How to take action when you see hypoglycemia symptoms
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | NOV. 19 - NOV. 25, 2021 29
Everyone needs blood sugar
(glucose) because it provides
essential fuel for the body and
mind. However, for people
with diabetes, getting the right
amount of glucose is critical
because low blood sugar, also
known as hypoglycemia, can
lead to stupor, confusion, loss
of consciousness, seizures or
other severe complications. If
you or a loved one has diabetes,
it’s important to understand
the warning signs of hypoglycemia
and what to do during a
low blood sugar emergency.
“Hypoglycemia occurs
when blood sugar levels fall
lower than normal and can
lead to life-threating complications,”
said Felice A. Caldarella,
MD, MBA, FACP, CDCES,
FACE, president of The American
Association of Clinical
Endocrinology (AACE). “Hypoglycemia
causes approximately
100,000 emergency room visits
per year in the U.S., and diabetics
are at the highest risk of
experiencing a low blood sugar
episode.”
In addition to having diabetes,
Dr. Caldarella shares other
common risk factors for hypoglycemia:
Age: Speak with your
health care team to find out
how this may affect you.
Diet: Having irregular eating
habits, such as skipping a
meal or eating less than usual
(if using a sulfonylurea, which
is a medication that causes insulin
to be secreted from the
pancreas regardless of what
your blood sugar level is or
insulin).
Activeness: Increasing
your physical activity, especially
without enough nutrition.
Drinking: Consuming an
excessive amount of alcohol.
To spread the word about
hypoglycemia, the AACE team
created The Lowdown on Low
Blood Sugar campaign. For
people with diabetes, low blood
sugar typically occurs when
blood sugar levels fall below 70
mg/dl, though this may differ
from person to person. It’s key
to understand the symptoms of
hypoglycemia and what to do
during an episode.
Mild hypoglycemia symptoms
* Nausea and dizziness
* Fast heartbeat
* Sweating and/or chills
* Clamminess
* Unusual irritability or
moodiness
Actions to take
If you or a loved one are experiencing
mild symptoms of
hypoglycemia, act quickly by
following the “Rule of 15” by
eating 15 grams of high sugar
foods, drinks or medications to
get your blood sugar back up.
Then re-check your blood sugar
after 15 minutes. If your blood
sugar is still low, consume another
15 grams of carbohydrates
and check your blood sugar
again after 15 minutes. If your
blood sugar fails to return to
normal levels after two tries of
the Rule of 15, you could experience
severe symptoms and may
need medical attention.
Severe hypoglycemia symptoms:
* Blurred or impaired vision
* Coordination problems or
clumsiness
* Tingling or numbness in
the lips, tongue or cheeks
* Color draining from the
skin
* Confusion
* Seizures
Actions to take
If you or a loved one has severe
hypoglycemia symptoms
and have access, administer
hypoglycemic rescue therapy
via injected or nasal glucagon
as prescribed by your doctor.
Do not inject insulin, as
this will further lower blood
sugar. If you start to feel very
sleepy or your blood sugar
falls below 70 mg/dL, have
someone take you to the hospital
immediately or call 911 for
medical assistance.
Hypoglycemia can sneak up
on you. It might be the day you
skipped a meal, exercised more
than usual, or took too much of
the wrong medication. Know
the symptoms and work with
your health care team, including
endocrinologists, to come
up with a treatment plan that
is right for you, which may include
substituting medications
known to potentially produce
low blood sugar reactions with
other ones that do not.
Endocrinologists are specially
trained doctors that are
qualified to diagnose and treat
diabetes and hormone-related
diseases and conditions, including
hypoglycemia. If you’re experiencing
any of the symptoms
listed, speak with your health
care professional to adjust medications
accordingly. You may
even consider scheduling an appointment
with an endocrinologist
in your area.
A network of support
Did you know 31% of severe
low blood sugar related events
happen outside the home? Fiftyseven
percent of patients experience
lows at least once a night,
and one-third of adults with diabetes
worry about driving safely
because of serious problems
from low blood sugar. That’s
why it’s important for you, your
family and friends to all know
the signs and symptoms of a low
blood sugar emergency and how
to manage it.
Support for hypoglycemia
provided by: Lily Diabetes, Novo
Nordisk, Sanofi, Medtronic.
Visit www.bloodsugarlows.
com to learn more about
hypoglycemia.
— Courtesy of BPT
HEALTH
/www.bloodsugar-lows.com
/www.bloodsugar-lows.com
/www.bloodsugar-lows.com
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