If low blood sugar is left untreated it can have serious effects, and signal underlying health problems. Know what these are and what to do about them.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) happens when the level of sugar (glucose) in your blood is too low. It’s most common in people with diabetes: either Type 1 (where your pancreas is no longer producing insulin, or Type 2 (where it isn’t producing enough and is not using it properly). This may be related to incorrect eating or high doses of medication, both oral and injected insulin.
But low blood sugar can also affect you if you do not have diabetes. What is called “non-reactive hypoglycaemia” (usually on fasting) can be caused by problems with your liver, kidneys or heart, by drinking too much alcohol, by eating disorders such as anorexia, or by pregnancy, all of which may leave your body unable to stabilise your blood sugar levels. Hormone deficiencies, pancreatic tumors or certain types of stomach surgery can also be to blame.
Or you may have “reactive hypoglycaemia”, which happens a few hours after a meal and is caused by an overproduction of insulin. This may later lead to insulin resistance and diabetes, says Razana Allie, a diabetic specialist nurse in Johannesburg.
What low blood sugar does
Every cell in your body must have sugar to function. If your blood sugar levels drop below about 3.9mmol/L, the cells are starved of energy. This will cause mild symptoms at first – hunger, light headedness and shakiness (the feeling you get when you skip a meal).
If you don’t raise your blood sugar levels by eating something high in carbohydrates, you can go on to experience more serious symptoms, from muddled thinking and mood changes to blurred vision, slurred speech, unsteadiness, headache, chills, tingling or numbness of the mouth, rapid heartbeat, palpitations and fainting; or if you’re asleep, nightmares and heavy sweating, says Allie.
If you suspect you are having any of these complications, consult your doctor or get to the nearest emergency room. Untreated, you could go on to have seizures or even slip into a coma.
Some people with long-standing diabetes may not have the earlier warning signs of low blood sugar, because their body experiences it so often that it no longer releases the stress hormones that trigger these, so they risk being caught unawares.
What to do
- Have a blood sugar screening every six months. This can be done at a Clicks clinic. If the level is low, have a check-up with your healthcare professional, who can order a laboratory blood test and make a professional diagnosis.
- If you do not have diabetes, help prevent low blood sugar by eating a balanced diet low in sugar and high in protein, fibre and complex carbohydrates. Having small meals every two hours can help keep blood sugar levels stable. Always carry a snack, like dried fruit or a health bar.
- If you have diabetes, constantly track your blood sugar levels, and take care to manage them well through your diet, exercise and balanced insulin doses (for those who are using it), to prevent low blood sugar episodes, says Razana Allie.
- If you have a sudden episode (faintness, shakiness), quickly eat or drink something with sugar in it – half a cup of fruit juice, a handful of raisins, or two to four glucose sweets – followed by a small snack. Then consult with your diabetes educator or your doctor to evaluate and adjust your medication if needed.
For more information and advice on diabetes, contact Diabetes SA: 021 425 4440. To book an appointment at your nearest Clicks clinic for a blood sugar screening, call 0860 254 257 or book online.
Also read: 5 Ways too much sugar can harm your health
IMAGE CREDIT: Getty Images
Reliance on any information provided on this Website is solely at your own risk.
The content of this Website is provided as a service to you for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need medical advice, you should seek the advice of your healthcare professional.