Low Blood Glucose During Sleep
Your blood glucose level can drop while you sleep and stay low for several hours, causing serious problems.7 Symptoms of low blood glucose while you sleep can include
- crying out or having nightmares
- sweating enough to make your pajamas or sheets damp
- feeling tired, irritable, or confused after waking up
Although you may not wake up or notice any symptoms, low blood glucose can interfere with your sleep, which may affect your quality of life, mood, and ability to work. Having low blood glucose during sleep can also make you less likely to notice and respond to symptoms of low blood glucose during the day.
What Happens When Your Sugar Drops To A Dangerous Level In Your Body
Blood glucose, or blood sugar, is the main fuel your brain uses. Your brain cannot store glucose. When it senses a severe drop in its main fuel supply, your brain responds with confusion, nervousness and inability to focus and think. This disorientation progresses to symptoms such as low body temperature, seizures, convulsions, loss of consciousness and coma. Without immediate medical attention for severe hypoglycemia, you risk permanent neurological damage. While hypoglycemia is more common among diabetics, it also affects people without this disease.
How Can I Prevent Hypoglycemia
You may need to change what and when you eat to prevent low blood sugar levels. Follow the meal plan that you and the dietitian have planned. The following guidelines may help you keep your blood sugar levels under control.
- Eat 5 to 6 small meals each day instead of 3 large meals. Eat the same amount of carbohydrate at meals and snacks each day. Most people need about 3 to 4 servings of carbohydrate at meals and 1 to 2 servings for snacks. Do not skip meals. Carbohydrate counting can be used plan your meals. Ask your healthcare provider or dietitian for information about carbohydrate counting.
- Limit refined carbohydrates. Examples are white bread, pastries , regular sodas, syrups, and candy.
- Do not have drinks or foods that contain caffeine. Examples are coffee, tea, and certain types of sodas. Caffeine may cause you to have the same symptoms as hypoglycemia, and may cause you to feel worse.
- Limit or do not drink alcohol. Women should limit alcohol to 1 drink a day. Men should limit alcohol to 2 drinks a day. A drink of alcohol is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces of liquor. Do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Drink alcohol with meals to avoid hypoglycemia.
- Include protein foods and vegetables in your meals. Some foods that are high in protein include beef, pork, fish, poultry , beans, and nuts. Eat a variety of vegetables with your meals.
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What Low Blood Sugar Feels Like
Have you seen the video going viral on Facebook right now where four amazing women with type 1 diabetes talk about what low blood sugar feels like?
I love this video, and it inspired me to think about what a low blood sugar feels like for me and to put it into words in this post. I think this is particularly useful for friends and family who may not know or understand what its like.
Please watch the video and consider sharing this post with your loved ones if you feel that it helps explain how you feel when your blood sugar is low.
A1c Versus Blood Sugar
We often get asked if its necessary to check your blood sugar if your A1c is within range.
First, review the following guidelines for hemoglobin A1C:
- Under 6% optimal
- 6-6.5% prediabetes
- > 6.5% diabetes
If youve been diagnosed with diabetes its always recommended to check your blood sugar levels, even if it seems everything is status quo with your A1c. A1c and daily blood sugar checks measure different aspects of your diabetes control, but both are important for having good control.
Checking blood sugar daily catches small fluctuations your A1c level does not catch these smaller fluctuations because A1c is an average.
A1c wont tell you if your blood sugar is rising a bit mid-morning, or dropping low in the afternoon. A1c represents what your average blood sugar has been over the past 3 months you could have a relatively good A1c and still be having a lot of fluctuations throughout the day.
Checking your blood sugar with your meter is the best way to monitor blood sugar trends and know your day to day fluctuations.
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What Are Some Tips To Prevent Nighttime Blood Sugar Level Dips
How Much Of A Fluctuation Is Normal
This is a bit of a loaded question, as it can depend on many factors and it also depends on the person.
As an example, fasting blood sugar that bounces between 80 mg/dL and 110 mg/dL is pretty normal those values are still considered within range.
Another normal fluctuation example would be if your blood sugar was 6.4 mg/dL one afternoon, and then a few hours later your blood sugar was 6.9 mg/dL.
