Problems about high and low blood sugar levels had become a serious cause of concern amongst us at least for the last few decades. It has become very vital for one to check their blood sugar levels now and then. It is very important to do this as it helps in determining any chances of a diabetic condition or any signs of an underlying disease. Irrespective of whether or not you follow a healthy lifestyle or an unhealthy lifestyle, it is important to have your blood sugar levels checked. Now if you show any symptoms or signs of low blood sugar, We request you to check your blood sugar levels with the help of a glucose meter — this blood glucose meter is a tiny device that helps in measuring the blood sugar levels and displays the same to us. And if you have your blood sugar levels dropping below 3.9 mmol/L, then you are certainly diagnosed with hypoglycemia.
If you ever think that your blood sugar levels have been dropping very low all of a sudden you need to drink or eat something that is mostly sugar or carbohydrates in nature to raise the blood sugar levels in your body quickly. One can find your glucose in the form of gels, tablets and these are the preferred forms of treatment for hypoglycemia. Remember that foods that contain more fat, for example, chocolate will not help quickly raise blood sugar levels. Even soft drinks cannot be used to treat an episode of hypoglycemia as they don’t have any sugar. In case you are looking for suggestions for foods that will help raise your blood sugar levels quickly, here In case you are looking for suggestions for foods that will help raise your blood sugar levels quickly, here are some:
- You can have four glucose tablets the ones that are available without a prescription in most of the general medicine stores nearby.
- You can also take a single serving of glucose gel always read the labels to know the amount of glucose you will be having.
- You can also consume 5-6 pieces of jellybeans or hard candy.
- Even a tablespoon of corn syrup, honey, or sugar is advisable.
In general, any kind of drink or food which contains 15 g of carbohydrates will help in raising your blood sugar levels back to normal. Always remember to check your blood sugar levels 15 minutes after you have eaten or drank something to treat hypoglycemia.
If one is aware of the first signs of hypoglycemia, it will allow the person to treat the blood sugar levels which are dropping low in a quicker manner. It is also advisable to make sure that your close friends or family members are educated about the signs and symptoms of the hypoglycemia condition in case you miss recognizing it, your peeps will do.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia
Some of the main symptoms associated with this condition are:
- Fatigue
- Feeling dizzy
- Sweating
Some other feeble symptoms of this condition are:
- Feeling weak
- Hunger attacks
- Blurred vision
- Being pale
- Confusion
- Unconsciousness
- Convulsions
- Coma
- Higher heart rate
Who are the ones that carry the risk of contracting hypos?
We understand that low blood sugar levels are something that can take place in anyone’s lives; however, dangerously low levels of blood sugar tend to occur among people who often consume the following medications:
- Prandial glucose regulators
- Insulin
- Sulphonylureas
If you have no idea whether the diabetic medication that you are consuming causes hypos, then you should read the information in the leaflet that comes along with the medications that you take or you could simply ask your doctor. But you need to know whether or not your diabetes medicines put you at the risk of contracting hypoglycemia.
What causes hypoglycemia?
Whilst considering that medication is one of the main factors that is involved in this condition, there are many factors also, let’s look at them:
- Exercise
- Alcohol
- Delayed meals
- High dose of a diabetic medication
Treatment of hypoglycemia
Treating hypoglycemia totally depends on the severity of the symptoms, and it also depends on the degree to which your blood sugar levels have dropped. In very mild cases, hypoglycemia could easily be treated with high sugar beverages or food. One can also make use of over-the-counter glucose gels or tablets. If the hypoglycemia episode has been caused due to diabetes, prescription drugs need to be given either through injection or through nasal inhalation – this will contain a hormone called glucagon.
Home remedies
Mild cases of hypoglycemia can be treated by administering fast-acting carbs which get quickly absorbed in the gut and release into the bloodstream quickly within just 15 minutes.
Always remember not to overtreat hypoglycemia episode by eating too many carbs; limit yourself to the 15 g of fast-acting carbs and wait for 15 minutes and then check your blood sugar levels again. You can repeat this process until your blood sugar levels have come back to normal that is at least 70 mg/dL.
You could take half of the banana, 1 tablespoon of corn syrup or honey, 6 to 8 candies, half cup of fruit juice, 2 tablespoons of reason, one cup of non-fat milk, half cup of soda with sugar, etc.
Also, remember to eat a small snack that contains proteins and carbs such as a peanut butter sandwich or an egg once your blood sugar levels have been normalized.
Over-the-counter therapies
If you are someone who is getting frequent hypoglycaemic rashes, then your doctor will recommend you to opt for over-the-counter therapies like glucose tablets or gels instead of eating fast-absorbing carbs. Not only do these products have a long shelflife, but they can also be stored efficiently on your office desk.
Prescription medications
If the symptoms of hypoglycemia in you are very severe and taking fast-acting carbs or glucose tablets is not helping you normalize your blood sugar levels, then prescription medication is a must. This is the only way out if you have very bad control of diabetes. You will be required to either take an injection or a nasal inhalation of glucagon. This glucagon is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas and triggers the release of stored glucose from the fat cells, muscles, and liver of a body. These glucagon doses are approved by the US Food and drug administration to treat severe cases of hypoglycemia.
The Bottomline
Prevention is considered to be the best strategy when it comes to treating hypoglycemia especially if you are diabetic. One needs to practice good management of diabetes which is more than just monitoring blood sugar levels. It demands that one should recognize hypoglycemia’s early symptoms.
Detecting early symptoms of hypoglycemia and understanding the underlying cause of it will help you and your doctor treat this condition as soon as possible. Remember that the answer always lays in making right healthy choices when it comes to lifestyle. Conscious choices will help you lead a healthy life and steer clear from all kinds of health issues. Even hypoglycemia will stay away and you can enjoy eating all that you love in controlled quantities.