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What’s Considered Low Blood Sugar


What Steps Can You Take If You Have Hyperglycaemia

What is Normal Blood Sugar? (HIGH Blood Sugar on KETO?!)

The three main signs of hyperglycaemia are increased hunger, increased thirst, and an increased need to pass urine. You may also experience blurred vision, weakness or sleepiness.

High blood glucose can be lowered by doing some physical exercise. Increasing intake of water also dilutes excess blood sugar, and ensures you stay hydrated. It is important that you take your medication as directed by doctor, regularly check your blood sugar levels, and follow your meal plan.

If high blood sugar levels persist, consult your doctor.

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What Else Can I Do To Help Manage My Blood Sugar Levels

Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting regular physical activity;can all help. Other tips include:

  • Keep track of your blood sugar levels to see what makes them go up or down.
  • Eat at regular times, and dont skip meals.
  • Choose foods lower in calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, and salt.
  • Track your food, drink, and physical activity.
  • Drink water instead of juice or soda.
  • Limit alcoholic drinks.
  • For a sweet treat, choose fruit.
  • Control your food portions .

What Is Blood Sugar

When you eat, the carbohydrate in your food is broken down into a usable form of energy called glucose. Glucose also known as sugar enters the bloodstream and a hormone called insulin helps move it into our cells.

This process lowers the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. When this process works efficiently, your muscles and organs have the fuel they need without there being too much glucose remaining in the blood.

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What Causes Low Blood Sugar In People With Diabetes

In diabetes, the body is either not producing insulin or not using it efficiently . Insulin is a hormone that is normally released by the pancreas to help the body take the sugar ingested from food and move it into cells to be used for energy. When this process doesnt work properly, sugar cannot be absorbed into the cells, and it starts to build up in the blood.;


So if people with diabetes have high blood sugar, why is hypoglycemiathe oppositeso common? The major reason is overcompensation of insulin, or when people with diabetes take too much of their insulin or oral medications. Other reasons may include not eating enough or exercising too hard after taking insulin, waiting too long between meals, and drinking too much alcohol.;

For people with diabetes, symptoms of hypoglycemia also may occur at higher blood sugar levels; for instance, they may start feeling poorly at a blood sugar level closer to 100 mg/dL .;

What Are The Complications Of Low Blood Glucose

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Mild-to-moderate low blood glucose can be easily treated. But severely low blood glucose can cause serious complications, including passing out, coma, or death.

Repeated episodes of low blood glucose can lead to

  • high blood glucose levels, if worry or fear of low blood glucose keeps you from taking the medicines you need to manage your diabetes8
  • hypoglycemia unawareness, a condition in which you dont notice any symptoms of low blood glucose until your blood glucose level has dropped very low

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Treating Mild To Moderate Hypoglycemia

If you start feeling any of the symptoms listed above, check your blood sugar as soon as possible, then follow the chart below to treat low blood sugar. If you have any concerns, or cant test immediately, its best to treat first and check when possible.

If your blood sugar is ;

Eat this

What to do next

51 to 70 mg/dL


10 to 15 grams of fast-acting carbs, such as 4 ounces of fruit juice, 6 to 8 hard candies, or 3 to 4 glucose tablets.

Test your blood sugar again in 15 minutes. Repeat the treatment if necessary.

Under 50 mg/dL

Eat 20 to 30 grams of fast-acting carbs, such as 8 ounces of fruit juice, 12 to 16 hard candies, or 6 to 8 glucose tablets.

Test your blood sugar again in 15 minutes. Repeat the treatment if necessary.


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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Levels In The Morning

The best time to check blood sugar levels in the morning is right when you wake up and before you eat anything. This gives you a glimpse of what may be happening overnight, and it gives you a baseline for the day.

These are goal levels, according to;The Joslin Diabetes Center:


  • Under 70 mg/dl if you do not have diabetes.
  • 70 to 130 mg/dl if you have diabetes.

The dawn effect can often lead to a high morning measurement in diabetes. This is your bodys tendency to get ready for the day by raising blood sugar by increasing levels of counter-regulatory hormones the ones that counteract insulin as in normal blood sugar. For people with diabetes, you do not have the capacity to counterbalance this rise in blood sugar, so levels can be dangerously high.

Ways to lower your morning blood sugar value include:

When To Call 911

What is A Normal Blood Glucose?

Your friend, relative, or coworker should call 911 for help if:

  • You pass out and no glucagon is available ;
  • You need a second dose of glucagon ;
  • You had glucagon, but are still confused ;
  • Your blood sugar stays too low 20 minutes after treatment or doesnt respond to your usual treatments ; ;

The emergency medical technicians can give you IV sugar . This raises your blood sugar level right away. You might need to stay in the hospital for a few hours.;

NEVER be afraid to call 911 or ask someone to call 911 for you if you are concerned .


