Dealing with Low Blood Sugar Levels

Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can cause symptoms like shakiness, confusion, and fainting. It is important to address low blood sugar promptly.
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Treatment For Low Blood Sugar | Prevention Of Hypoglycemia | Emergency Response To Low Blood Sugar | Hypoglycemia Symptoms | Low Blood Sugar Causes | Low Blood Sugar Treatment
Prepared by Lee Cheng, reviewed by Jane Cox

Low Blood Sugar FAQ


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What should I do if I have low blood sugar?

If you have diabetes and get symptoms of low blood sugar (a hypo) or your blood sugar is below 4mmol/L: Eat or drink something that will raise your blood sugar quickly, such as a small glass of fruit juice or sugary fizzy drink, 5 glucose or dextrose tablets, 4 large jelly babies, or 2 tubes of glucose gel.

What is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)?

For many people, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is a blood sugar level below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 3.9 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). But your numbers might be different. Ask your health care provider about the appropriate range to keep your blood sugar (target range).

What does low blood sugar mean?

This is called high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia). Low blood sugar usually affects people with diabetes who take insulin or some other diabetes medicines. It's rare in people without diabetes. If you have diabetes and get any symptoms of low blood sugar, check your blood sugar if you can. If it's below 4mmol/L you'll need to take steps to treat it.

What causes low blood sugar?

The most common reason for low blood sugar is a side effect of medications used to treat diabetes. When you eat, your body breaks down foods into glucose. Glucose, the main energy source for your body, enters the cells with the help of insulin — a hormone produced by your pancreas.

What if I keep getting a low blood sugar level?

If you keep getting a low blood sugar level, talk to your diabetes care team about things you can do to help prevent it. You must do something as soon as you notice symptoms of a hypo, or if a blood test has shown your glucose levels are too low. If you don’t act quickly, it could get worse and you could start feeling confused and drowsy.

What happens if your blood sugar is too low?

The device can alert you when your blood sugar is too low. If you have diabetes, episodes of low blood sugar are uncomfortable and can be frightening. Fear of hypoglycemia can cause you to take less insulin to ensure that your blood sugar level doesn't go too low. This can lead to uncontrolled diabetes.

What if my blood sugar is below 4 mmol/L?

If you have diabetes and get any symptoms of low blood sugar, check your blood sugar if you can. If it's below 4mmol/L you'll need to take steps to treat it. If you have diabetes and get symptoms of low blood sugar (a hypo) or your blood sugar is below 4mmol/L:

Low Blood Sugar References

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