Hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus: symptoms and management of hypoglycemia, how to avoid hypoglycemia

If a diabetic’s blood glucose drops to a critically low level, a pathology called "hypoglycemia" occurs. At the same time, there is an acute feeling of hunger, vomiting, from the side it may seem that a person is under the influence of alcohol. Hypoglycemia in diabetes is a dangerous condition, and it is very important to be able to properly cope with attacks.

The main symptoms of hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus

The word "hypoglycemia" also comes from two Greek words: "hypo" – low and "glycemia" – sweet blood.

The main symptoms of hypoglycemia in diabetes are as follows:

• cold sweat;
• severe weakness;
• an acute feeling of hunger, a feeling of emptiness in the stomach, sucks in the stomach;
• internal trembling;
• cardiopalmus;
• numbness of the tongue and lips.

People around you notice:

• unnatural pallor;
• kicking legs, desire to sit down;
• cold clammy sweat;
• behavior like a drunk;
• loss of consciousness.

Analyzes: blood sugar less than 3.3 mmol / l

Such conditions also occur in healthy people, but they quickly pass due to the work of glucagon and a decrease in the concentration of insulin in the blood. In diabetics, insulin is artificial, its concentration does not depend on the level of glucose in the blood. He continues to work and reduce sugar. If nothing is done, a person may lose consciousness and fall into a hypoglycemic coma due to circulatory disorders in the brain.

Sometimes the first signs of hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus are absent, the patient immediately loses consciousness. Such patients are advised to maintain higher blood sugars than usual. The cause of hypoglycemia without precursors may be taking the drug anaprilin (obzidan).

Nocturnal hypoglycemia can be manifested by nightmares, sweating, hunger at night.

Causes of hypoglycemia in diabetes

If there was hypoglycemia, try to find its cause. The most common causes of hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus can be the following factors:

1. Erroneous administration of too large a dose of insulin; for example, if a diabetic mistakenly took insulin containing 100 units. in 1 ml, in a syringe marked with 40 units. For patients with type II diabetes – exceeding the prescribed dose of tablets.
2. Skipping a meal that includes slowly digestible carbohydrates – potatoes, porridge, bread.
3. Exercise lowers blood sugar levels. Therefore, if a diabetic plans physical activity – playing sports or working in the garden – he should slightly reduce the dose of insulin that day, by about 4-6 units. Before work itself, it is better to eat 2-3 pieces of black bread.
4. Alcohol can also lower blood sugar for a short time. Therefore, if a diabetic drinks alcohol, he must definitely eat it with a sandwich.
5. Reducing the body’s need for insulin. It is necessary to consult a doctor so that he picks up a new insulin therapy regimen.

To cope with hypoglycemia in time, a diabetic should carry with him:

• several pieces of sugar and black bread;
• diabetic passport. In a state of hypoglycemia, a person may look like a drunk. The passport should contain information on how to provide assistance if there is a loss of consciousness;
• if possible, an ampoule of glucagon and a syringe for intramuscular injections.

How to avoid hypoglycemia in diabetes

How to avoid hypoglycemia if you have diabetes? There are three groups of patients who are not recommended to seek ideal compensation for diabetes because of the danger of hypoglycemia:

1. patients with a tendency to hypoglycemia without precursors;
2. labile course of diabetes, when blood sugar levels can change suddenly and abruptly. Doctors believe that this happens in those patients who have a few "live" islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, and they occasionally release portions of insulin into the blood;
3. severe diseases of the vessels of the heart and / or brain – a recent heart attack or stroke.

In these situations, satisfactory compensation for diabetes will suffice.

First aid for hypoglycemia

When helping with hypoglycemia, the main task is to raise blood glucose levels as quickly as possible. At the disposal of no more than a minute – there will not even be time to measure blood sugar. Start taking action immediately. Helping with hypoglycemia, you need to give the patient to eat 4-5 pieces of sugar or drink a glass of very sweet water. Sweets, cookies and chocolate are worse in this situation – the glucose contained in them is absorbed slowly.

When acute symptoms of hypoglycemia have begun to subside, a small amount of slow-digesting carbohydrates should be given in order to prevent a re-lowering of blood sugar. It can be 2 pieces of black bread, a plate of porridge or potatoes.

If you are not sure about the symptoms, it is safer to act as if the diabetic really has hypoglycemia.

If a diabetic has lost consciousness, giving first aid for hypoglycemia should not be poured into the mouth with water or try to feed. If there is an ampoule of glucagon that can dramatically increase blood sugar, urgently make an intramuscular injection and call an ambulance. If not, a small amount of honey or jam can be rubbed into the patient’s gums during a hypoglycemic emergency.

After hypoglycemia, partly due to the fact that a diabetic eats a lot of carbohydrates during the relief of an attack, partly due to the fact that reserve glucose from the liver was released into the blood, blood sugar will rise. You don’t need to lower it. But you must definitely consult a doctor and analyze what caused hypoglycemia and what should be done so that it does not recur.