What Is Low Blood Sugar?

Hypoglycemia - low blood sugar - can be very unpleasant and sometimes dangerous. It can be caused by:

• Taking certain diabetes pills (sulfonylureas) without enough food

• Overexercising if taking insulin or a sulfonylurea

• Alcohol on an empty stomach

• Too much insulin

The Signs of Hypoglycemia

You may feel:

• Shaky, sweaty, hungry, faint or weak

• Palpitations, or a rapid heart beat

• Irritable and impatient

If you don't raise your blood sugar, you may get blurred vision and headache. You may get drowsy and confused, and even pass out.

What To Do About Low Blood Sugar

You should immediately take about 15 grams of sugar. Good sources are:

If possible, test your blood sugar 15 minutes after eating some sugar. If it is still low (below 70) or if you can't test but still feel weak and shaky, take more sugar.

As soon as you feel better, you should eat some solid food. If it's nearly mealtime, have your next meal early. If it's an hour or more before mealtime, have a snack, such as:

• Half a ham or turkey sandwich

• Peanut butter with crackers

Even if you can bring up your blood sugar quite easily, make a note in your log each time you have hypoglycemia, so you can tell your doctor what seemed to cause it. Write down:

• The time

• When you last ate

• When you last had a pill or an insulin shot.

If you have hypoglycemia frequently, you may need changes in your medication, or in your mealtimes. If your blood sugar level dips low after exercise, plan to eat a snack or small meal before your exercise session.