What are the hypoglycemia symptoms?

Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, occurs when your blood glucose levels drop below normal levels. Common symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

Shakiness
Sweating
Paleness
Feeling tired or weak
Headaches
Blurred vision
Confusion or difficulty concentrating
Feeling anxious or irritable
Fast heartbeat or palpitations
Hunger or nausea
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Difficulty speaking or slurred speech
Tingling or numbness in the lips or tongue
Seizures or convulsions (in severe cases)

If you experience these symptoms, it is important to check your blood sugar levels and take appropriate action, such as eating or drinking something with sugar, to raise your blood glucose levels back to normal range.

What can we do if we have hypoglycemia symptoms?

If you experience hypoglycemia symptoms, the first thing you should do is check your blood glucose levels with a glucose meter or go to a healthcare professional if you don’t have a meter available.

If your blood glucose level is below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), you can try to raise it by consuming a fast-acting source of glucose, such as:

Glucose tablets or gel
Fruit juice
Regular soda (not diet)
Hard candy, such as lifesavers

It’s important to consume the glucose source quickly to avoid the risk of passing out or developing more severe symptoms. After consuming the glucose, wait 15 minutes and re-check your blood glucose levels. If your levels are still low, repeat the process.

If you have diabetes, it’s important to regularly monitor your blood glucose levels and work with your healthcare team to develop a plan to manage hypoglycemia. You may need to adjust your medication, meal plan, or physical activity to help prevent hypoglycemia.