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What is it?
A person with systematically low levels of blood
Demographics
Occurs most often in people with Types 1 or 2 diabetes Occurs in men, women, children, the elderly, and even
pets
Not race specific
Causes of Hypoglycemia
It most commonly happens when a person with diabetes
Glucagon Alchohol
Insulin
Mild Symptoms
The typical signs of low sugar levels:
Trembling/shakiness Sweating Anxiety Irritability Pallor (face goes pale) Heart palpitations (unregulated pattern) Tingling lips
Severe Symptoms
When the hypoglycemia is more severe the following signs or symptoms are possible:
Concentration problems Confusion Irrational and disorderly behavior (similar to
Treatments
Check your blood sugar often, if below 70mg/dl
Diet: DOs
Six meals a day with snack in between Keep a daily account of what you eat Eliminate unhealthy foods: sugar, alcohol, tobacco Keep blood sugar stable
Diet: DONTs
Do not panic
Prevention
Checking blood glucose levels - keep a regular check on blood
you have diabetes type 1 keep to within the daily alcohol limits recommended by your doctor, and eat something
Exercise - make sure you have eaten some carbohydrate-rich
Preventions cont.
Be ready - children with diabetes type 1 should always carry a
container of sugary fruit juice or a candy bar so that they are ready if symptoms are felt.
Let people know - if you are susceptible to attacks of
hypoglycemia, let your friends, colleagues and family members know. Explain what the signs are and what should be done.
ID - if you have diabetes, carry an ID form. In case of emergency,
health care providers, emergency services, and others will know what to do sooner.
Complications
Liver disease and/or failure which leads to Jaundice (the
yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and other parts of the body due to waste build-up.)
Insomnia-liver failure causes a build-up of urea and increases
tension.
Seizures (involuntary convulsions)
Complications cont.
Retrograde amnesia (cannot remember things before the
injury)
Comatose state (state of unconsciousness due to a severely