Low blood sugar

Q: “Not too long ago I met with my doctor and she mentioned to me that one of the most important things that I need to do as a person suffering from diabetes is to take action if my blood sugar level drops. She said that I have to develop plans for dealing with hypoglycemia. I really am not 100 percent sure what my doctor is talking about.”

A: At the outset, you need to keep in mind that diabetes is a disease in which a person lacks proper levels of insulin in his or her blood. Alternatively, a person may have a proper amount of insulin in his or her blood, but the body is not properly utilizing that insulin. As a result, one of the effects of diabetes is hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia is defined as “an abnormally low level of glucose in the blood.” Glucose is defined as “a simple sugar that is the main source of energy for the body.” By reading these definitions, you can readily understand that if you do have a low level of glucose (sugar) in your blood, your body will not function properly. Therefore, it is vital for you to monitor your blood glucose levels. In addition, if your blood glucose levels do drop, it is important that you do have a plan of action or strategy developed to deal with such a situation.

Before addressing a plan of action and strategy, a backward step is warranted in light of your question. You mention that while visiting your doctor you were not entirely certain as to what she was talking about when it came to the subject of hypoglycemia and dealing with dropping blood sugar. Oftentimes a person will be in a doctor’s office and not fully understand what the doctor is trying to say or demonstrate. If you ever find yourself in such a position again, make certain that you ask additional questions. Let the doctor know that you do now fully understand what she is talking about. Understandably, a person does not want to appear “stupid,” but asking questions and getting clarifications is the intelligent course of action to take when meeting with your doctor.

When it comes to managing hypoglycemia, it is important for you to appreciate and be aware of the signs of dropping blood sugar levels. (Of course, regular and routine monitoring can assist to a great extent in monitoring blood glucose or sugar levels. However, you do need to keep in mind that blood sugar levels can drop suddenly.)

While there are some differences in what people experience with dropping blood sugar levels, many people who are experiencing a drop in blood sugar levels will feel dizzy, faint, or even a bit disoriented. You are well served to log what you actually do experience when it comes to dropping blood sugar so that you will be aware of the warning signs when future events occur. At the first sign of such a reaction, you need to take steps to correct your blood sugar levels. Indeed, you need to act quickly so that the situation does not worsen.

When it comes to dropping blood sugar levels, most experts agree that you should check your blood sugar levels immediately when you feel such a drop occurring. The treatment for a low blood sugar is to eat food containing sugar. It typically takes about 15 minutes for sugar from the food to be absorbed before you feel the effect. During those 15 minutes it’s important not to “over-treat” hypoglycemia by eating or drinking too much food containing sugar, which will turn a very low blood sugar into a very high blood sugar.

It is important to treat hypoglycemia immediately. Check that your blood sugar is low with a blood glucose monitor (60 mg/dL or less) if you can do it quickly. Then treat the condition.

Ten ounces of skim milk, or a four-ounce glass of juice. They also recommend avoiding eating candy bars, as they contain fat and will slow the rise in blood sugar. After taking the sugar, wait 15 minutes and recheck your blood sugar. If your blood sugar is still less than 60 mg/dL, treat with another 15 grams of glucose.

If your blood sugar drops low enough, you may pass out. It’s not safe to try to give food or drink to someone who is unconscious, so your family should call the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) immediately to help.

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David Khorram, MD is a board certified ophthalmologist, and director of Marianas Eye Institute. Questions and comments are welcome. Call 235-9090 or email eye@vzpacifica.net. Copyright © 2005 David Khorram.