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Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycaemia) for Diabetes: What to Do

Medically Reviewed
Key Takeaways

1. Low blood glucose (sugar), known as hypoglycaemia, happens when blood glucose drops below 4.0 mmol/L.

2. Patients with hypoglycaemia may experience mild symptoms like shakiness, sweating or dizziness. In severe cases, patients may experience blurred vision, loss of consciousness or seizures.

3. Hypoglycaemia can occur while you are asleep. Some symptoms to look out for include profuse sweating while sleeping, feeling tired, confused or having a headache upon waking or seizures.

hypoglycaemia low blood sugar: how to manage

Early Symptoms

 

Severe Signs & Symptoms

 

Sever signs and symptoms of hypoglycaemia include:

Blurred vision Loss of consciousness
Confusion and abnormal behaviour Seizures
Slurred speech Weakness and difficulty walking

 

Hypoglycaemia may happen while you are sleeping.
Some clues that you may be experiencing hypoglycaemia while asleep include:

Profuse sweating while sleeping Feeling tired, confused or having
a headache upon waking
Seizures  

If you suspect you may be having hypoglycaemia, test your blood glucose level using a glucose meter. A blood glucose level of less than 4.0mmol/L indicates hypoglycaemia.

 

What causes hypoglycaemia?
If you are receiving treatment for diabetes, you may experience hypoglycaemia when you:

Take too much insulin, or certain oral glucose-lowering pills Exercise more than usual
Drink excessive alcohol, particularly without food Wait too long between meals, or skip meals

What To Do

Ref: F26

Contributed by

SingHealth Duke-NUS Diabetes Centre

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