How Can I Prevent Hypoglycemic Episodes
The key to preventing hypoglycemic events is managing diabetes:
- Follow your healthcare providers instructions about food and exercise.
- Track your blood sugar regularly, including before and after meals, before and after exercise and before bed.
- Take all your medications exactly as prescribed.
- When you do have a hypoglycemic event, write it down. Include details such as the time, what you ate recently, whether you exercised, the symptoms and your glucose level.
Symptoms Of A Low Blood Sugar Level
A low blood sugar level can affect everyone differently. You’ll learn how it makes you feel, although your symptoms may change over time.
Early signs of a low blood sugar level include:
- sweating
- a fast or pounding heartbeat
- becoming easily irritated, tearful, anxious or moody
- turning pale
If a low blood sugar level is not treated, you may get other symptoms, such as:
- weakness
- unusual behaviour, slurred speech or clumsiness
- feeling sleepy
- seizures or fits
- collapsing or passing out
A low blood sugar level, or hypo, can also happen while you’re sleeping. This may cause you to wake up during the night or cause headaches, tiredness or damp sheets in the morning.
Slurred Speech And Clumsiness
Your sugar-starved brain may change the way you sound. Slurred speech is a common symptom associated with blood sugar levels that drop below 40 mg/dL, according to University of Michigan Health Systems. Combined with clumsiness another sign of low blood sugar you may seem as though you’ve had a few too many cocktails, even if you haven’t touched a drop, according to the National Health Service.
For more on managing low blood sugar, check out Diabetes Daily’s article “How to Treat Lows Without Sabotaging Your Diet!“
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Did Katherine Hepburn Have Parkinsons Disease
The ailment of Katharine Hepburn, recently discussed on television by her niece and conservatoranoe to the estate of Mr. Kathbdn Houghton was not Parkinsons disease but rather a progressive yet treatable neurological disorder called essential tremor. Ms. Hepbams case is referred 2 familial tremors which are inborn errors of metabolism where one does not make enough serum proteins necessary for staying alive or maintaining posture muscle movement etcetera.
Putting A Stop To Diabetes Tremors
If you experience tremors related to your type 2 diabetes, it is very important that you find a treatment option to manage your disease more effectively 2. Balancing out low blood-sugar levels involves taking glucose into your body as fast as possible. This is usually done by drinking a soda, taking a glucose tablet or drinking orange juice. If youâre in dire straights, though, and need to get your blood sugar under control, anything sweet will do. Getting it into the body as quickly as possible is whatâs important.
- If you experience tremors related to your type 2 diabetes, it is very important that you find a treatment option to manage your disease more effectively 2.
- Balancing out low blood-sugar levels involves taking glucose into your body as fast as possible.
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How To Stop Anxiety From Low Blood Sugar
Did you know that low blood sugar can trigger both anxiety and depression?
I dont think this gets talked about nearly enough
Today we will look at why keeping your blood sugar levels stable is SO important for reducing anxiety, and a couple strategies on how to prevent hypoglycemia-induced anxiety and panic attacks!
What Is Low Blood Glucose
Low blood glucose, also called low blood sugar or hypoglycemia, occurs when the level of glucose in your blood drops below what is healthy for you. For many people with diabetes, this means a blood glucose reading lower than 70 milligrams per deciliter .1 Your number might be different, so check with your doctor or health care team to find out what blood glucose level is low for you.
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Can Low Blood Sugar Cause Nausea
Your blood sugar level varies throughout the day, but when it dips too low , symptoms like nausea can occur. The best way to avoid this problem is by paying attention and monitoring your diet closely so that you dont over-eat or miss out on important nutrients because of timing issues with mealsMaintaining good dietary habits will help prevent many illnesses from developing in their earliest stages.
Do Not Drive With Low Blood Sugar
People will need to avoid driving while they have low blood sugar levels as it could be dangerous. People will need to wait until their levels return to within a normal range before driving.
If people start to experience symptoms of hypoglycemia while driving, they will need to safely stop the car and check their blood sugar levels.
People may find it helpful to store quick-acting carbohydrates, such as orange juice or glucose tablets, in their car if their levels drop while driving.
If people have hypoglycemia or diabetes, they can discuss an eating plan with a healthcare provider. Tips may include the following:
- eating snacks and small meals around every three hours throughout the day
- opting for a variety of foods, including protein, high-fat foods, and high-fiber foods
- limiting foods high in sugar
may help . These include:
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Causes Of Low Blood Sugar
Low blood sugar is common for people with type 1 diabetes and can occur in people with type 2 diabetes taking insulin or certain medications. The average person with type 1 diabetes may experience up to two episodes of mild low blood sugar each week, and thats only counting episodes with symptoms. If you add in lows without symptoms and the ones that happen overnight, the number would likely be higher.
