Understanding Hypoglycaemia

Hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar, occurs when blood sugar (glucose) levels fall below the normal range, typically defined as less than 70 mg/dL or 4 mmol/L. This is a serious condition as glucose is the body’s main source of energy.

Causes of hypoglycaemia in diabetic patients

If you have diabetes, your treatment may occasionally cause your blood sugar levels to drop too low. Factors that contribute to hypoglycaemia in individuals with diabetes include:

Medications	If not taken as prescribed, diabetic medications like insulin and sulfonylureas can cause low blood sugar.
High physical activity	If medications or insulin intake levels are not adjusted accordingly, hypoglycaemia may occur from increased physical activity.
Alcohol consumption	Drinking too much alcohol can affect how blood sugar is regulated, increasing the risk of hypoglycaemia.
Skipping meals	Particularly for people on diabetes medications, skipping meals or eating insufficient carbohydrates can result in low blood sugar.

Causes of hypoglycaemia in people without diabetes

For those without diabetes, hypoglycaemia can be experienced due to the following:

Alcohol consumption	Hypoglycaemia can occur if the person consumes alcohol on an empty stomach.
Being ill	An ill person may struggle to eat properly or keep food down, which can lead to a drop in blood sugar level.
Critical illnesses	Hypoglycaemia can result from severe infections, kidney disease, or liver disorders.

Hypoglycaemia symptoms

Depending on how much blood sugar level is dropped, symptoms of hypoglycaemia can differ. It is important to detect the symptoms as early as possible and take the necessary steps as it can stop the condition from getting worse, potentially saving lives.

The common symptoms of hypoglycaemia include dizziness or confusion, vision changes, sweating, fast heartbeat, hunger, tiredness, jittery, headache, and feeling anxious or irritable.

In severe hypoglycaemia, symptoms can include seizures and loss of consciousness.

Potential complications

Depending on how severe the condition is, complications may vary:

Affecting diabetes management	The fear of hypoglycaemia may cause patients to deliberately keep their blood glucose levels higher, which can lead to poor glycaemic control and raise the risk of long-term diabetic complications.
Hypoglycaemia unawareness	The body’s ability to detect the early signs of low blood sugar might be diminished by repeated hypoglycaemic episodes. This can render future episodes more dangerous.
Cognitive decline	Long-term cognitive impairment, higher chance among children and the elderly, could be caused by repeated episodes of severe hypoglycaemia.

Treatment for hypoglycaemia

The severity of the condition may determine the different treatment approaches. If you have diabetes and have hypoglycaemia symptoms, or if your blood sugar drops below 4 mmol/L, you should do the following:

Consume fast-acting carbohydrates	Have a small glass of fruit juice or any sweet, fizzy drink. Take five tablets of dextrose or glucose.
Recheck blood sugar levels	After 10 to 15 minutes, check your blood sugar. If it is still below 4 mmol/L, eat or drink another sweet food or beverage. After ten minutes, test again.
Maintain blood sugar levels	As soon as your blood sugar level exceeds 4 mmol/L and your symptoms start to subside, eat something to help stabilise your blood sugar. Cookies, a sandwich, or just your next scheduled meal will do.

If a person loses consciousness due to severe hypoglycaemia:

Do not give them anything to eat or drink, since they may not be able to swallow safely.
Place them in the recovery position.
Give them a glucagon injection right away If it is available and you know the handling method.
Provide them with food or drink to increase their blood sugar level if they begin to recover within 10 minutes and are able to swallow safely.
Stay close to them until they have fully recovered.

Immediately call for an ambulance if you believe someone has extremely low blood sugar and they are unconscious or unresponsive along with the following conditions:

You are either unaware of how to utilise a glucagon injection or do not have one.
They still have not recovered within 10 minutes after you gave them a glucagon shot.
They had been consuming alcohol, which might complicate hypoglycaemia.

Management and prevention

Preventing hypoglycaemia is crucial to avoid further deterioration of the situation. Below are some strategies to help prevent it from occurring:

Monitor regularly	Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is necessary to identify any fluctuations.
Medication management	Follow your doctor’s advice on when and how much to take your medications if you have diabetes.
Consume a well-balanced diet	Help to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Regular meals and snacks	In order to keep your blood sugar levels constant throughout the day, do not miss meals or snacks. Never begin a diet plan without first consulting your doctor.
Exercise in a safe manner	Exercises with high intensity might cause blood sugar levels to drop sharply. Hence, pay attention to how much you exercise and after consulting your doctor, modify your insulin or other medications as necessary.
Limit alcohol intake	Consume alcohol in moderation and be mindful of how it affects your blood sugar levels.

Schedule an appointment at Gleneagles Hospitals

Should you have any concerns regarding hypoglycaemia, contact us to make an appointment today for a consultation, or stop by our Endocrinology Department at your nearest Gleneagles Hospitals.

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