What Level Of Blood Sugar Is Dangerous Low

How Is It Treated

If you often have symptoms of hypoglycemia, you should see your healthcare provider. Your provider can help you determine the cause. Your provider will also give you guidelines for treating low blood sugar when you are having symptoms.

When you see your provider, be sure to take your notebook or glucose meter with all of the results of your recent blood sugar checks. This helps your provider know whether you are on the right medicines and are taking the right dose at the right time of day. Without this record, it is harder for your provider to help you figure out the cause of your symptoms.

Here are some examples of guidelines your provider may give you:

• If you have diabetes and you think your blood sugar may be too low, check it with your home meter before treatment, if possible.
• Always carry some form of sugar you can eat as soon as you have any symptoms of hypoglycemia. The following amounts and types of foods will bring your blood sugar level up:
• 2 to 5 glucose tablets
• 1/2 cup fruit juice
• 1/2 cup regular soda
• 6 to 8 ounces of skim milk
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup of raisins
• 5 to 7 pieces of hard candy like Lifesavers
• a tube of glucose in gel form
• 1 tablespoon of molasses, corn syrup, or honey

Whats The Link Between Diabetes And Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is most common, by far, in people with diabetes. Treatment for the diseaseoften involves taking medication to increase insulin. Hypoglycemia can develop if things like food, exercise and diabetes medications are out of balance.

Common pitfalls for people with diabetes include:

• Being more active than usual.
• Drinking alcohol without eating.
• Eating late or skipping meals.
• Not balancing meals by including fat, protein and fiber.
• Not eating enough carbohydrates.
• Not timing insulin and carb intake correctly .

Also, if someone with diabetes uses the wrong insulin, takes too much or injects it incorrectly, that can cause hypoglycemia.

Are High Levels Of Blood Sugar Dangerous

High blood sugar levels can be dangerous. Blood sugar above 200 mg/dL at any time is considered very high. In type 1 diabetes, very high blood sugar can lead to a life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis .

DKA occurs when insulin levels are very low, which causes the body to start producing ketones to use as fuel instead of glucose. A sign of ketone bodies being present is fruity-smelling breath.DKA can be fatal, so prompt medical attention is required.

Some symptoms of DKA include:

• Excessive thirst

In type 2 diabetes, very high blood sugar can cause hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome . HHS doesnt cause ketones to build up, but it does present as:

• Very high blood sugar

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Check Blood Sugar Regularly

People who regularly check their blood sugar tend to have better-controlled blood sugar overall. Checking blood sugar levels at home helps people become aware of their blood sugar trends. It can also help people identify how their lifestyle habits affect their blood sugar and make adjustments to achieve better blood sugar control.

How Can I Prevent Insulin

• Check your blood sugar regularly.
• Know what causes low blood sugar.
• Eat at regular mealtimes. Do not delay or skip meals and do not eat partial meals.
• Take all medicines exactly as prescribed.
• Check your blood sugar more often when you are exercising more or eating less, or when you are sick, according to your healthcare provider’s recommendations.
• Keep your follow-up appointments with your provider.

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How To Test Your Blood Sugar At Home

To perform a blood sugar test, you will need to prick your finger with a lancet . Youll put a small sample of blood from this onto a strip inserted into the blood glucose meter.

Before you test your blood sugar at home, its important to find out from your doctor what a healthy blood sugar range is for you. Your doctor will determine this range based on factors such as:

• the type of diabetes you have
• how long youve had diabetes
• your age
• whether you have any other chronic health conditions

If you dont have a blood sugar testing machine on hand and are experiencing signs or symptoms of low blood sugar with diabetes, your symptoms may be enough to diagnose low blood sugar.

Your Diabetes Devices And Hypoglycemia

Several insulin pumps are now available that make managing blood sugar levels easier, particularly when connected to a glucose meter or a CGM.

Some of the most important advantages of CGM devices are the improved insulin control and the ability to detect trends and lows early. With improved technology, it is now possible for parents to track blood sugar trends in their kids even when they are hundreds of miles apart .

In addition, automated insulin delivery systems, also known an artificial pancreas or a hybrid closed-loop system, will automatically adjust insulin to match your bodys need to help you spend more time in your target range.

Resources that provide people with T1D and their families with more detailed information about pumps and CGM devices are available through JDRF here. For people looking for a deeper understanding of technology that helps people with T1D better manage their blood sugar, JDRF resources are available here.

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Should You Consider Taking Insulin

Most blood sugar reactions are managed by eating meals on time, taking diabetes medicine, and testing blood sugar more often.

For type 2 diabetics there is not enough insulin production by the pancreas therefore they might need to consider additional insulin boosts to maintain blood sugar levels. It is advisable to talk to your doctor or health coach to guide you regarding the same.

