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Hypoglycaemia
When do hypos occur?
Hypoglycaemia (or a ‘hypo’) occurs when the level of glucose in the blood falls too low, usually under 4 mmol/l. People with diabetes who take insulin and/or certain diabetes tablets are at risk of having a hypo. A hypo may occur if you have taken too much diabetes medication, delayed or missed a meal or snack, not eaten enough carbohydrate, taken part in unplanned or more strenuous exercise than usual, and have been drinking alcohol without food. Sometimes there is no obvious cause.
Warning signs
When a hypo happens the person often experiences ‘warning signs’, which occur as the body tries to raise the blood glucose level. These ‘warning signs’ vary from person to person but often include feeling shaky, sweating, tingling in the lips, going pale, heart pounding, confusion and irritability.
Treating a hypo
Treatment is usually very simple and requires taking some fast acting carbohydrate, such as a sugary drink or some glucose tablets, and following this up with some longer acting carbohydrate, such as a cereal bar, a sandwich, piece of fruit, biscuits and milk or the next meal if it is due. If left untreated the person might, eventually, become unconscious and would need to be treated with an injection of glucagon (a hormone that raises blood glucose levels).
But in the vast majority of cases the body will release its own stores of glucose and raise the blood glucose level to normal, though this may take several hours. Many people have hypos while they are asleep and come to no harm.
Being unconscious
However, being unconscious is always dangerous - for example, especially if you are driving and because of the risk of choking. An ambulance should be called immediately if someone with diabetes is found unconscious. You should never try to put food or drink into the mouth of someone who is unconscious.
Alcohol and hypos
Hypos can be particularly dangerous following alcohol. If you have a hypo after drinking, the
When do hypos occur?
Hypoglycaemia (or a ‘hypo’) occurs when the level of glucose in the blood falls too low, usually under 4 mmol/l. People with diabetes who take insulin and/or certain diabetes tablets are at risk of having a hypo. A hypo may occur if you have taken too much diabetes medication, delayed or missed a meal or snack, not eaten enough carbohydrate, taken part in unplanned or more strenuous exercise than usual, and have been drinking alcohol without food. Sometimes there is no obvious cause.
Warning signs
When a hypo happens the person often experiences ‘warning signs’, which occur as the body tries to raise the blood glucose level. These ‘warning signs’ vary from person to person but often include feeling shaky, sweating, tingling in the lips, going pale, heart pounding, confusion and irritability.
Treating a hypo
Treatment is usually very simple and requires taking some fast acting carbohydrate, such as a sugary drink or some glucose tablets, and following this up with some longer acting carbohydrate, such as a cereal bar, a sandwich, piece of fruit, biscuits and milk or the next meal if it is due. If left untreated the person might, eventually, become unconscious and would need to be treated with an injection of glucagon (a hormone that raises blood glucose levels).
But in the vast majority of cases the body will release its own stores of glucose and raise the blood glucose level to normal, though this may take several hours. Many people have hypos while they are asleep and come to no harm.
Being unconscious
However, being unconscious is always dangerous - for example, especially if you are driving and because of the risk of choking. An ambulance should be called immediately if someone with diabetes is found unconscious. You should never try to put food or drink into the mouth of someone who is unconscious.
Alcohol and hypos
Hypos can be particularly dangerous following alcohol. If you have a hypo after drinking, the