Health Centres - Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) in diabetes
Did you know?
It is expressed as millimoles per litre (mmol/l).
What causes hypoglycaemia?
Insulin is normally produced in the pancreas and helps the body's cells absorb glucose from the blood:
- After a meal the glucose level rises after a meal to about 7-10mmol/l.
- One to two hours later, the glucose level starts dropping again. By the next meal, the glucose level is back to normal: about 4-5mmol/l. The insulin level in the blood has also returned to normal.
What happens during a hypo?
-
mild - you can manage these episodes alone.
Caution
Deliberately running higher glucose levels should only be done on a doctor's advice.
How is a diagnosis made?
A glucose level below 3.0mmol/l indicates hypoglycaemia.
Some people experience symptoms when their blood sugar level is higher than this - eg at 4.0mmol/l.
Hypos can't be detected with urine tests for glucose.
How is hypoglycaemia treated?
- highest 1-2 hours after a meal
What can I do about hypoglycaemia?
You can experience some or all of the following symptoms:
-
serious - you'll need help from others, such as a family member or doctor.
The aim of diabetes treatment is to have as near normal levels of blood sugar as possible.
Diagnosis is made by measuring the blood sugar level with a glucose meter.
- lowest 3-4 hours after a meal.
-
Always carry sugar - preferably glucose in a rapidly-absorbed form such as glucose tablets.
-
Measure glucose levels regularly. How often depends on your lifestyle - it's something that a combination of practical experience and expert advice will determine. It can vary from one or two readings a week to several readings a day. Knowing how your blood sugar levels change with various activities means you can adjust your level of insulin and minimise the risk of a hypo.
-
Follow the dietician's advice and maintain regular eating habits. Some people experience symptoms of a hypo just before a main meal. To avoid this, have snacks between meals to prevent sugar levels dropping too steeply.
-
Take care when exercising: exercise lowers glucose levels in the blood. You can counter this by taking less insulin than usual beforehand or by eating more before, during or just after exercise.
-
Carry an identity card that lets others know you have diabetes.
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