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Low blood sugar problems can be caused when food intake, exercise and diabetes medication are imbalanced. This condition can be mild to severe. To prevent low blood sugar problems, eat meals at regular times. Skipping meals, fasting or crash dieting will cause your blood sugar level to plummet. Exercise is an essential part of your treatment plan but if you overdo it, it will also result to a rapid drop in your sugar level so before you exercise it is important to check your blood sugar first. If your blood sugar level is lower than 5.0 mmol/L prior to exercise, bring with you a quick source of glucose such as hard candies, fruit juice or glucose tablets.
The common manifestations of mild low blood sugar problems are trembling, heart palpitations, sweating, anxiety, sudden and/or frequent hunger, tingling, and nausea. People with moderate low blood sugar problems may also experience the symptoms just described as well as feeling confused, weak, drowsy, dizzy, exhausted, and unable to concentrate. They may also sometimes experience headaches, speech difficulty and blurred vision.
Severe low blood sugar problems will have the same symptoms as above but only more intense and usually require assistance from others for treatment. To treat both mild and moderate low blood sugar problems, the following may be given to the patient: three glucose tablets, five dextrose tablets, ¾ cup of fruit juice, six LifeSavers, and four teaspoons of sugar. If the blood sugar level stays below 4.0 mmol/L after 15 minutes then repeat the treatment.
To treat severe low blood sugar problems if the person is conscious, give the same items listed above for mild and moderate cases except increase the glucose tablets to four, the dextrose tablets to 7, the fruit juice to a cup, the LifeSavers to 8 pieces, and the sugar to 5 teaspoons. Repeat the process until blood sugar increases to 4.0 mmol/L. If, however, the person is already unconscious contact emergency services immediately. Severe cases may be treated with injections of glucagons.
Prevent and Treat Low Blood Sugar Problems
How To Prevent and Treat Low Blood Sugar Problems |
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If you are taking acarbose as your only diabetes medication or in conjunction with insulin or other pills for diabetes, you must treat your low blood sugar problems with glucose tablets or milk, if the tablets are not available, because sweetened foods will not be able to raise your blood sugar level.
After the treatment of low blood sugar problems, the person must have a snack if the next meal is more than an hour away. The patient may eat 1 slice of bread slice with a slice of cheese or meat or 1 tablespoon of peanut butter. It is essential to consult and approve any treatments with a physician or a qualified professional.
