Hypoglycemia
Diabetes low blood sugar levels can be considered as a dangerous condition. This type of disorder is called hypoglycemia. Persons who have diabetes and those who take medication are usually the target of this disorder.
Taking too much medication may cause too many insulins in the body and lead to this condition. Skipping meals or having excessive exercise can also be factors regarding this matter. This result to a lower glucose level and without glucose, the body will not be able to function well.
How to lower glucose levels? How to avoid hypoglycemia? What does it take? How can doing something right result to anything wrong?
Anything that is too much is bad while anything too less may be a problem, too. That is why one should do everything in moderation.
Here are ways to avoid diabetes low blood sugar:
- Make sure to match your insulin medications with what your needs are.
Your insulin administration shall coincide with your blood glucose level. You need to keep in mind the basal-bolus insulin approach which means having a basal or long-acting insulin working at a low level throughout the day, while rapid-acting (bolus) insulin during a meal or a snack.
Adults usually need basal insulin because it provides insulin for the body’s daytime and early morning use and would go less in the middle of the day.
Mealtime insulin should also be matched with your diet so as to know how much your glucose level can rise. Most starchy and sugary foods make your blood sugar range increase in a rapid phase. Rapid-acting insulin does a good job in covering the rapid glucose rise and disappearing just before one can be attacked by hypoglycemia.
- Set a target and take a look at your schedule
Set an appointment with your physician and ask him for help in setting a target for your glucose level. This will be your target level during mealtimes.
Monitor if you are eating, when the medicine seem to work the hardest. For those who use long-acting basal insulin, there’s a tendency wherein diabetes low blood sugar may happen especially during daytime so it will be advisable to eat at regular intervals.
Other insulins work approximately four hours after administration, therefore carbohydrates must be consumed within a specific amount and at a set time. Others work throughout the day and night so it will not be a very good idea to delay or even skip meals.
- Alcohol and its effects
It is true that these drinks contain carbohydrates, which means that it will make your blood sugar level rise. However, drinking alcohol may cause your blood sugar level to drop after some time. This happens because the alcohol inhibits the liver’s secretion of glucose and when the liver secretes lesser glucose than usual, this triggers hypoglycemia.
Therefore, after drinking alcohol, it is advised to lower your insulin medication dose or eat foods which have extra carbohydrates.
- Adjust to a physical activity
Physical activity does not solely mean exercise. You can work with your physician to plan a routine and reduce your insulin or oral medicine before starting any activity. You can start out by maybe reducing your dose by 33% after planning the activity and before 90 minutes of a meal. For a more intense activity, a 50-% or an even greater reduction can be made. For a lesser-intensity activity, a 20-% or 25-% reduction may be needed.
- Check your blood glucose more often
The more often you check your blood glucose, the less likely you are to suffer from an extreme range of blood sugar levels. You are advised to check your blood sugar before breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even bedtime on a consistent basis, whether or not you have taken insulin or medications to avoid serious outcomes. A blood glucose level of 75 mg/dl at lunchtime should alert you on the need to either reduce your insulin or medicine or have some extra carbohydrates.
Diabetes low blood sugar can get you in a lot of trouble. Extra carefulness is a virtue you should practice from hereon. Stand up and fight against hypoglycemia!