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Managing Diabetes Magazine - diabetes

Treating Low Blood Glucose
Advice for adults with diabetes

Low blood glucose (also known as hypoglycemia) occurs when the amount of glucose in the blood (blood sugar) falls below 4.0 mmol/L.

What are the most common symptoms of low blood glucose?

sweating weakness clumsiness

dizziness drowsiness trembling

confusion sudden mood changes fast heart rate

hunger or nausea tingling or numb lips headache

Some of these symptoms may be caused by problems other than low blood glucose. Unusual stress or anxiety can cause some of the same symptoms.

What are the most common causes of low blood glucose?

increases in physical activity eating too little food

taking too much medication

drinking alcohol without eating

missed or delayed meals or snacks

What diabetes medications increase your risk of low blood glucose?

If you are taking one or more of the following medications to treat diabetes, your blood glucose may fall below 4.0 mmol/L.

Insulin Tolbutamide Chlorpropamide

Glyburide (Diabeta®) Gliclazide (Diamicron®) Glimepiride (Amaryl®)

Nateglinide (Starlix®) Repaglinide (GlucoNorm®) Avandaryl®

The following medications will not increase your risk of low blood glucose:

metformin (Glucophage® or Glumetza®), acarbose (Glucobay®) rosiglitazone (Avandia®)

pioglitazone (Actos®) Avandamet® sitagliptin (Januvia®

saxagliptin (Onglyza®) liraglutide (Victoza®) or exenatide (Byetta®)

What is the treatment for low blood glucose?

1. 1. If you are having symptoms, check your blood glucose. If you cannot check it, treat as if you have low blood glucose.
2. 2. Eat or drink 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate such as:
   • 15 g of glucose tablets work quickest (4 Dex 4® or 5 Dextrosol®)
   • 3/4 cup (175 mL) orange juice or regular pop
   • 3 teaspoons (15 mL) or 3 packets of table sugar dissolved in water
   • 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of honey
   • 6 Lifesavers® candy
3. If you are taking Glucobay®, you must use glucose tablets or 11/4 cup of skim milk.
4. Recheck your blood glucose level after 15 minutes. If it is still below 4.0 mmol/L, treat again with another 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate.
5. Have your normal meal or snack. If your next meal is more than one hour away, have a snack that includes 15 grams of carbohydrate and a protein source. For instance, try either a sandwich of meat, cheese or peanut butter or six crackers with cheese or peanut butter.

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While effort is made to reflect accepted medical knowledge and practice, articles in Family Health Online should not be relied upon for the treatment or management of any specified medical problem or concern and Family Health accepts no liability for reliance on the articles. For proper diagnosis and care, you should always consult your family physician promptly. © Copyright 2019, Family Health Magazine, a special publication of the Edmonton Journal, a division of Postmedia Network Inc., 10006 - 101 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 0S1    [DI_MDab15]