Types Of Hypoglycemia Symptoms: Neurogenic Vs Neuroglycopenic
There are two main categories of hypoglycemia symptoms: neurogenic and neuroglycopenic.
The first type, neurogenic symptoms, are the result of the autonomic nervous system reacting to the body being in distress. The body, recognizing that something is wrong, releases hormones like epinephrine and norephinephrinethe same ones it would send out in a fight-or-flight situation. This is why the neurogenic symptoms of hypoglycemia include shaking, sweating, hunger, heart palpitations, and anxiety.
The second type, neuroglycopenic symptoms, are caused by the brain being deprived of the glucose it needs to function properly. Examples of these symptoms include difficulty concentrating, confusion, weakness, drowsiness, and general disorientation. When my blood sugar is low, I like to say that Im running out of gas. I think this is a pretty good analogy for the general effect of neuroglycopenic symptoms.
As unpleasant as neurogenic symptoms are, theyre also very important. These symptoms tend to prompt an individual with low blood sugar to action . Sometimes, a person will stop experiencing these symptoms in a condition known as hypoglycemia unawareness, making it very difficult for them to react appropriately to episodes of low blood sugar.
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Exercise Food And Alcohol
For people with type 1 diabetes, maintaining the correct blood glucose level involves balancing how much insulin you inject, the amount of food you eat, and how much energy you burn during exercise.
Hypoglycaemia may occur if you’ve taken your dose of insulin as usual, but your carbohydrate intake is lower than normal or has been used up more quickly. This may happen if you delay or miss a meal or snack, don’t eat enough carbohydrate, or exercise more than usual.
People with diabetes who’ve drunk too much alcohol, or drank alcohol on an empty stomach, can also get hypoglycaemia.
However, it’s not always possible to identify why a particular episode of hypoglycaemia has occurred, and sometimes it happens for no obvious reason.
Adverse Effects Of Diabetes Medication
Certain medications that a person might use to treat the complications of diabetes and other health problems may also cause adverse effects that contribute to fatigue.
Medications that can lead to fatigue include the following :
Corticosteroids: A person with diabetes might need to take corticosteroids, such as prednisone, to treat the inflammation, pain, and discomfort that develop due to other conditions and diseases.
- Statins: A doctor might prescribe statins to reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein , or bad cholesterol, in the blood.
- Diuretics: People mainly use diuretics to treat high blood pressure. These lead people to pass more urine than they normally would.
- Diabetes sometimes increases urinary frequency, so this side effect can be particularly potent for people who have the condition.
- Beta blockers: Doctors recommend beta blockers for people who have high blood pressure and anxiety. However, their slowing effect on a persons heart rate might lead to chronic fatigue as an adverse effect.
Alongside the diabetes symptoms that contribute to fatigue, beta blockers can have particularly potent side effects in people who have diabetes.
Living with diabetes can often impact a persons mental and emotional health.
According to a 2016 study of 90,686 participants, people with diabetes may be around two to three times more likely to experience depression than people who do not have the condition.
- changes in sleeping patterns
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What Happens When Sugar Is Low
occurssugarsugarlow
Similarly, you may ask, how do you feel when your sugar is low?
Symptoms of mild low blood sugar
Also, what is the best thing to eat when your blood sugar is low? Good choices are a piece of fruit, a few whole wheat crackers, a glass of milk, or a carton of yogurt. In people with diabetes, hypoglycemia can come on suddenly and needs to be treated right away so it doesn’t get worse. Eat or drink a quickly digested carbohydrate food, such as: ½ cup fruit juice.
Herein, what happens if your blood sugar is low?
Mildly low blood sugar levels are somewhat common for people with diabetes however, severely low blood sugar levels can be life-threatening. They may lead to seizures and nervous system damage if left untreated long enough. Immediate treatment is critical.
Is low blood sugar a sign of diabetes?
Hypoglycemia is a condition caused by a very low level of blood sugar , your body’s main energy source. However, a variety of conditions â many rare â can cause low blood sugar in people without diabetes. Like fever, hypoglycemia isn’t a disease itself â it’s an indicator of a health problem.
What If I Have Severe Low Blood Glucose And Cant Treat Myself
Glucagona hormone that raises blood glucose levelsis the best way to treat severely low blood glucose. Available as an injection or a nasal spray, glucagon will quickly raise your blood glucose level. Your doctor can prescribe you a glucagon kit for use in case of an emergency.
If your blood glucose level drops very low, you wont be able to treat it by yourself. Be prepared to address severely low blood glucose by
- talking with your doctor or health care team about when and how to use a glucagon emergency kit. If you have an emergency kit, regularly check the date on the package to make sure it hasnt expired.
- teaching your family, friends, and coworkers when and how to give you glucagon. Tell them to call 911 right away after giving you glucagon or if you dont have a glucagon emergency kit with you.
