Hypoglycaemia
What is hypoglycaemia?
Hypoglycaemia diabetes is a condition that occurs when there is abnormally low levels of glucose in the blood. Glucose is basically sugar and we all need a certain amount in our blood, so when the amount is too low, our blood becomes hypoglycaemic.
The glucose in our blood is measured in millimoles per litre (mmol/l ). Once the sugar or glucose level drops below 3.0mmol/l, then the condition of hypoglycaemia diabetes is likely to occur. Some people how ever, do experience symptoms if the blood sugar is higher than this, so ‘four is the floor’ for blood glucose levels.
There are a number of symptoms hypoglycaemia, which you can look for, such as dizziness, sweating, shaking and palpitations. These symptoms will pass ten to fifteen minutes after eating something that has a high sugar content. More symptoms hypoglycaemia include (from mild to more serious):
- Paleness
- A feeling of weakness
- Hunger
- A rapid heartbeat
- Irritability
- Agitation
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Convulsions
- Blurred vision
- Temporary loss of consciousness
- Coma
- Image via Wikipedia
Most people will get some kind of warning before an episode happens, but in some cases people will have few or even none of the warning symptoms and fall into unconsciousness or have convulsions. These cases usually happen to people who have had diabetes for a long period. Hypoglycaemia brain damage can come about when someone has convulsions, goes into a coma or if the hypoglycaemia is left untreated.
Hypoglycaemia diabetes happens when a diabetic has too much insulin, misses a meal, drinks alcohol on an empty stomach or they do too much exercise, without compensating by eating extra food. It can be a bit of a balancing act, as diabetes is caused by the lack of insulin produced and hypoglycaemia, when there is too much insulin.
In a lot of cases, food is the prevention and can even be the treatment. Having a balanced diet with regulated amounts of sugar or glucose can help. Diet hypoglycaemia, basically makes sure that if you are effected by hypoglycaemia or diabetes, your diet is in accordance with what your body does or does not need.
One of the most important things you can do, if you are hypoglycaemic, is to wear a Medic Alert bracelet. People have been wrongly diagnosed because there speech has been slurred and they are confused. These symptoms get confused with being drunk, so a Medic Alert bracelet will let people know of your hypoglycaemia diabetes condition.