Other things to know about hypoglycemia:

It takes time for blood sugar to rise after eating, and its important to give your first treatment time to work. Use the table above to guide your treatment and timing instead of eating until you feel better, which will almost always lead to eating too much.;

Hypoglycemia can be common with certain types of exercise. Managing blood sugar during and after physical activity is important and is something that a lot of people with T1D have questions about. JDRF has a number of resources available for people with T1D and their families, many of which can be found here.;

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How Common Is Low Blood Glucose

Low blood glucose is common among people with type 1 diabetes;and among people with type 2 diabetes;who take insulin;or some other diabetes medicines. In a large global study of people with diabetes who take insulin, 4 in 5 people with type 1 diabetes and nearly half of those with type 2 diabetes reported a low blood sugar event at least once over a 4-week period.2


Severely low blood glucose, defined as when your blood glucose level drops so low you cant treat it yourself, is less common. Among U.S. adults with diabetes who take insulin or some diabetes medicines that help the pancreas;release insulin into the blood, 2 in 100 may develop severely low blood glucose each year.3

How To Treat A Low Blood Sugar Level Yourself

Follow these steps if your blood sugar level is less than 4mmol/L or you have hypo symptoms:

  • Have a sugary drink or snack ;like a small glass of fizzy drink or fruit juice, a small handful of sweets, 3 or 6;glucose tablets or 1 to 2 tubes of glucose gel.
  • Test your blood sugar after 10 to 15 minutes ;if it’s improved and you feel better, move on to step 3. If there’s little or no change, treat again with a sugary drink or snack and take another reading after 10 to 15 minutes.
  • You may need to eat your main meal if it’s the right time to have it. Or, have a snack that contains a slow-release carbohydrate, such as a;slice of bread or toast, a couple of biscuits, or a glass of cows’ milk.
  • You do not usually need to get medical help once you’re feeling better if you only have a few hypos.

    But tell your diabetes team if you keep having hypos or if you stop having symptoms when your blood sugar level is low.

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    Can Low Blood Sugar Wake You Up At Night

    What are the signs of hypoglycemia? An individual may frequently wake up in the middle of the night as a result of nighttime hypoglycemia. In other instances, though, people may know if they experienced hypoglycemia during their sleep if they notice the following symptoms: Waking up with a headache.

    What Is A Dangerous Blood Sugar Reading And What Should You Do About It

    Handling high and low blood sugar levels

    How high is high and how low is low find out so that next time you know how to handle an emergency.

    Your blood sugar levels dont stay constant throughout the day. They vary, rising and falling before and after you have a meal, exercise, or take your medication. People who do not have diabetes dont feel the difference very much, as their variations remain within a certain range. But if you have diabetes, you may unexpectedly experience blood glucose levels that are acutely higher or lower than usual, which can be dangerous.It is important for you to be able to recognise the symptoms of high blood sugar hyperglycaemia, and low blood sugar hypoglycaemia, and know how to treat them quickly before they can lead to disastrous complications. The best way to do this is to frequently self-monitor blood glucose levels with a glucometer.

    According to Dr Ketan K Mehta, Consulting Physician, CardioPulmonologist &;Diabetologist at Health Harmony, Mumbai, Blood sugar levels are a marker of diabetes;complications. Too high or too low levels of blood sugar values are detrimental. An important aspect of managing diabetes is self-monitoring of blood sugar levels. But do more than only monitoring blood sugar levels. Go the extra mile and use smartphone;app-based programmes to keep track of your blood sugar levels and learn to get them under control by managing your diet, activity levels and weight.

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    When To Look For Care

    Its necessary that you get immediate medical attention if your blood sugar drops and you have serious symptoms, like seizures or loss of awareness.

    If you have diabetes & your blood sugar drops, & the normal quick-fix treatments dont help raise your blood sugar above 70 mg/dL, its likewise important to get treatment as soon as possible. This happens more frequently with taking excessive long-acting insulin or sulfonylurea diabetes pills. Likewise, make sure to get healthcare if you dont have diabetes but have symptoms of hypoglycemia that dont go endlessly or get worse after youve tried at least 15 grams of carbohydrates.

    How Can I Be Better Prepared For Hypoglycemia

    You can take some steps to be ready for hypoglycemia:

    • Be aware of the symptoms and treat them early.
    • Carry some fast-acting carbs with you all the time.
    • Check your glucose levels frequently, especially around meals and exercise.
    • Inform family, friends and co-workers so they know what do if you need help.
    • Talk to your healthcare provider regularly to make and update your plan.
    • Wear a medical bracelet that lets people know you have diabetes. Carry a card in your purse or wallet with instructions for hypoglycemia.

