Diabetes: Dealing with low blood sugar from medicines
How to deal with low blood sugar emergencies
Here are some ways you can manage a low blood sugar emergency.
Be prepared
- Keep some quick-sugar foods with you at all times. The quick-sugar foods list gives some examples of foods and how much you need to eat to raise your blood sugar. The foods on this list will help raise your blood sugar by about 30 mg/dL within about 15 minutes. If you are at home, you most likely will already have something close at hand that contains sugar, such as table sugar or fruit juice. Carry some hard candy or glucose tablets when you are away from home.
- Know the symptoms of low blood sugar. Post them where you will see the list often, and carry a copy in your wallet or purse. Be sure that your partner and others concerned know your early symptoms, including the signs of low blood sugar at night.
- Wear medical identification, such as a medical alert bracelet
, to let people know that you have diabetes. People will know that you have diabetes and will get help for you if necessary.
- Teach others (at work and at home) how to check your blood sugar in case you cannot check it yourself. Keep the instructions for using your blood sugar (glucose) meter with the meter, so the person can review the instructions if needed.
- Teach other people (at work and at home) what to do in case your blood sugar becomes very low. Post information on emergency care for low blood sugar in a convenient place so that those around you can take the proper steps when your blood sugar is very low.
Treat low blood sugar early
Treat low blood sugar levels as soon as you (or someone else) notice the symptoms:
- Check your blood sugar often. If you have had diabetes for many years, you may not have symptoms until your blood sugar is very low.
- Follow the steps for dealing with low blood sugar when you first develop your symptoms of low blood sugar or when your blood sugar level is below a safe range (usually when it drops below 70 mg/dL). Encourage others to tell you if they notice you are developing signs of low blood sugar.
- Keep a record. Write down your symptoms and how you treated your low blood sugar. Use the low blood sugar level record
(What is a PDF document?).
- Notify your doctor if you are having frequent low blood sugar problems. Your pills for diabetes may need to be adjusted or changed.
Test Your Knowledge
To be prepared for a low blood sugar emergency, I need to carry:
To treat low blood sugar before it becomes an emergency, I need to:
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| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: April 16, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism | |
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