Hypoglycaemia

• Delaying or missing meals and snacks
• Not eating enough carbohydrate foods
• Engaging in extra strenuous or unplanned physical activity
• Alcohol consumption
• Too much insulin or too many diabetes tablets

Symptoms

Symptoms of hypoglycaemia vary from person to person but some common feelings are:

• Weakness, trembling or shaking
• Sweating
• Headache
• Dizziness/light-headedness
• Lack of concentration/behaviour change
• Tearfulness/crying
• Irritability
• Hunger
• Numbness/tingling around the lips and fingers
• Rapid pulse

If you experience any of these symptoms or feelings, test your blood glucose level if time and circumstances permit. If you are unable to do so, treat as hypoglycaemia.


Treating hypoglycaemia ....what to do

Step 1

Have quick acting carbohydrate (containing 15 grams), such as:

• 1/2 can of soft drink (not diet or sugar free)
• 1 glass Lucozade
• 3 teaspoons of sugar
• 5 - 7 jelly beans
• 2-3 glucose tablets
• 1 tube of Glutose Oral Glucose Gel

Note: If you are taking a tablet called Glucobay (Acarbose) with a tablet that stimulates your pancreas to release more insulin, you must take pure glucose to treat your hypo, eg Lucozade, glucose tablets or glucose gel. If time and circumstances permit, test your blood glucose level.

If symptoms persist or your blood glucose level remains below 4mmol/L after 5-10 minutes, repeat Step 1. If your blood glucose level has returned to above 4mmol/L and symptoms have disappeared, go to Step 2.

• A sandwich
• 1 glass milk or soy drink
• 1 piece of fruit
• 2-3 pieces of dried apricots, figs or other dried fruit
• 1 small tub of low fat yogurt
• 6 small dry biscuits

Step 3

Assess the possible causes of the hypo, eg not enough carbohydrate in recent meals, extra or unplanned activity or a change in medication requirements.

If unsure see your doctor, diabetes educator or specialist for review. If not treated promptly the resulting low blood glucose may progress to:

• Loss of co-ordination
• Slurred speech
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness/fitting

• Carry quick acting glucose with you if you are on insulin, or medications that stimulate the release of insulin.
• Look for the cause of your hypoglycaemia, so that you can try to prevent the situation occurring again.
• Make sure your family, friends and colleagues know how to recognise and treat hypoglycaemia.
• Record any episodes of hypoglycaemia in your monitoring book and discuss with your doctor or diabetes educator at your next visit.
• It is advisable to test your blood glucose level before driving a motor vehicle.
• Limit your alcohol intake to two standard drinks per day if female and up to three standard drinks if you are male. If you drink alcohol, ensure you have it with a meal or substantial snack containing carbohydrates. It is important to have another substantial snack containing carbohydrate several hours after you have consumed alcohol, especially if it is night time and you are going to bed.
• Contact your doctor or diabetes educator if hypos are occurring frequently.
• Wear identification that states you have diabetes.