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Low Blood Sugar Levels

  Click here for some tips for Care Partners

TIPS FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES

Low blood sugar is also called hypoglycemia, low blood glucose, or an insulin reaction. A blood sugar reading less than 70 mg/dl is generally considered low. It is important to talk to a healthcare professional about your blood glucose targets. Ask what your low target is, too. 

LOW BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS CAN BE CAUSED BY

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SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LOW BLOOD SUGAR

A reaction can happen QUICKLY over a few minutes. Each person's reaction to low blood sugar is different. Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms when your blood glucose is low. 

Remember, the symptoms of low blood sugar can be similar to the symptoms of other illnesses:

  • Shakiness

  • Hunger

  • Lightheadedness, feeling dizzy

  • Confusion/being unable to concentrate

  • Glassy stare

  • Cold, clammy sweat

  • Headache

  • Change in behavior (irritability, crying, sleepiness)

  • Numbness or tingling around the mouth

  • Pale skin color

  • Clumsy or jerky movements (if severe)

  • Seizure (if severe)

Symptoms can change during sleeping hours. Signs of low blood sugar at bedtime may be:

  • Trouble falling asleep

  • Restless sleep

  • Bed covers/pajamas damp from sweat

  • Nightmares or bizarre dreams

  • Headache upon waking

The only sure way to know whether you are experiencing low blood sugar is to check your blood glucose. If you have any symptoms and you do not have the equipment to check your sugar at home, contact a healthcare professional to see if a home glucometer is right for you.

HELPFUL HINTS 

  • Contact a healthcare professional if low blood sugar continues to be a problem for you.

  • Carry one of the carbohydrate foods listed above if you regularly experience low blood sugar.

  • Do not drive when your blood sugar is low.

HOW TO TREAT LOW BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS

1. Stop activity.

2. Check your blood sugar. At times, it may feel like you are having a low blood sugar reaction even though you are not. If you are experiencing low blood sugar symptoms and are unable to check your blood glucose for any reason, treat yourself for hypoglycemia.

3. If your blood sugar is 70 mg/dl or below, eat/drink ONE of the following carbohydrate foods:

  • 1/2 cup apple juice

  • 2 tablespoons of raisins

  • 1/2 cup orange juice

  • 3 sugar cubes

  • 1/3 cup grape juice

  • 3 teaspoons sugar dissolved in 1 cup of water

  • 1 cup low-fat milk

  • 8 sugared Lifesavers candies

  • 1/2 cup regular soft drink

  • 3 glucose tablets (95 grams per tablet)

4. Rest for 15 minutes.

5. Keep treating and checking your blood sugar every 15 minutes until it is above 70 mg/dl. Note: If you are alone and not getting results from following these treatments and continue to feel low blood sugar symptoms, call 911.

6. Once your blood sugar reading is above 70 mg/dl, eat a snack if one or more hours will go by before your next meal or snack. The snack should contain 1 serving of carbohydrates and 1 serving of protein (see table below for options).

It’s very important not to over-treat low blood sugar by eating too much sugary food. That can cause sugars to go above the healthy range. Recheck your blood sugar in one hour to make sure it has stayed above 70 mg/dl.

Carbohydrate Choices

Protein Choices

1 slice of bread

1 oz. of lean meat or cheese

3 graham crackers

1 tablespoon peanut butter

6 saltine crackers

1/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese

3/4 cup cold cereal

1 cup low-fat mi

 

  HOW CARE PARTNERS CAN HELP

  • Remember that people sometimes have low blood sugar because they are eating less than usual, delaying or skipping a meal, being more physically active than usual, or changing how they take their diabetes medications. If their blood sugar gets too low, they may fall down and hurt themselves or pass out. 

  • If your partner checks their blood sugar and finds that it is low, remind and encourage them to use the steps above to treat low blood sugar levels.

  • Encourage your partner to continue monitoring their sugars and help them make a plan to avoid low sugars.

  • If they are having low sugars regularly, recommend that they call their healthcare professional to see if they need to adjust their diabetes medication regimen.

  • Ask your partner more about their feelings about this episode of low blood sugar. You can start by asking them for information on the issue they are facing, what is affecting how important they feel it is to try to address it now, and what might increase its importance for them.

  • If your partner does not check their blood sugar but has symptoms of low blood sugar, help them figure out how to start checking and recording their sugar, especially when they have low sugar symptoms.

  • Encourage them to call their healthcare professional for advice.

  • Help them figure out if there is a pattern to their low sugar symptoms. For example, ask them if their low blood sugar readings are happening at a certain time of day or in certain situations, like after physical activity or skipping a meal. This could help your partner and their healthcare professional figure out what is causing the symptoms.