Whats not necessarily normal is if your blood sugar is 75 mg/dL one morning, and then 140 mg/dL the next morning thats a large fluctuation!
The only way to know your sugar level is to check, and check often!
You may check your blood sugar before breakfast and find its 95 mg/dL , but that doesnt mean your blood sugar is going to stay at that level all day.
Ideally you want to be working toward having a blood sugar level that is within a healthy range on a consistent basis.
Fasting blood sugar:
- Between 70-100 mg/dL or 4-5.6 mmol/l
- 70-110 mg/dL or 4-6 mmol/l
- 70-130 mg/dL or 4-7.2 mmol/l
Postprandial blood sugar :
- Under 140 mg/dL or 7.8 mmol/L
The more consistent your blood sugar is on a daily basis, the better off you are. Throughout the day your levels may vary around 20-30 mg/dL naturally your goal is to stay within range as much as possible.
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How To Treat Someone Who’s Unconscious Or Very Sleepy
Follow these steps:
They may need to go to hospital if they’re being sick , or their blood sugar level drops again.
Tell your diabetes care team if you ever have a severe hypo that caused you to lose consciousness.
Understanding Your Blood Sugar
The best way to understand how your blood sugar changes day-to-day is to regularly use a blood glucose meter to check your blood sugar level. If youre newly diagnosed, its also helpful to keep a food journal in addition to a blood sugar log, as well as tracking any physical activity.
Your blood sugar patterns are unique to you. Over time youll have a better understanding of which foods raise your blood sugars the most, as well as how your blood sugar responds to different types of exercise.
Some people with diabetes choose to use a continuous glucose monitor to monitor their blood sugar trends.
A continuous glucose monitor is a device with a sensor worn under the skin which measures blood sugar levels every 5-15 minutes. This is useful for identifying trends in blood sugar levels and can help predict and identify hypoglycemia sooner.
Using a CGM can reduce the amount of finger prick glucose tests needed each day, which is an added benefit.
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How Often To Check Your Blood Sugar Levels
Most diabetes organizations recommend checking your blood sugar 3-4 times per day.
Many people choose to check before breakfast, midday, and then before bed, although your doctor may be able to suggest specific times that are best for you to check.
If you have poorly controlled diabetes, then you may need to check more often until your control improves. Checking more frequently will better allow you to remedy your high blood sugar.
S For Treating A Person With Symptoms Keeping Them From Being Able To Treat Themselves
Dont hesitate to call 911. If someone is unconscious and glucagon is not available or someone does not know how to use it, call 911 immediately.
Do NOT:
- Inject insulin
- Provide food or fluids
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How To Get Your Blood Sugar Up
A quick way to do it is the 15-15 rule:
But donât eat too much — That could send your blood sugar sky-high. Stick with repeat doses of 15 grams until youâre back to normal.
If your blood sugarâs very low or the 15-15 method doesnât work, you may need a shot of glucagon. This is a hormone your body makes that raises your blood sugar fast. Ask your doctor if you should have a glucagon rescue kit on hand. Be sure the people in your life know how to use it if you faint.
Tell your diabetes team any time you have low blood sugar, especially if itâs serious. They can suggest things to do so it doesnât happen as often.
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Can Hyperglycemia Be Treated
Your doctor may recommend a low-impact exercise program as your first line of defense. If youre already following a fitness plan, they may recommend that you increase your overall level of activity.
Your doctor may also suggest that you eliminate glucose-rich foods from your diet. Its important to maintain a balanced diet and stick to healthy food portions. If you arent sure where to begin, your doctor can refer you to a dietician or nutritionist who can help you establish a diet plan.
If these changes dont help lower your high blood sugar, your doctor may prescribe medication. If you have diabetes, your doctor may prescribe oral medications or change the amount or type of insulin youve already been prescribed.
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How Can You Tell That A Low Is Coming On
Warning signs of low blood sugar are hunger, shakiness, confusion, sweating, moodiness and a fast heartbeat. I get jelly legs when Im walking and feel airy and lightheaded.
