sugar eat small meals throughout the day to help keep blood sugar levels constant and prevent drops.

Keep in good communication with your doctor

Be sure to keep your doctor informed of any changes you plan to make to your eating, exercise, or medication schedules. This can help you work together to make sure your blood sugar stays as normal as possible.

When it’s time to call a doctor

If any of the symptoms mentioned have started to impact your life, such as fatigue so severe that you cannot stay awake all day, it is a good idea to see your doctor. Dr Fruge warns that “unstable blood sugar levels could put you at a higher risk for heart disease and stroke and this is a red flag for serious health problems” – the problems blood sugar levels should therefore be taken seriously.

You should also see a doctor if you have symptoms of low blood sugar and have not been diagnosed with diabetes or any other underlying condition.

If you have diabetes and your low blood sugar is not responding to the treatments described above, this is another good sign to call your healthcare provider.

If the tests show that you have type 1 diabetes, you will need to continue to test your blood sugar as often as your doctor tells you to, take insulin regularly, and exercise regularly. This may mean that you will need a new one blood glucose monitoring system, then ask your doctor what they recommend. If you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you will likely need to do the same as type 1, as well as work with healthcare professionals to make lifestyle changes, such as improving your nutrition and scheduling exercise sessions. coaching. Medication may also be needed.

Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise, monitoring blood sugar as directed, taking prescribed medications, and most importantly, keeping your doctor regularly informed of any changes in your routines, is essential for staying overall healthy and healthy. keep hypoglycemia at bay.

The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have about a health problem or health goals.