We all know that diabetics have problems controlling the amount of sugar in their blood, leading them to have to inject insulin or take medications to reduce the sugar level. This leaves them exposed to possible hypoglycemia. But even those who are not diabetic can experience hypoglycemia, especially anyone who eats less than usual or fasts, and those who exercise too hard. So, let’s have a look at what hypoglycemia is and how to fix it.
Getting to know hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is a condition that occurs when the body's blood sugar level falls to less than 70 mg/dL for diabetics or less than 50 mg/dL for non-diabetics. When the sugar count drops like that, the body automatically tries to compensate and that’s when the symptoms of hypoglycemia, which vary from person to person, can occur.
Causes of hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia can occur for many reasons. In diabetics, it may be caused by eating less than usual or not on time, exercising or using more force than usual, drinking alcoholic beverages, carbohydrate restriction, using diabetic medication inappropriately in terms of type, dosage, and time, and insulin overdose.
The condition is less common in non-diabetics but still possible. Causes include severe liver disease, improper use of certain medications, the body producing too much insulin, certain hormonal deficiencies, drinking too much alcohol, and using up more glucose due to exercise or dieting.
Hypoglycemia symptoms
Those with hypoglycemia may experience sweating, weakness, trembling hands, tremors, blurred vision, numbness around the mouth or other parts of the body, dizziness or headache, feeling anxious, confused and restless, palpitations, rapid heartbeat and high systolic blood pressure. If you or someone close to you has any of these symptoms, you may have hypoglycemia. In some cases, it can be severe to the point of losing consciousness or seizure, so we should know how to take care of ourselves or those close to us in case it happens.
Basic self-care for hypoglycemia
In the case of those getting hypoglycemia due to exercise or fasting, they will still be conscious and won’t have many symptoms. If hypoglycemia occurs near a meal time, start eating right away. If it happens during a meal, eat a snack as well such as skimmed milk, a medium-sized fruit or 2-3 crackers.
If there are a lot of symptoms but the patient is still conscious, they should consume carbohydrates that the body can absorbs quickly, or simple carbohydrates, such as half a glass of a soft drink, fruit juice without added sugar, two candies, three teaspoons of sugar, or three teaspoons of honey. Follow that immediately by eating complex carbohydrate foods such as bread, rice or noodles. If the symptoms are so severe that the patient loses consciousness, they should be taken to hospital immediately. Hypoglycemia sufferers with a congenital disease should get treatment from a doctor. The method of treatment will vary depending on what caused the hypoglycemia incident.
Although hypoglycemia is not a common condition, we should know how to take care of ourselves or those close to us in case it occurs. That way, when we encounter symptoms, we will be able to deal with them in a timely manner.
Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance customers interested in health care topics can check out other articles at https://www.krungthai-axa.co.th/th/health-advisories.
References
· Pobpad website
http://bit.ly/3GRkuHt
· Samitivej Hospital
http://bit.ly/3EQaP1g
· Bangkok Hospital
https://www.bangkokhospital.com/content/hypoglycemia
· Ramkhamhaeng Hospital
https://www.ram-hosp.co.th/news_detail/1699
