Hypoglycemia or low blood glucose

Hypoglycemia means that your blood glucose is low—generally below 60 to 80 mg/dL. Symptoms occur quickly and need to be treated as soon as possible.

Symptoms

You may have one or more of the following symptoms:

• sweating
• shaking
• feeling weak or tired
• feeling anxious or nervous
• racing heart
• feeling hungry
• having a mild headache
• tingling sensation around lips and tongue

Treating hypoglycemia

• Test your blood glucose as soon as you feel symptoms.
• If your level is low, treat with 15 grams of carbohydrate. Examples include:
  • 1/2 cup of fruit juice (you don't need to add sugar)
  • 1/2 cup of regular pop
  • 1 tablespoon of honey or sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of raisins
  • 3 large marshmallows
  • 1 cup of skim milk
  • 3 to 4 glucose tablets
  • 15 grams of glucose gel
• After eating one of these foods, test your blood glucose every 10 to 15 minutes. If it is still low, eat another 15 grams of carbohydrate until your symptoms are gone or your blood glucose level is above 80.

Follow-up treatment after hypoglycemia

After you've experienced hypoglycemia, you may need more food.

• If your next meal or snack is less than one hour away, eat at your normal time.
• If your next meal or snack is one to two hours away, eat an extra snack that contains 15 grams of carbohydrate.
• If your next meal or snack is more than two hours away, eat a snack that contains 30 grams of carbohydrate.

Do not subtract what you eat to treat hypoglycemia from your next snack or meal. This food is needed to keep your blood glucose in a better range.

When to call your health care provider

Call your health care provider or diabetes educator if you have unexplained hypoglycemia two times in one day or two days in a week.