What You Need To Know About High Blood Sugar

When you have diabetes, you need to know About High Blood Sugar. If your blood glucose is too high, you may experience symptoms such as frequent thirst and excessive urination. When glucose levels are too high, the bodys kidneys must work harder to excrete it. The extra sugar is excreted through the urine, and this can cause dehydration and dizziness. This is when you need to contact your health care team.

Other symptoms of high blood sugar include frequent urination, also known as polyuria. This is a common symptom of diabetes, and it is an indication of high blood sugar. People with diabetes tend to experience frequent urination, but it can happen to anyone. If your urine output is greater than normal, you may have diabetes. Your urine output may be erratic or even unpredictable, resulting in a plethora of symptoms.

If you experience frequent urination, you are likely suffering from high blood sugar. Having this condition can make you feel very thirsty and you may even experience weight loss. When you have high blood sugar, your body starts to break down stored fat and muscle as fuel to combat the lack of glucose. You may also be unusually tired or have trouble concentrating. Regardless of the causes of your high blood sugar, you should contact your health care provider for a diagnosis. See more : Exipure Reviews | Best Supplements To Increase Brown Fat for Weight Loss!

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Be Consistent With Your Meal

A well-balanced diet is necessary for diabetics. To prevent hypoglycemia, eat a minimum of three proper meals comprising whole-grain cereals such as quinoa and oats, fruits such as apples, bananas or berries, and dried nuts.

Snack occasionally, but wisely. Reduce your portion size and limit high-sugary beverages or sources of refined sugar. Lastly, try not to skip or delay your meals. At times, your primary care physician might advise a low-carb and high protein diet to prevent any surges in glucose. However, this might predispose to hypoglycemia.

If A Person Is Unconscious

If a person loses consciousness because of severe hypoglycaemia, they need to be put into the recovery position and given an injection of the hormone glucagon . The injection will raise their blood glucose level.

The injection should be carried out by a friend or family member who knows what they’re doing, or by a trained healthcare professional.

You should dial 999 to request an ambulance if:

• a glucagon injection kit isn’t available
• there’s nobody available who’s trained to give the injection
• the injection is ineffective after 10 minutes

Never try to put food or drink into the mouth of someone who’s unconscious as they could choke.

If you’re able to give a glucagon injection and the person regains consciousness, they should eat some longer-acting carbohydrate food, such as a few biscuits, a cereal bar or a sandwich.

You should continue to monitor the person for signs of recurring symptoms in case they need to be treated again.

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What Is Considered A Dangerously Low Blood Glucose Level

Treating a blood glucose level lower than 70 mg/dl immediately can help prevent severe hypoglycemia. While a blood glucose level between the ranges of 55 69 mg/dl is considered significantly low, it can be managed with dietary sources containing simple carbs. These include honey, syrups, juices, and glucose tablets or gels.

But, what is considered a dangerously low blood sugar level? A blood glucose level lower than 59 mg/dl poses dangerous health risks. Severe hypoglycemia is one of the common causes of dizziness, delirium, and seizures in the absence of other systemic illnesses. If left untreated, it might lead to unconsciousness and an eventful trip to the ER.

What Is The Outlook For People With Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia can be managed when you and your healthcare provider understand what causes your blood sugar to go down. Give your healthcare provider as much information as possible about any hypoglycemic episodes. Fixing the problem may be as simple as changing the times you take medication, eat and exercise. Minor changes to the types of food you eat may also help.

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What Causes Low Blood Glucose

• Symptoms occur when blood glucose levels fall below 70 mg/dl a condition known as hypoglycemia.
• In most cases, low blood glucose results from overtreatment: Either taking too much diabetes medication or not eating enough food. Higher doses of medicine than the person actually requires can also lead to hypoglycemia.
• People who aim for too-low values on their A1C test tend to experience more frequent drops in blood glucose.
• Vigorous exercise doesn’t just burn calories, it also burns blood glucose! Hypoglycemia can occur unless blood glucose levels are carefully monitored during and after exercise.
• Not eating on a regular basis can deprive the body of glucose and make it difficult to prevent hypoglycemia. Eat balanced meals throughout the day and always keep a snack on hand.

When To Call The Doctor

If signs of low blood sugar do not improve after you have eaten a snack that contains sugar, have someone drive you to the emergency room or call your local emergency number . DO NOT drive when your blood sugar is low.

Get medical help right away for a person with low blood sugar if the person is not alert or cannot be woken up.

