Blood sugar, which refers to the glucose contained in the blood, plays an important role as an energy source for brain cells and mitochondria in cells, and plays an important role in the interaction of various hormones centered on the action of the liver. Blood sugar, which plays such an important role, must be maintained at a concentration of 70 to 110 mg/dl to be a normal standard. If these high or low values continue to be higher or lower than these normal standards, it will cause several problems. Hypoglycemia refers to a symptom that occurs when the blood sugar drops below 70 mg/dL depending on various causes, and the glucose supplied to the nervous system and brain decreases. It is known that it mainly occurs when blood sugar drops too much during the treatment and management of diabetes.
The main cause of hypoglycemia is the excessive intake of oral hypoglycemic agents used for the treatment of diabetes or the administration of insulin in too large a dose. It has also been known that these hypoglycemic symptoms occur when a person skips a meal or eats a very small amount during diabetes treatment, and when the amount of exercise and activity increases suddenly significantly. In addition, if there are diseases such as liver, kidney, heart-related diseases or sepsis, including alcohol, hypoglycemia symptoms may occur. It has been reported that hypoglycemia may occur in patients with autoimmune diseases. Now, let’s take a closer look at the various symptoms that occur when hypoglycemia appears, and information on how to deal with it and prevention.
Main symptoms of hypoglycemia
When hypoglycemia occurs, the body may tremble, including a feeling of hunger due to sympathetic nerve activity in the early stage, and symptoms such as anxiety and excitement, cold sweat, headache, dizziness, and palpitations may appear. If the symptoms become more severe afterward, fatigue and headaches become more severe, and at the same time, it can lead to symptoms such as abnormal eyesight and slurred speech.
If hypoglycemia worsens more severely during this stage, it can lead to generalized convulsions, seizures, and even loss of consciousness from shock. And severe hypoglycemia of 20 mg/dL or less can cause fatal brain damage, leading to loss of consciousness and even death. Therefore, when symptoms suspected of hypoglycemia such as severe hunger, lack of energy, and cold sweats appear, it is important to check the blood sugar using a self-glucose meter and take measures to prevent the drop in blood sugar.
How to deal with hypoglycemia and how to prevent it
1. Carbohydrate intake and rest
When symptoms of hypoglycemia appear, it is important to measure blood sugar and if it is below 60 mg/dL, it is important to consume about 15 to 20 g of sugar while taking a break. You should consume 3 to 4 candies or jellies, 1 to 2 cups of cola or cider, 1 to 2 cups of orange juice, 1 bottle of yogurt, and 1 to 2 glasses of milk. And if blood sugar is measured after 10 to 15 minutes and it is still below 60 mg/dL, you need to consume about 15 g of sugar once more. If your blood sugar is still low or you have symptoms of hypoglycemia even after taking measures such as sugar intake, it is important not to delay any longer and visit a hospital for treatment and treatment. If the patient is unconscious, if the patient is forced to drink or eat food, the airway may be blocked. Therefore, treatment such as glucose injection should be performed after moving to the emergency room.
2. Practice eating habits to prevent worsening of symptoms
If these symptoms of hypoglycemia are repeated and occur continuously, the risk of becoming severe increases. Therefore, it is recommended to maintain a diet consisting of vegetables and fruits that help control blood sugar along with keeping regular meal times so that it does not worsen. that’s important. Also, as hypoglycemia often occurs at night while sleeping, it is very important to eat a moderate amount of food before sleep.
3. Steady management through self-measurement of blood sugar
Self-measurement of blood sugar about 7 times a day and frequently measuring and recording sugar is also an important lifestyle for the prevention and management of hypoglycemia. In addition, if you have symptoms, it is important to carry a diabetes identification tag and emergency food such as candy when you go out.
In addition, it is recommended to avoid fasting as much as possible and exercise 30 minutes or 1 hour after a meal. Also, after exercise, blood sugar changes significantly, so it is recommended to check blood sugar after exercise, and it is important to adjust the amount of exercise according to the changed blood sugar.