- wearing a medical alert identification bracelet or pendant. A medical alert ID tells other people that you have diabetes and need care right away. Getting prompt care can help prevent the serious problems that low blood glucose levels can cause.
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Now Lets Hear From Jim
A few days after I received nutritional education and began watching my carbohydrates more closely, I realized quickly that my insulin dose was too high. On those days, when I went in to work, I quickly went out. I became lucid and unresponsive at one point. I had just recently started work there, and so no one really knew what to do.
I had felt it coming, but I was in the middle of work with my new project, and my boss needed it turned in by the end of the morning. I kept working, thinking my breakfast was still digesting, and it would counteract my low feelings.
I had a slight headache, but attributed it to sinuses. I chose denial of a little weakness and some mild sweating over succumbing to the low blood sugar. I had left my glucometer at home. The drink machine at the office was not working, and I had left my cooler pack with drinks and snacks on the counter in a rush out the door.
It was as if the universe was conspiring against me, and handing me the low blood sugar agenda that I didnt want or need.
I sat unable to speak or move. I heard the administrative manager calling for EMS. I shook my head, but again I could not speak-confusion taking over. I reached for her desk where she had an unopened soda on one corner, but I was too weak. Too confusedLights fadingGoing downGoodnight!
Best Foods For Low Blood Sugar
For patients with diabetes, monitoring blood sugar levels is a part of daily life.
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can occur for many people with diabetes who are on certain medications, including insulin and sulfonylureas. It can occur for a variety of reasons including skipping a meal, exercising strenuously, taking too much insulin or consuming alcohol, especially on an empty stomach.
Low blood sugar can be as minor as a slight inconvenience or as serious as a life-threatening emergency. Thats why it is important to boost blood sugar before it becomes problematic.
Angela Norton, a diabetes educator at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, has diabetes herself, so she knows firsthand the tips and tricks of keeping blood sugar on track. Although blood glucose is considered normal if above 70 mg/dL, Norton says patients with diabetes should not wait until they reach below that threshold to take action.
Treat when you feel the symptoms, even if your blood sugar is not below 70, because as long as it is less than 100, it may be dropping fast, she says.
When it comes to treatment, Norton shares these five foods to help boost low blood sugar.
1. CandyWhen hypoglycemia occurs, patients should follow the 15-15 rule. Consume 15 grams of carbohydrates to raise blood glucose and check your levels again after 15 minutes. When the numbers return to normal, eat a snack to stay on track.
Gummy candies contain carbohydrates, which have a large impact on blood sugar levels.
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What Is Blood Sugar
Glucose, a simple sugar, is the bodys main energy source.
And your blood sugar levels, or blood glucose, is simply a measurement of much glucose you have in your blood!
Generally speaking, most of the glucose floating around in your bloodstream comes from eating carbohydrate-rich food like potatoes, rice, fruits, sugar, and so on:
Your blood then delivers the glucose to your muscles, brain, liver, kidneys, etc, so they can burn it as fuel and produce energy.
Kind of like how Uber Eats drivers deliver pizza to hungry lazy people!
Anyways
The body likes to keep blood glucose levels it in a relatively tight range not too high and not too low.
Were not going to go too deep into the mechanisms of blood sugar regulation today, but it is managed by different hormones such as insulin , and glucagon and adrenaline and cortisol .
You can study this picture for a more detailed explanation:
Low Blood Glucose During Sleep
Your blood glucose level can drop while you sleep and stay low for several hours, causing serious problems.7 Symptoms of low blood glucose while you sleep can include
- crying out or having nightmares
- sweating enough to make your pajamas or sheets damp
- feeling tired, irritable, or confused after waking up
Although you may not wake up or notice any symptoms, low blood glucose can interfere with your sleep, which may affect your quality of life, mood, and ability to work. Having low blood glucose during sleep can also make you less likely to notice and respond to symptoms of low blood glucose during the day.
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A Low Blood Sugar Level And Driving
You may still be allowed to drive if you have diabetes or you’re at risk of a low blood sugar level for another reason, but you’ll need to do things to reduce the chance of this happening while you’re driving.
You also need to tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and your car insurance company about your condition.
For more information, see:
Can Essential Tremors Turn Into Parkinsons
You may know that shaking is an indicator for Parkinsons, but did you also realize it can happen to people with other disorders? Essential tremor and PD have something in common: both cause hand tremors. However, unlike the case when somebody has #ParkinsonDisease which means their hands will shake all day long without control over themselves those experiencing only ETT dont suffer from uncontrollable muscle movements of any kind instead they experience brief episodes.
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What Causes Reactive Hypoglycemia
Reactive hypoglycemia comes from having too much insulin in your blood. It usually happens within a few hours after you eat. Other possible causes include:
- Having prediabetes or being more likely to have diabetes