Hypoglycemia is a pathological state that occurs when the blood sugar level is abnormally low. Specifically, below 55mg/dL, although this limit is increased to 70mg/dL when the person suffering from low blood sugar is a diabetic patient. And it is that despite the fact that hypoglycemia is not common among the general population, it can become frequent among people who suffer if there is no adequate control of the disease.
The reasons for this drop in sugar can be several, but basically hypoglycemia is caused because the body too quickly consumes the glucose present in the blood; glucose is released too slowly into the bloodstream; excess insulin is released into the bloodstream.
There are several symptoms perceived by people suffering from low blood sugar or hypoglycemia, but the most common may be:
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General discomfort
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Feeling weak and tired
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sweating
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dizziness
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Difficulty to sleep
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double or blurred vision
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Irritability
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Tingling or numbness of the skin
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tremors
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Drowsiness
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Cold sweat
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feeling of appetite
In addition, there are other symptoms that vary depending on personal circumstances. For example, elderly people affected by hypoglycemia may suffer a loss of attention, speech difficultiesmemory problems?
Although it is not frequent, hypoglycemia can also occur in non-diabetics, although in these cases it is usually a slight drop in sugar and usually these people are referred to an endocrinologist to analyze the causes.
In the case of diabetic people, the most common causes of low blood sugar tend to be errors in medication, diet or exercise practice. It should be remembered that hypoglycemia is a disease that basically consists of the opposite situation to hypoglycemia, since diabetics have too high a concentration of glucose in the blood due to a deficiency in the production of insulin by the pancreas (type I diabetes or juvenile diabetes) or an abnormal response by the body (type II diabetes). To treat insulin, insulin or drugs that make it easier for cells to take up glucose are administered.
However, a diabetic patient You may experience low blood sugar if:
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You have taken too high a dose of insulin or one of your diabetes medicines
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Insulin or these medicines have been taken at the wrong time
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Not enough food has been ingested, so there is not enough glucose in the body
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Intense physical activity is performed that requires a glucose supply greater than what is available in the body
How to combat low blood sugar
For the diabetic people prone to low blood sugar, prevention is essential. For example, strictly following the diet and following medical instructions to the letter. In the same way, it is also the training of the patient to identify these hypoglycemias and know how to combat them.
When a diabetic person has mild low blood sugar, they can take a fast-acting carbohydrate food to restore normal blood sugar levels. Among the existing alternatives, for example, one can take 15 grams of glucose, two sachets or three teaspoons of sugar dissolved in watera drink such as juice or sugary soda, a tablespoon of honey, fruit or about three cookies.
However, sometimes hypoglycemia is more serious and can cause a loss of consciousness, so in these cases it is impossible for the patient to eat any type of food. On these occasions, a second person is required to help the affected person recover, be it a relative, an acquaintance or by going to a health center. In these cases, it should give an injection of glucagon that patients should have prepared at home.
Once consciousness has been regained, fast-absorbing carbohydrates should be administered and the patient transferred to a medical center to have their condition evaluated, although in many cases the possible complications of severe hypoglycemia stem in many cases from the risks associated with a fall and hit something.