glucose
Information, Symptoms, Treatments and Resources
About Low Blood Glucose
What is low blood glucose?
Low blood glucose, also called hypoglycemia (HY-poh-gly-SEE-mee-uh),
is when your blood glucose is lower than normal. Blood glucose
is too low when it’s below 70 mg/dL. If you don’t eat or drink
something to bring your blood glucose level back to normal, you
could pass out. Then you might need emergency treatment at
a hospital. If you have low blood glucose several times a week,
tell your doctor or diabetes educator. You might need a change
in your diabetes medicines, meal plan, or activity routine.
What can cause low blood glucose?
Diabetes Medicines
Some diabetes medicines can cause low blood glucose if there isn’t a
balance between your medicines, food, and activity. Ask your doctor
whether your diabetes medicines can cause low blood glucose.
Other diabetes medicines do not cause low blood glucose on their
own. But when they are taken with certain other diabetes medicines,
they can increase the risk of low blood glucose.
Other Causes of Low Blood Glucose
Low blood glucose can happen if you skip or delay a meal, eat too
little at a meal, get more exercise than usual, or drink alcoholic
beverages on an empty stomach.
How will I feel if I have low blood glucose?
Low blood glucose can make you feel:
hungry
dizzy
nervous
shaky
sweaty
sleepy
confused
anxious
weak
Low blood glucose can also happen while you sleep. You might cry
out or have nightmares, sweat a lot, feel tired or confused when you
wake up, or have a headache when you wake up.
What should I do if I have low blood glucose?
Follow these steps:
1.
If you feel like your blood glucose is low, check your blood
glucose level with your blood glucose meter.
2.
If your blood glucose is below 70 mg/dL, have a serving of a
“quick fix” food or drink right away. See the list of Quick-fix
Foods and Drinks for Low Blood Glucose on the next page. If
you can’t check your blood glucose but you feel like your blood
glucose level is low, have something from the quick-fix list.
3.
After 15 minutes, check your blood glucose again. If it’s still
below 70 mg/dL, have another serving of a quick-fix food or
drink.
4.
Check your blood glucose again 15 minutes later. If it’s 70 mg/dL
or above, you’ll feel better soon. If your blood glucose is still
low, have another serving of a quick-fix food or drink. Keep
doing so until your blood glucose is 70 mg/dL or above.
5.
When your blood glucose has reached 70 mg/dL or above, think
about when your next meal will be. If it will be more than an
hour before your next meal, have a snack.
Quick-fix Foods and Drinks for Low Blood Glucose
3 or 4 glucose tablets
1 serving of glucose gel—the amount equal to 15 grams of
carbohydrate
1/2 cup (4 ounces) of any fruit juice
1/2 cup (4 ounces) of a regular—not diet—soft drink
1 cup (8 ounces) of milk
5 or 6 pieces of hard candy
1 tablespoon of sugar or honey
Always carry a quick-fix food or drink. You also can keep quick-
fix foods in your car, at work, or wherever you go. Then you’ll be
ready to take care of yourself if your blood glucose dips too low.
