How to deal with hypoglycemia

When blood sugar is below 3.8mmol / l, it is called hypoglycemia. However, the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia are not the same in every patient.

What is hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia is a condition in which blood sugar (glucose) is too low. The body absorbs sugar through high carbohydrate foods such as rice, potatoes, bread, cereals, milk, fruit and sweets. Sugar is stored in the liver and tissue in the form of glucogen and will be broken down into glucose to energize the body.

Pancreas is the key organ that plays a role in blood sugar control. The pancreas secretes insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar by enhancing cell glucose metabolism, thereby reducing blood sugar levels.

Another hormone that also plays a role in regulating blood sugar is glucagon, which plays a role in increasing blood sugar. When the pancreas does not produce enough glucagon, blood sugar levels decrease and cause hypoglycemia.

In people with diabetes, in the body of glucagon deficiency due to the inhibitory effect of the drug. Therefore, even though diabetes means high blood sugar, you can still lower blood sugar because blood glucose is overly inhibited.

According to one study, in some cases, you are still likely to have hypoglycemia even without diabetes.

Who often has hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia is usually uncommon in adults and children over 10 years old. Common disease in diabetics who are being treated by supplementing insulin or arbitrarily taking non-diabetic medications as directed by a doctor. This disease can be a side effect during the treatment of other diseases, due to a lack of hormones or a tumor in the body.

The manifestation of hypoglycemia

Signs of hypoglycemia are not the same in every patient. But often appear at the end of the meal and have one or more of the following common signs:

Suddenly unexplained fatigue; headache, dizziness; hungry feeling; sweating; sad numbness of limbs; feet feel heavy; uneasiness; shaking hands; palpitations, heart palpitations; sometimes nausea and vomiting.

When one of these symptoms is present in a diabetic patient, the hypoglycemia should be immediately considered.

Determining most definitely is to do the test right away. However sometimes this is not possible because a blood glucose meter is required.

People with hypoglycemia may use sugary or powdered preparations, the above symptoms will decrease or go away.

Suddenly unexplained fatigue;headache, dizziness . is one of the signs of hypoglycemia.

Causes of hypoglycemia are common

For patients treated with insulin, hypoglycemia may be due to the following reasons:

• Insulin overdose;insulin is absorbed too quickly or too long due to: subcutaneous lipodystrophy in areas of long-term insulin injections;injections in more active areas (arms, legs .);Hot compresses after insulin injections.
• Myth about diet:

• Eat too slowly after insulin injections.
• Eating is not enough.Missing extra meals.
• Stop eating, eat too little and still inject insulin.

• Occasional physical activity.

For patients treated with tablets (sulfamid), hypoglycemia usually has the following causes:

• Drinking overdose.
• Take medicine away from the main meal.Do not eat but still take medicine.
• Automatically take medicine when not prescribed by a doctor.Excessive physical activity.

What to do when having hypoglycemic symptoms?

When there are signs of hypoglycemia as described above, patients should immediately stop taking oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin.

• Mild hypoglycemia uses immediately cakes, fruits, milk . or any food available in the home.

If not better, the patient is still awake:

• Drink at least 15g of sugar (3 pieces of sugar or 3 teaspoons of sugar in 100ml of water) or 100-150ml of fresh water (cocacola, fruit juice), 100g sugar / liter of water.
• In case of severe hypoglycemia: intravenous administration of hypertonic sweetener 20-30% (40-60ml), can be repeated if the patient is not awake.When injecting, it is necessary to inject very slowly, use dose not more than 60ml, then replace with drip of 10-15% sweet liquid drip.Simultaneous intravenous injection is also a valuable diagnostic test, signs of coma will take place immediately.It is also possible to inject glucagon (intramuscular or intravenous has the same effect).If treated early, patients can recover themselves without any sequelae.

If not, immediately go to medical facilities for treatment.

Each patient as well as the person living in the home should be familiar with the signs of hypoglycemia for early detection.

How to prevent hypoglycemia?

Need to prevent glucose levels at home for immediate use if the patient shows signs of hypoglycemia.

Each patient as well as the person living in the home should be familiar with the signs of hypoglycemia for early detection. When there are signs of hypoglycemia, blood tests should be done right away, if possible (use blood glucose testing machines, or immediately tell medical staff to check blood sugar).

Regularly visit the endocrinology clinic to check blood sugar, follow the doctor's instructions.

Do not arbitrarily coordinate drugs when not prescribed by a specialist.

The role of 3 factors must be respected: proper eating, exercise and medicine in the course of treatment.

What living habits help you limit the course of hypoglycemia?

For hypoglycemia, prevention is better than cure. You can control your condition if you notice a few things:

• Eat well, balance meals with the amount of carbohydrate that a doctor or dietitian accepts. Eat enough carbohydrates before exercising and snack while exercising if necessary.
• Eat light meals as soon as the sugar level is too low or when symptoms are encountered.
  Teach people who live or work together that you have diabetes and how to inject glucagon if you are unconscious.
• Check your blood sugar based on the schedule your doctor requires.
• Do not ignore the symptoms of hypoglycemia or delay the treatment of hypoglycemia because it can lead to coma and brain damage.
• Do not be discouraged if you have type 1 diabetes and take time to adjust the amount of insulin to be allowed to exercise.
• Follow up on schedule to be monitored for the progress of your symptoms as well as your health status.
• Listen to the doctor's instructions, do not arbitrarily take unspecified medication or arbitrarily drop the prescription in your prescription.