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Hypoglycaemia | Diabetes Hub

Find out what causes your blood sugar level to fall below healthy levels, what you should do when it does, and how you can prevent it from happening.

3 BE’S
TO BEAT DIABETES
On this page
  1. Causes
  2. Signs and symptoms
  3. 15-15 Rule
  4. How to prevent hypoglycaemia
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Self-Monitoring of Blood Sugar
1

Hypoglycaemia

Causes

Also known as low blood sugar, hypoglycaemia occurs when your blood sugar level falls below 4.0 mmol/L.

The possibles causes are:

  • Imbalance between insulin intake and body's physiological needs
  • Insulin overdose – injecting too much insulin but not eating enough carbohydrates
  • Ill-timed insulin intake or using the wrong type of insulin
  • Increased sensitivity to insulin
  • Increased glucose utilisation (during or shortly after exercise)
  • Mismatch between food intake timing and sulphonylureas (e.g., Glipizide) consumption
2

Common signs and symptoms

Hunger
Hand tremors
Abnormally fast heartbeat
Fatigue
Mood changes
(e.g., anxiety, irritability and nervousness)
Dizziness or headaches
Changes in behaviour
(e.g., confusion, weakness and unclear speech)
Drowsiness

Symptoms and severity

Mild

Fast heartbeat

Dizziness

Headache

Sweating

Moderate

Unceasing hunger despite having a full and balanced meal

Irritable

Severe

Weakness

Blurred vision

Slurred speech

Confusion and abnormal behviour

Seizures

CANNOT self-treat

if the individual has lost consciousness, please call an ambulance immediately!

3

15-15 Rule

Follow if you experience hypoglycaemia.

Warning: These steps are only applicable if the person is conscious. If the person is unconscious, call an ambulance immediately.

1

Take 15g of fast-acting sugars, e.g.,
Half a glass
of sweetened drink
OR
3 soft candies
(sugar-containing) or sugar (glucose) tablets

2

After 15 minutes, check blood sugar level
If symptoms persist or blood sugar level is low (<4 mmol/L)
Repeat steps 1 & 2, one more time

If symptoms persist after second attempt, seek medical advice

(if your doctor is unavailable and it is an emergency, head to the A&E)

If symptoms resolves or blood sugar level is ≥ 4 mmol/L

3

Eat a light snack (e.g. bread, biscuit) or have your next meal earlier to prevent blood sugar levels from dropping again
Record what happened prior to experiencing hypoglycaemia
If hypoglycaemia is frequent, do a medication check with your doctor

Avoid using the following to treat hypoglycaemia

  • Diet/no sugar soft drinks
  • Sugar-free sweets
  • High fat snacks such as chocolate (fat slows down the movement of sugar into blood)
4

How to prevent hypoglycaemia

Do not skip meals even when busy
Bring a few sugar-containing sweets along whenever you go out
If needed, eat extra carbohydrates before moderate or vigorous intensity activities
Do not take diabetes or insulin injection in the morning when fasting for a blood test
Closely follow instructions on when to take your medication, especially in relation to meals
If you experience, hypoglycaemia frequently, check with your doctor as your medication may need adjusting
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