Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia is a condition that results from low blood glucose levels. It occurs mostly in diabetic and non-diabetic people, but it’s more common in diabetic patients. There are two kinds of non-diabetic hypoglycemia which are reactive hypoglycemia and fasting hypoglycemia. Reactive Hypoglycemia happens a few hours after meals while fasting hypoglycemia is linked to medicine or diseases.
In the course of reading and making my research bout low blood sugar, you’ll discover a lot just as I did. One of the things you will discover is that low blood sugar is not the same as diabetes. Besides, you can still suffer from low blood sugar as a diabetic.
How Does Low Blood Sugar Occur?
Blood sugar is also known as glucose, and it comes from food. It serves as an important source of energy in the body. The main source of this energy in the body is found in carbohydrate foods such as rice, bread, yam, potatoes, fruit, vegetable, and milk. These are the main sources of sugar in the body.
After consumption, glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream. From the bloodstream, glucose is transported to every other body cell. This glucose is moved to other cells of the body and is broken down by a hormone called insulin. It is broken down to enable the body cells to use this glucose for energy.
Excess glucose consumed is stored in the liver and muscles. Sometimes it is converted into fat and used later as energy. When glucose level is reduced, the body cannot perform optimally.
People who are not on medications that increase insulin, always have enough glucose to maintain their blood sugar level. However, the liver can also release stored glucose when needed. But people on specific medication that increases insulin stand a high chance of having low blood sugar. I guess you’re wondering why, and I will tell you.
People who are on these medications are mostly diabetic patients. Naturally, they are diabetic because insulin production in their body is reduced and as a result, glucose breakdown is not very effective.
Taking drugs that increase insulin production becomes the best way for the body to break down glucose and regulate the glucose(sugar) level. This is because insulin breaks down glucose. But, when their body releases less glucose it could result in low blood sugar levels because they already have enough insulin produced, and are waiting to break down any form of glucose available.
At this point, treating low blood sugar becomes important to prevent other critical symptoms from developing.
Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar
Symptoms of hypoglycemia are usually felt when the blood sugar level is 70ml/DL( milligram per decilitre). These symptoms may differ as a result of how low your blood sugar is. Some of the symptoms of hypoglycemia at an early stage include:
- Pale skin
- Irregular heartbeat
- Sudden nervousness
- Difficulty in sleeping
As the condition deteriorates, symptoms such as blurred vision, Loss of consciousness, and Seizure may develop.
Causes of Hypoglycemia
For Diabetic People, hypoglycemia can be caused by the intake of diabetic drugs, especially for insulin treatment. Normally diabetes affects the body’s ability to use insulin in breaking down glucose for energy.
People that suffer from this, use various treatments to help their bodies break down glucose. Some of these treatments include oral medications and insulin injections.
Taking too much of this medication may cause low blood sugar levels. Other causes of hypoglycemia in diabetic people include:
Skipping meals, eating less than normal, or eating later than expected while taking these medications causes low blood sugar.
Taking alcohol and eating less than normal while on medication causes low blood sugar. This is because the body tries to eliminate alcohol and regulate blood sugar at the same time.
- Eating less while exercising too much.
For Non-diabetic People, hypoglycemia is caused by
- Endocrine disorders( adrenal gland deficiency)
- Some medications eg. quinine
- Certain medical conditions like hepatitis and kidney disorders
How To Treat Hypoglycemia
- Eat foods rich in carbohydrates
When blood sugar levels are found to be low, food rich in carbohydrates is often recommended. In the case of diabetic patients, snacks with high carbohydrates should be kept handy. The American Diabetes Association recommends that such snacks should contain at least 15g of carbohydrates. Some of these snacks include:
- Honey or table sugar
- Glucose tablet
- Jelly beans
- Use of Glucose Tablet or Gel
This is one of the most commonly recommended treatments for low blood sugar. Let’s talk a little about dextrose.
Dextrose is a simple sugar. It is made out of corn, and chemically identical to glucose. It is used in baking products as a sweetener and is commonly found in processed foods.
What does it have to do with low blood sugar?
Medically dextrose is dissolved in solutions that can be given intravenously. This means that it can be combined with other drugs or used to increase a person’s blood sugar levels.
How to use Dextrose
Dextrose can be used in various concentrations depending on the purpose. For low blood sugar situations, doctors may prescribe it in an IV solution.
Dextrose may be available in pharmacies as an oral gel or in oral tablet form.
Treating Low Blood Sugar With Food
Simple sugars such as dextrose are very quick to raise blood sugar levels. Yet, they often lack nutritional value. Mary Ellen shares with us how we can actually treat low blood sugar without using tablets or some kind of solution.
- Use of Honey & 100% grape Juice( when blood sugar is below 55mg/DL)
When blood sugar is below 55mg/DL, there is a need for a quick and rapidly-acting liquid carbohydrate. A liquid carbohydrate without fiber, fat, or protein content. Grape juice is one of those carbohydrate-filled liquids highly recommended for hypoglycemia patients.
Blood sugar at this level could come with difficulty in chewing and swallowing, therefore concentrated sources of carbohydrates ( e.g. liquids like juices, honey, syrup) are encouraged.
- When the blood sugar rate is 55 to 70mg/DL
At this rate fruits like bananas, grapes, and pineapple are recommended. Also, raisins, applesauce, and dates are good treatments for such blood sugar.
- Use of Peanut Butter and Crackers (When blood sugar rate is 70 to 80mg/DL);
Peanut butter and crackers help to gradually raise and sustain sugar levels. The crackers slightly cause an increase in the sugar level while fats and protein do the work of sustaining it.
While several treatments have been recommended by dieticians, nutritionists, and other medical professionals, it still remains necessary to consult your healthcare provider before going with any recommendation. This is more necessary when you have a medical care plan.