    A note from Cleveland Clinic

    Hypoglycemia is quite common in people with diabetes. If not treated, it can cause troubling symptoms, and even serious health problems. Fortunately, you can avoid hypoglycemic episodes by monitoring your blood sugar. You can also make small adjustments to eating and exercising routines.


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    High Blood Sugar: Hidden Dangers

    In the short term, high blood sugar levels can zap your energy, cause excessive thirst and urination, and blur your vision. High blood sugar levels can also lead to dehydration, dry and itchy skin, and infections. Minimizing the time spent above your target blood sugar range can help you feel your best and will help prevent complications and injury to your body.

    Over time, high blood sugar affects many parts of the body. Chronic high blood sugar can start to cause noticeable changes, including:

    • Memory problems
    • Vision problems like blurriness, diabetic retinopathy, and blindness
    • Gum disease that leads to tooth loss, which can make eating healthy foods difficult due to problems chewing
    • Heart attack and stroke due to increased plaque build-up in the vessels and other vascular issues
    • Kidney disease, which can lead to the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant
    • Nerve damage that can cause decreased sensation in the feet and legs which increases the risk for wounds to turn into serious infections and even amputation

    Nerve damage from high blood sugar can also cause a variety of symptoms including:

    • Pain and tingling in the feet and hands
    • Difficulty emptying your bladder
    • Problems during the digestion process after eating, which can cause food to sit in the stomach too long and lead to nausea, vomiting, and erratic blood sugar levels

    Checking your blood sugar frequently and taking immediate action when it is above range can reduce your risk of complications.


    Target Blood Sugar Levels For People With Diabetes

    WHAT IS LOW BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL?LOW BLOOD SUGAR EXPLAINED

    People with diabetes have difficulty creating or using enough insulin, which is the hormone that helps convert glucose into energy. Although there is no universal blood sugar chart for everyone with diabetes, clinical organizations like the ADA and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists offer guidelines on target blood sugar levels as a starting point.

    Healthcare providers typically tailor normal blood sugar target ranges to an individual diabetes care plan. This includes considering your:

    • Age

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    Different Levels And What They Mean

    The ranges of safe levels of blood glucose depend on factors such as what time of day it is and when you last ate. Safe levels of blood sugar are high enough to supply your organs with the sugar they need, but low enough to prevent symptoms of hyperglycemia or complications of diabetes which follow the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases guides. Dangerous levels of blood glucose are outside of this range.

    The target levels can also vary if you have diabetes. For example, if you are diabetic and are monitoring your blood sugar, you might get a reading of 65 mg/dl. That is considered to be mild hypoglycemia, and you would be wise to eat 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates and retest your blood sugar in 15 minutes.;

    If you were not diabetic, you probably would not know that your sugar was low because you would not test and because you would not symptoms, and you would not act.

    That is fine because your body is capable, under normal circumstances, of raising your blood glucose to healthy levels when needed, even if you have not eaten. It is important to keep them in control to help prevent issues like heart disease or nerve damage.

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    What Happens When Your Blood Sugar Drops To Zero

    Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, is a fall in blood sugar to levels below normal. This may result in a variety of symptoms, including clumsiness, trouble talking, confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, or death. Feelings of hunger, sweating, shakiness, or weakness may also be present.

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    What Causes Low Blood Glucose In People With Diabetes

    Low blood glucose levels can be a side effect of insulin or some other medicines that help your pancreas release insulin into your blood. Taking these can lower your blood glucose level.

    Two types of diabetes pills can cause low blood glucose

    • sulfonylureas, usually taken once or twice per day, which increase insulin over several hours
    • meglitinides, taken before meals to promote a short-term increase in insulin

    The following may also lower your blood glucose level

    What If The 15

    108 fasting blood sugar

    If you dont feel better after three tries, or if your symptoms get worse, call your healthcare provider or 911. Healthcare providers can use a medication called glucagon. They inject it with a needle or squirt it up your nose. Glucagon is also available for home use. Your healthcare provider can prescribe it and teach a family member or friend how to use it in the event of severe hypoglycemia.

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    What You Can Drink With Meals

    Add a low-calorie, low-sugar drink or choose water. Proper hydration is essential to helping your body remove excess sugar.;;

    Some drinks that are good for keeping your blood sugar level low include:

    • Unsweetened tea
    • Sparkling water or club soda
    • Flavored water or sparkling water without added sugar
    • Diet soda or other diet drinks

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