Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a scary side effect of the disease that requires fast treatment. When someone with diabetes begins experiencing low blood sugar symptoms, any delay increases the chance that the hypoglycemia could escalate into a life-threatening illness. Left untreated or not treated promptly,hypoglycemia can result in seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system, and death.
Here are the steps you need to take if your diabetes management plan has failed and you begin to have the low blood sugar symptoms that indicate an episode of hypoglycemia:
1. Recognize the symptoms. The symptoms of hypoglycemia vary from person to person, but anyone taking insulin or diabetes medication should know what they are. Low blood sugar symptoms include:
  • Weakness or fatigue
  • Cold sweats or clammy skin
  • Confusion or fuzzy and unclear thinking
  • Dizziness or light-headedness
  • Blurred vision
  • Hunger
  • Nervousness, anger, or irritability
  • Headache
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Numb or tingling skin
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Shakiness
2. Make yourself safe. If you or a family member with diabetes begins to have any of these symptoms, take immediate safety precautions. Pull over if you are driving a car. Sit down right away if you are walking down steps. Hypoglycemia could cause you to lose consciousness and cause harm to yourself or others. You want to make sure that doesn't happen.
3. Test your blood glucose levels. In most cases, providing that symptoms are still mild, test to make sure you actually are having a hypoglycemic episode rather than another malady. Use your blood glucose meter to check. A reading of 70 mg/dl or lower means you need to take quick action. If symptoms are too severe to manage the testing or you can’t get to your glucose meter quickly, move on to step 4.
4. Get some carbs into your body. A diabetic undergoing an episode of hypoglycemia needs to bring blood glucose levels up quickly. Fast-acting carbohydrates, especially simple sugars, can accomplish this. If you are taking insulin or diabetes medication as part of a diabetes management plan, you should always have on hand a bit of quick-fix food equal to 15 to 20 grams of sugar or carbohydrates. Some foods that can provide this amount and quickly raise your blood sugar level include:
  • 4 or 5 saltine crackers
  • 5 or 6 pieces of hard candy
  • 2 tablespoons of raisins
  • 4 teaspoons of sugar
  • 3 or 4 glucose tablets
  • 1 serving of glucose gel
  • 1/2 cup of fruit juice or regular soda
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 1 tablespoon of honey or corn syrup
5. Wait, then verify treatment is working. Don't keep eating, as you might over-treat and cause your blood sugar level to go too high. Instead, wait about 15 minutes and then test your blood sugar level again with a meter. If it's still too low, then eat another 15 to 20 grams of sugar or carbohydrate. Repeat until your blood sugar level is at 70 mg/dl or higher. Once you've reached that level, eat a more nutritious, carbohydrate-containing snack unless a meal is less than one hour away.
6. If your body doesn't respond, seek medical help. If you haven't responded to the carbs or if you've passed out or had seizures, you probably have a case of severe hypoglycemia and need medical attention. If someone in your family or at your workplace is aware of your condition and has been trained to give emergency glucagon injections (a substance that quickly raises blood sugar levels), they should do so immediately, even before calling 911 to get help. A diabetic treated with glucagon should respond quickly and be able to eat some food within 15 minutes.
7. Take long-term steps. If you have recurring hypoglycemic episodes or even one severe case, talk with your doctor about adjusting your diabetes management plan to better fit your lifestyle. You also should ask to have a glucagon injection prescribed to you, so that a family member or friend can administer it if you pass out or experience a seizure from another severe case of hypoglycemia.
Being prepared and knowing what to do about hypoglycemia is an important part of a good diabetes management plan.