Unfortunately, your body can adapt to the feeling of having a low and only reacts when its so low that help is critical! You have to keep your blood sugar levels as normal as possible all the time so your body doesnt get confused and think its normal to be operating at such a low level. This can be pretty difficult.
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What Are The Signs Of Hypoglycemia
An individual may frequently wake up in the middle of the night as a result of nighttime hypoglycemia. In other instances, though, people may know if they experienced hypoglycemia during their sleep if they notice the following symptoms:
- Waking up with a headache
- Waking up in a sweat
- Getting unusual feelings of tiredness throughout the day
- Experiencing anxiety or heart palpitations
- Feeling confused, dizzy or weak
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Symptoms Of Mild Low Blood Sugar
You may have these symptoms when your blood sugar has dropped below 70 milligrams per deciliter . When you have had diabetes for many years, you may not always develop symptoms of mild low blood sugar.
Some young children with diabetes cannot recognize symptoms of low blood sugar. Others can, but not every time. To be safe, the parents need to do a home blood sugar test whenever they suspect low blood sugar in a child.
Symptoms may include:
- Sweating . Check for sweating on the back of your neck at your hairline.
- Nervousness, shakiness, and weakness.
- Extreme hunger and slight nausea.
- Dizziness and headache.
- A fast heartbeat and feeling anxious.
These symptoms may go away shortly after you eat food that contains sugar.
What It Feels Like To Have A Serious Blood Sugar Crash
A type-1 diabetic describes exactly what it feels like to experience hypoglycaemia a dangerous blood sugar crash and how to prevent it.
First off, theres a pretty big distinction between type-1 and type-2 diabetes. Put simply, type-1 is when the body does not produce insulin at all type-2 is when your cells have become insulin resistant as a result of lifestyle issues poor diet, lack of exercise or being overweight.
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What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Low Blood Sugar
Different people may feel low blood sugar levels differently. People with low blood sugar may:
- feel hungry or have “hunger pains” in their stomach
- feel shaky or like they’re trembling
- have a rapid heart rate
- feel sweaty or have cold, clammy skin
- have pale, gray skin color
- have a headache
- have seizures or convulsions
- lose consciousness
If you have diabetes, try to remember how your body reacts when your blood sugar levels are low. It may help you figure out when you’re having a low blood sugar level more quickly the next time.
Normal Blood Sugar Levels
The Joslin Diabetes Center provides the following blood glucose ranges for people with diabetes. Before breakfast, the blood glucose range for diabetics is 70 to 130 milligrams per deciliter. But your doctor will determine the best individual blood-glucose ranges for you based on your overall health condition. Severe hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar drops below 35 to 40 milligrams per deciliter. Without medical treatment, severe hypoglycemia can be fatal.
References
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Who Should Monitor Blood Sugar Levels
If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, monitoring your blood sugar regularly will help you understand how medication like insulin, food, and physical activity affect your blood glucose. It also allows you to catch rising blood sugar levels early. It is the most important thing you can do to prevent complications from diabetes such as heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation.
Other people who may benefit from checking their blood glucose regularly include those:
- Taking insulin
Treating An Episode Of Hypoglycaemia
The immediate treatment for hypoglycaemia is to have some sugary food or drink to end the attack.
For example, this could be:
- a glass of fruit juice or non-diet soft drink
- between three and five dextrose tablets
- a handful of sweets
At first you should avoid fatty foods and drinks, such as chocolate and milk, because they don’t usually contain as much sugar and the sugar they do contain may be absorbed more slowly.
After having something sugary, you should have a longer-acting carbohydrate food, such as a few biscuits, a cereal bar, a piece of fruit or a sandwich.
It will usually take around 15 minutes to recover from a mild episode of hypoglycaemia. If you have a blood glucose meter, measure your blood sugar again after 15 to 20 minutes. If it’s still too low , you should have some more sugary food or a drink before testing your levels again in another 15 to 20 minutes.
When treating someone else with hypoglycaemia, if the above treatment isn’t effective, you may be able to help them by applying glucose gel to the inside of their cheeks, and gently massaging the outside of their cheeks.
It may take 10 to 15 minutes before they feel better. This shouldn’t be done if the person is drowsy or unconscious because of the risk of choking.
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