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Why Do We Need Sugar In Your Blood

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No statement herein is to be construed as a diagnosis, treatment, preventative, or cure for any disease, disorder or abnormal physical state.A child may have a slightly elevated temperature within hours and can become cpap therapy affect blood sugar levels irritable and unruly, or subdued and lethargic.After redissolving the bound cpap therapy affect blood sugar levels crystal violet in 70 ethanol, the absorbance is determined at 590 nm using a SPECTRA MAX Low Blood Sugar Levels cpap therapy affect blood sugar levels PLUS Microplate Spectrophotometer System.For the working of the battery, 2 AAA batteries are required.The x axis shows the results for different distance metrics used in the clustering.Glycogen that can be mobilized to provide circulating glucose eg, hepatic glycogen contains approximately 70 g of glucose, with a range cpap therapy affect blood sugar levels of about 25 to 130 g 135 722 mmol.

Nighttime Low Blood Sugar

While low blood sugar can happen at any time during the day, some people may experience low blood sugar while they sleep. Reasons this may happen include:

• Having an active day.
• Being physically active close to bedtime.
• Taking too much insulin.
• Drinking alcohol at night.

Eating regular meals and not skipping them can help you avoid nighttime low blood sugar. Eating when you drink alcohol can also help. If you think youre at risk for low blood sugar overnight, have a snack before bed.

You may wake up when you have low blood sugar, but you shouldnt rely on that. A continuous glucose monitor can alert you with an alarm if your blood sugar gets low while youre sleeping.

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What Is A Dangerous Blood Sugar Reading

The American Diabetes Association recommends fasting blood glucose between 80-130 mg/dL and postprandial blood sugar of no more than 180 mg/dL as healthy targets for people with diabetes.

When you check your blood sugar using a glucometer, a reading of 70 mg/dL or below indicates hypoglycaemia, or low blood glucose.

On the other end of the spectrum, hyperglycaemia occurs when the level of glucose in your blood is too high. According to the World Health Organisation, fasting blood sugar greater than 126 mg/dL , and postprandial blood sugar exceeding 200 mg/dL indicates hyperglycaemia.

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.

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Who Is Most At Risk For Hypoglycemia

Aside from people with diabetes, Dr. Jennifer Shine Dyer notes that children are more prone toexperience episodes of hypoglycemia because of their smaller body size, as well as having less fat to burn to maintain energy when glucose levels are low. Eating meals every 4 to 6 hours should maintain glucose levels if this is the only cause of hypoglycemia, she says.

Which One Is More Dangerous

BeatO Health CoachMadhuparna Pramanick says The brain cells stop working without glucose, thus making hypoglycemia more dangerous than hyperglycemia & it needs immediate intervention. A person with diabetes must always carry sugar sachets/ glucose tabs with him all the time for immediate response. Also, a band may be tied on ones wrist to signify that person has diabetes. This can help in an emergency.

Some people fear low blood sugar levels and some fear high blood sugar levels. If the range is not normal, it is risky no matter if you have a low blood sugar range or high.

Low blood sugar symptoms are intense as they act like an emergency alarm our body produces to help save itself. Low blood glucose levels in the absence of ketones can prove to be deadly.

Effects of high blood sugar result in long term vascular damage and the presence of high levels of ketones can also lead to deadly ketoacidosis.

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What Is Hypoglycemia Unawareness

Some people experience hypoglycemia unawareness this means the body doesnt release or respond to the warning signals of hypoglycemia, putting them at risk of prolonged low glucose levels. Several factors can increase your chances of hypoglycemia unawareness, including having repeated episodes of hypoglycemia, going low while sleeping, exercising, consuming alcohol, having specific diabetes complications , or taking certain medications. Because hypoglycemia unawareness more often occurs in those who were diagnosed with diabetes decades before, in addition to the risk factors mentioned, it commonly occurs in people over the age of 65.

How Do You Treat Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar levels happen when theres too little glucose left in the bloodstream to continue supplying fuel to your organs, muscles, and tissues. It most often occurs when you dont eat enough food, especially carb-containing foods, given your blood-sugar-lowering medications and physical activity levels, ONeill says. Levels can decrease gradually or suddenly.

When the amount of glucose in the bloodstream drops to too-low levels, the body reacts by releasing epinephrine, also called adrenaline or the fight or flight hormone. Epinephrine revs your heart rate and can cause sweating, shaking, anxiety, and irritability. If not enough glucose is able to reach the brain, the result may be difficulty concentrating, confused thinking, and slurred speech. In extreme cases, a lack of glucose within the brain can lead to seizures, coma, and even death, she says.

People with low glucose levels can use the ADAs 15-15 Rule, which advises people consume 15 g of carbs, wait 15 minutes, and check their levels again. If the number is still low, repeat until reaching at least 70 mg/dL.

You can find 15 g of carbs in:

• 1 slice of bread
• 1 small piece of fresh fruit
• cup of yogurt
• Three to four hard candies
• Glucose tablets as indicated on the label
• Glucose gel as indicated on the label

Once your glucose levels are back to normal, the ADA suggests going ahead and eating your next scheduled meal or snack, which will help prevent levels from dropping again.

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