Does your blood sugar suddenly drop? Let's talk about hypoglycemia!

Do you have diabetes? If so, do you sometimes suddenly break out in a sweat, shake, and feel a little uneasy? Maybe you feel hungry, dizzy, or your heart rate is racing. This is what we medically call 'hypoglycemia'. Simply put, the amount of sugar our body can use as energy suddenly decreases.

What is hypoglycemia?

Think of our body as a car. Just as a car needs gasoline to run, our body needs energy to perform daily tasks, such as thinking, breathing, walking, and running. The main source of energy in our body is glucose, or simply 'sugar'. When the sugar level in the body of a person with diabetes suddenly drops too low, the body loses the 'fuel' it needs to function. Usually, these symptoms begin to appear when the blood sugar level drops below 70 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter).

What are the symptoms at a time like this?

The symptoms of hypoglycemia are not the same for everyone. If you have diabetes, you will gradually become aware of how your body responds to this condition. These symptoms can be divided into two categories: early symptoms and more severe symptoms.

Why does blood sugar drop like this?

There are several reasons for this. The main ones are the medications we take for diabetes and our dietary patterns.

Some medications for diabetes

It is very important to ask your doctor if the diabetes medication you are taking can cause low blood sugar.

• Insulin Treatment: Insulin is the main hormone that controls blood sugar levels. When taking insulin externally, sometimes if the dose taken is higher than the body needs, blood sugar levels can drop.
• Sulfonylureas: These are a common type of medication used to treat diabetes. They work by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin. This can sometimes cause low blood sugar levels. Some examples include:
• Glimepiride (Amaryl)
• Glipizide (Glucotrol)
• Glibenclamide (Glyburide, Micronase)

Additionally, if you drink alcohol with your diabetes medication, or if you take other medications such as allopurinol, aspirin, or warfarin, they can interact and cause low blood sugar levels. So, inform your doctor about all the medications you are taking.

The effect of food and drink

If you take insulin or diabetes pills that don't match the amount of carbohydrates (starch/sugar) you eat, your blood sugar may drop.

• Skipping or delaying a meal: If you don't eat at the right time after taking your medicine, your blood sugar levels will drop because less sugar is being absorbed into your body.
• Eating a diet high in simple sugars: If you eat a lot of food high in sugar (e.g., sweet drinks, cakes) all at once, your body will suddenly produce a lot of insulin. This can cause your blood sugar levels to drop suddenly.
• Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach: Drinking alcohol without any food can inhibit the liver's sugar production process and cause hypoglycemia.
• Exercise: When you exercise, your body uses sugar for energy. So you need to be careful about your sugar levels before and after exercise.

What do you do when your blood sugar is low?

If you think you are experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia, don't panic and follow these steps.

1. Check your blood sugar level immediately: If possible, check your blood sugar level with your glucometer. If it is below 70 mg/dL, take action immediately.

2. Follow the '15-15 rule':

• Step 1: Eat or drink about 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates.
• 3-4 glucose tablets
• 4-6 sweet toffees (not sugar-free)
• 1/2 cup fruit juice (not sugar-free)
• 1 cup sweetened milk
• 1/2 cup of sugary soft drink
• A tablespoon of honey (this is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream when placed under the tongue)
• Step 2: Wait 15 minutes.
• Step 3: Check your blood sugar again. If it's still below 70 mg/dL, eat 15 grams of one of the foods listed above again.

3. Once your blood sugar levels have returned to normal: Once your blood sugar levels have returned to normal, eat a small snack containing protein and complex carbohydrates (e.g., a cream cracker biscuit with cheese) to keep your blood sugar levels stable.

What if someone loses consciousness?

In some severe cases, hypoglycemia can cause loss of consciousness. This is an emergency.

• Never give food or drink by mouth to an unconscious person. Doing so could cause it to become lodged in the airway and make the situation worse.
• Call an ambulance immediately or take the person to the nearest hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) .
• If your doctor has recommended that you use an injection called glucagon, it is very important that you teach your family and friends how to administer it in an emergency. Glucagon is a hormone that quickly raises blood sugar levels.

Be careful when driving!

Driving with low blood sugar is very dangerous . If you experience symptoms of hypoglycemia while driving, stop the vehicle immediately in a safe place on the road. Then check your blood sugar, eat something sweet, wait 15 minutes, check again, and only drive again when your blood sugar is back to normal. Always keep a sweet treat (toffee, glucose) in your car for emergencies.

How to prevent hypoglycemia?

• Follow the meal plan given to you by your doctor or nutritionist exactly.
• Eat your three main meals at regular times. Don't let the gap between meals exceed 4-5 hours.
• If you exercise, do it half an hour or an hour after a meal. Check your blood sugar levels before and after exercise.
• Before taking medication, double-check that you are taking the correct medicine and the correct dosage .
• If you drink alcohol, limit it. Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach.
• Ask your doctor about the peak levels of the medications you are taking.
• Check your blood sugar levels regularly as advised by your doctor .
• Wearing an ID card or bracelet stating that you have diabetes can be very important in an emergency.

If your blood sugar levels are low several times in a week for no apparent reason, talk to your doctor about it. Keep a record of the time, date, and what you were doing at the time. This will help your doctor identify a pattern and make any necessary changes to your treatment.

Hypoglycemia, diabetes, low blood sugar, insulin