Ten Things Every Diabetic Should Know About Low Blood Sugar.
Hypoglycemia is a state of low blood sugar … it is always best to prick your finger to find out the actual blood sugar level, but signs of hypoglycemia include:
- lack of coordination
- wild mood swings that are not characteristic of the individual
- memory loss
- salivation
- grind your teeth and
- convulsions
Many type 2 diabetics experience hypoglycemia from time to time because their medications increase insulin production, whether or not their body needs it.
Although hypoglycemia is unlikely to cause death, it is still quite dangerous. The risk of accidents increases exponentially when diabetics have low blood sugar and then drive or operate equipment.
Here are ten tips to help you know that you are hypoglycemic:
1. Almost all incidents of hypoglycemia make the diabetic feel hungry, but not all cases of hunger are caused by hypoglycemia. The feeling of hunger occurs when cells are starved of glucose. This can happen when there is not enough sugar in the circulation, that is, as a result of hypoglycemia. It can also occur when there is not enough insulin in your circulation to carry glucose into your cells, resulting in hyperglycemia.
2. As long as your pulse is racing 1/3 faster than normal and you have not exercised in the past 2-3 hours, it is safe to assume that you are experiencing hypoglycemia. Most people find it easier to take a pulse in the carotid artery on the side of the neck. Of course, you need to know your normal resting pulse to find out what a fast pulse rate is for you.
3. Blurred vision or double vision often indicates hypoglycemia. However, blurred vision with dry skin, breath that smells like nail polish remover, and dark urine indicate extremely high blood sugar levels and dehydration.
4. In men who normally experience morning erections, the absence of an erection indicates nocturnal hypoglycemia. Blood sugar levels drop too low at night, but then spike just before the person wakes up.
5. Another common symptom of hypoglycemia is nystagmus. If you are the person caring for a diabetic, ask him to look from side to side while keeping his head still. If the eyes seem to “jump” from one place to another, hypoglycemia may be present. If you are diabetic, stare at the second hand on a watch or watch. If the second hand seems to “jump” from one position to another, you may be experiencing hypoglycemia.
6. A high-fat meal, oddly enough, can result in low blood sugar … this is because it takes longer for your stomach to empty food into the intestines.
7. Overuse of aspirin can also trigger hypoglycemia. Taking too much liver paralyzes the mechanism by which the liver releases glucose.
8. Having a cocktail or drink before a meal can significantly lower blood sugar levels. Sometimes drinking excessively with a meal also prevents the normal release of sugars from the liver.
9. A sudden change from cold to warm weather often precipitates hypoglycemia.
10. Deaths caused by hypoglycemia itself are very, very rare. This is because cells have several fail-safe mechanisms that allow them to survive low blood sugar levels and because permanent cell damage requires alteration, not only in blood sugar levels, but also in blood sugar levels. potassium, magnesium and proteins. Insulin is not an effective method of suicide.
The remedy for low blood sugar, as you’ve probably guessed, is sugar. However, most diabetics need very little sugar to bring their blood sugar levels back to normal. Just 15 grams, about 1/2 ounce, of sugar is enough for most diabetics to regain normal blood sugar levels. Even when a type 2 diabetic wants to eat everything in the refrigerator … and usually does … just a small amount of sugar equivalent to half of a sugar-sweetened soda, a small piece of fruit, or preferably a glucose tube, it is enough to prevent blood sugar problems.
