Hypoglycemia

This is a condition in which the level of glucose in the blood is too low. The disease occurs when the concentration of glucose is less than 3.5 mmol/l.

Hypoglycemia can start: skipping meals, delaying or changing the diet; drinking alcohol; working or exercising longer, differently, or more intensely than usual; having a severe kidney, liver, or other disease; recovering from an injury, surgery, fever, another illness or stress, after injecting insulin without eating immediately or overdosing on insulin.

Hypoglycemia has quite clear symptoms: weakness, trembling hands and/or legs; pale face; sweating; headache, dizziness; mood swings, drowsiness; possible vision disturbances.

When hypoglycemia occurs, it is necessary to eat something urgently. If hypoglycemia is not severe, you can eat food containing slowly absorbed carbohydrates (bread, etc.). If it is necessary to increase the sugar level quickly, it is recommended to eat candy (or drink a glass of juice). Caramel is the best option, as the sugar level in the blood will rise quickly, but it is also recommended to eat something that will stay in the stomach longer.

If hypoglycemia is left untreated or unnoticed, the risk of hypoglycemic coma arises. Then the person loses consciousness, later seizures begin. When seizures occur, it is necessary to provide assistance to the patient. Glucose or glucagon should be injected, which diabetics should always have nearby. The injection of glucagon can be administered like insulin. Hypoglycemic comas cannot be considered as a simple fainting, assistance must be provided as quickly as possible. If hypoglycemic coma goes unnoticed or assistance is not provided in time, the person can even die. After a hypoglycemic coma, the patient usually does not remember the moments before losing consciousness. Coordination of movements, vision may be impaired.

Hypoglycemia can also be triggered by certain factors in a healthy body. In high heat, the level of glucose in the blood also drops, for example, hypoglycemia can occur when soaking in hot water for a long time or when heating up in a sauna, so it is advisable to eat sweet food before going to the sauna.

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė