HealthInfo Canterbury

Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)

Hypoglycaemia, also called a hypo, means you have a low blood sugar (glucose) level. Anything less than 4 is low. It happens mainly if you inject insulin, but it can also happen with some tablets.

Self-care for a hypo

If your blood sugar is:

• between 3.5 and 4, and you feel okay, have a meal if it is due soon, or a snack.
• below 3.5, have one of the following options:
  • one Hypo-Fit sachet, or
  • three to four glucose tablets, or
  • five jelly beans, or
  • half a glass of ordinary (non-diet) soft drink, or
  • one tablespoon of jam or sugar, or
  • half a glass of fruit juice, or
  • one tablespoon of glucose, dissolved in water.

Wait 10 minutes, then test your blood sugar again. If your blood sugar is still below 3.5, have a repeat helping from the list above.

Once your blood sugar is above 3.5, have:

• a meal if it is due, or
• insulin just before or straight after your meal if they are due, or
• a snack such as:
  • a sandwich made with one piece of bread, or
  • a piece of fruit such as half a banana, or
  • a glass of milk.

Don't drive when you are having a hypo, as you risk losing your licence.

Tell your GP or diabetes nurse if you keep having hypos.

Symptoms of a hypo

You can have a hypo without having any symptoms. This can happen if you haven't eaten for a long time, have given yourself too much insulin, or exercised hard without having any extra food.

If you are having a hypo, you are like to have some of the following symptoms:

• pins and needles in your mouth and tongue
• sweating
• pale skin
• shaking hands or legs
• a headache
• blurred vision
• a fluttering heart (palpitations).

You may also feel:

• dizzy
• nervous
• sleepy
• hungry
• confused
• unable to concentrate.

You might have symptoms of a hypo when your blood sugar level is not low if:

• your blood sugar level is regularly high, and it drops quickly to normal
• you are anxious.

Preventing a hypo

If you think there's a danger you might be having a hypo, even without symptoms, test your blood sugar level.

You can have a hypo if you:

• miss or delay a meal
• don't have enough starchy food (carbohydrates) with your meal or snack
• are more physically active than usual, and don't have extra food to fuel it
• have too much insulin, or take too many diabetes tablets
• drink too much alcohol, or drink alcohol on an empty stomach
• allow too much time between your injection and your meal
• change the time that you have your insulin or tablets.

You should always carry a hypo treatment with you. If you don't treat a hypo, you may lose consciousness, or have a fit or seizure.

On the next page: Guidelines for giving glucagon

Written by Christchurch Diabetes Centre. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed July 2019.

Source

Jelly beans image courtesy of Bill Longshaw at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Page reference: 178645

Review key: HIDIA-21832