Causes

• Not eating enough or at the right time
• Skipping meals
• More exercise or activity than usual
• Too much insulin or diabetes medicine
• Alcohol on an empty stomach

Symptoms

• Symptoms seem to occur most frequently before meals, during or after exercise and at peak action times of your insulin or diabetes medicine.
• Symptoms occur suddenly.
• Early warning signals can progress to advanced warning signals quickly.

When your blood sugar drops, early signals might include:

• Shaking or anxiety
• Hunger
• Sweating
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Numbness or tingling of the lips
• Weakness
• Irritability

If low blood sugar is untreated, symptoms can become more severe. For example:

• Confusion
• Poor coordination
• Double vision
• Combativeness

Low blood sugar in its most advanced stages can cause:

• Unconsciousness
• Convulsions

Treatment

Remember, symptoms occur suddenly. You must be prepared to treat low blood sugar quickly! Follow these steps for treatment:

• If you have symptoms of low blood sugar, test your blood glucose.
• If the meter reads less than 70, treat the reaction by
  eating food that contains 15 grams of a fast-acting
  carbohydrate.  (For blood sugars less than 50, treat with
  30 grams of a fast acting carbohydrate)
• If you are unable to test, treat the symptoms by
  eating or drinking something high in sugar or the equivalent of 15 grams of a fast acting carbohydrate.
• Some examples of 15 grams of a fast-acting carbohydrate are:
  • 1/2 cup apple or orange juice
  • 2 tbsp raisins
  • 1 fruit roll-up
  • 1/3 cup grape or cranberry juice
  • 1/2 cup regular soda
  • 6-7 Lifesavers
  • 2 tsp honey or corn syrup
  • 3 packets of sugar
  • 1 cup low fat milk
  • 3-4 glucose tablets
• Then: Recheck your blood sugar after 15 minutes
• If blood sugar is less than 70, treat again with
  15 grams of a fast-acting carbohydrate.  (Continue
  re-checking and treating blood sugar every 15 minutes until blood sugar is greater than 70.)
• When blood sugar is greater than 70, eat your meal (if it's time!) or a snack that contains starch and protein. For example:
  • Cheese or peanut butter crackers or
  • Crackers and milk or
  • 1/2 Sandwich

Prevention

• Follow your meal plan. Take your medications and eat on time!
• Don't skip meals
• Always take the right dose of diabetes medicine
• Eat a snack before strenuous exercise
• Check blood sugar often
• Always wear a medical ID necklace or bracelet in case of emergency

Need an appointment? Request one online 24 hours/day, 7 days/week or call 800-789-PENN (7366) to speak to a referral counselor.