Hypoglycemia is defined as a blood glucose value below 70 mg / dL. This decrease in blood glucose to levels below normal can occur in people with diabetes due to : Delay of a meal; Excess of physical exercise in relation to what is programmed; Alcohol consumption; Administration of an overdose of insulin; Change of insulin or take sulfunylureas; Error in insulin administration. What are the symptoms of hypoglycemia? The first symptoms of hypoglycemia are autonomic and can be similar to those of anxiety: sweating, nervousness, tremors, fainting, blurred vision, palpitations and, sometimes, hunger. In mild and moderate hypoglycemia the patient does not lose consciousness, recognizes the symptoms and corrects it. When there is a severe hypoglycemia , the patient loses the ability to react and other persons must reverse the condition. Correct hypoglycemia People with diabetes should always carry some packages of sugar with them. The correction of hypoglycemia should be done with sugar and not with a food rich in sugar, such as cakes, sweets or chocolates, as these contain fat and this delays the absorption of sugar. What is wanted is that the absorption is immediate. There are also gels suitable for this purpose. Moderate hypoglycemia When the first symptoms of hypoglycemia appear, the first step should be to confirm hypoglycemia by measuring the glucose value . If capillary blood glucose is less than 70 mg/dL , hypoglycemia should be corrected as follows: Ingest sugar (about one to two packages), putting it directly in mouth or diluted in a glass of water; Repeat the measurement of capillary blood glucose about 5 minutes later; If the value is not yet normalized, repeat the sugar ingestion until the values normalize; After capillary blood glucose is again normal, eat slow-absorbing carbohydrates, such as bread (one small bread) or crackers (3 or 4), toasts (3 or 4) or pasta; Repeat the measurement of capillary blood glucose about one hour later; If the values do not stabilize despite several attempts, contact INEM (112) or go to a hospital emergency service. Severe hypoglycemia In a hypoglycemia with altered state of consciousness or even fainting (unconscious patient), the companions must act: Lay the person with hypoglycemia on their side, safely; Place a sugar porridge inside the cheek; If available, administer glucagon, 1 mg intramuscularly or subcutaneously; Contact INEM (112). Consequences of hypoglycemia It is very important that people with diabetes are aware of the risks and harmful effects of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can have several consequences , for example: Acute episodes of cardiovascular disease, such as strokes, changes in the electrical conduction of the heart; Accidents, such as falls or road accidents. When hypoglycemia ceases to be symptomatic it means that the detection threshold has decreased and the patient has had many episodes of hypoglycemia. In these cases, the risk of severe hypoglycemia is high. To regain sensitivity to hypoglycemia it is necessary to prevent these episodes to occur , which is why essential frequent blood glucose medication, the correct administration of insulin and a poly-fractionated diet are always essential. In long term, frequent episodes of hypoglycemia can represent a significant death of neurons (cells of the nervous system), with cognitive disorders. Author : Carolina Faria Meet the endocrinology team from Hospital da Luz network Record your values in MY LUZ At MY LUZ you have a specific card to your capillary blood glucose records. You can share your records with your doctor during the consultation or video consultation. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
