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OverviewSymptoms of mild low blood sugarYou may have these symptoms when your blood sugar has dropped below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). When you have had diabetes for many years, you may not always develop symptoms of mild low blood sugar. Some young children with diabetes cannot recognize symptoms of low blood sugar. Others can, but not every time. To be safe, the parents need to do a home blood sugar test whenever they suspect low blood sugar in a child. Symptoms may include:
These symptoms may go away shortly after you eat food that contains sugar. Symptoms of moderate low blood sugarIf your blood sugar continues to drop (below 40 mg/dL), your behavior may change. Symptoms may include:
Symptoms of severe low blood sugarSymptoms of severe low blood sugar (usually below 20 mg/dL) include:
Signs of low blood sugar at nightIf your blood sugar drops while you are sleeping, your partner or other family members may notice that you are sweating and behaving differently. Signs of low blood sugar at night (nocturnal hypoglycemia) include:
You may wake up with a headache in the morning if your blood sugar was low during the night. Signs of hypoglycemic unawarenessSome people have no symptoms of low blood sugar. The only symptom you may have is confusion. Or you may become unconscious before anyone realizes you have low blood sugar. You may have hypoglycemic unawareness if you:
If you have hypoglycemic unawareness, test your blood sugar often, especially before activities like driving a car. Keep quick-sugar foods with you. If you take insulin, carry a glucagon emergency kit. You can also give friends and family instructions to treat low blood sugar. CreditsCurrent as of: April 13, 2022 Author: Healthwise
Staff The Health Encyclopedia contains general health information. Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description. For recommended treatments, please consult with your health care provider. At some time, most people with diabetes experience the sweating and shakiness that occurs when blood glucose levels fall below 70 mg/dl — a condition known as hypoglycemia. The average person with type 1 diabetes may experience symptoms of low blood glucose up to two times a week. However,
not all are aware that these symptoms can rapidly progress to seizures, coma and even death if hypoglycemia is severe. Though hypoglycemia can be common and occur repeatedly in some people with diabetes, symptoms of low blood glucose should always be taken seriously. People with diabetes and their families, friends or coworkers should be prepared to act quickly and responsibly at the earliest signs of low blood glucose. Early signs of hypoglycemia:
Late signs of hypoglycemia:
What causes low blood glucose?
No symptoms? Be alarmedSurprisingly, the most dangerous episodes of hypoglycemia occur with little or no warning. When low blood glucose occurs on a regular basis, the body can become used to the warning signs and the person may stop noticing symptoms. This is a particularly dangerous condition known as hypoglycemic unawareness. People with this condition might not realize they have low blood glucose until it's dangerously low — seizures and coma are sometimes the first indication of a problem. The good news is that this condition can often be reversed — allowing people to once again notice the signs of low blood glucose — if hypoglycemia is avoided for a few weeks through careful monitoring of blood glucose. How can I prevent low blood glucose?All people with diabetes:
Make an emergency planFriends, relatives, coworkers and caregivers should be trained to recognize the signs of low blood glucose and know what to do — including how to inject glucagon in case of an emergency — as well as what not to do. How do you feel when your sugar is low?Signs and symptoms of hypoglycaemia can include:. feeling hungry.. sweating.. dizziness.. tiredness (fatigue). blurred vision.. trembling or shakiness.. going pale.. fast pulse or palpitations.. What happens when diabetics blood sugar is too low?This can lead to blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, confused thinking, slurred speech, numbness, and drowsiness. If blood glucose stays low for too long, starving the brain of glucose, it may lead to seizures, coma, and very rarely death.
What are the common signs that a diabetic client has low blood sugar?Early warning signs and symptoms
Initial signs and symptoms of diabetic hypoglycemia include: Looking pale (pallor) Shakiness. Dizziness or lightheadedness.
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