Dealing with low blood sugar from insulin for diabetes
How to deal with low blood sugar emergencies
Here are some ways you can manage low blood sugar.
Be prepared
Always be prepared for the possibility of having a low blood sugar level.
- Keep some quick-sugar foods with you at all times. If you are at home, you will probably already have something close at hand that contains sugar, such as table sugar or fruit juice. Carry some hard candy or glucose tablets with you when you are away from home. The list of quick-sugar foods 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 1.7 mmol/L in 15 minutes.
- Know the symptoms of low blood sugar. Post the symptoms of low blood sugar where you will see it often and carry a copy in your wallet or purse. Add any symptoms you have noticed that may not be on the list. Be sure that your partner (and others) knows your early symptoms, including the signs of low blood sugar at night.
- Wear medical identification. Always wear medical identification, such as a medical alert bracelet, to let people know that you have diabetes. In case your blood sugar drops very low and you need help, people will know that you have diabetes and will get help for you if necessary.
- Keep glucagon on hand. If you become unconscious when your blood sugar is very low, someone may need to give you a shot of glucagon to raise your blood sugar. Be sure someone knows how to give you the shot. Have the person practise by giving you your insulin shot once or twice a month. This will help the person be confident if he or she has to give you a shot of glucagon in an emergency. Keep the instructions for how to give glucagon with the medicine. Also, check the expiration date on your glucagon. Most kits need to be replaced every 6 months.
- Teach others (at work and at home) how to check your blood sugar in case you cannot check it yourself. Have instructions for how to use your blood sugar (glucose) meter to check your blood sugar with the meter so the person can review the instructions.
- Teach other people (at work and at home) what to do in case your blood sugar becomes very low. Post the emergency care for low blood sugar in a convenient place at home and at work. Go over with others the steps they need to take 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. Checking your blood sugar regularly and also whenever you think it may be low will take the guesswork out of treating low blood sugar levels.
- 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 3.6 mmol/L. 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 health professional. Let her or him know if you are having low blood sugar problems. Your insulin dosage may need to be adjusted.
Test Your Knowledge
Complete the following statements.
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: | Merrill Hayden Carrie Henley | Last Updated: April 28, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Hanan Bassyouni, MD - Endocrinology and Metabolism Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology & Metabolism Jill Milliken, RN, CDE - Diabetes Educator | |
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