How do you control hypoglycemia

This can cause blood sugar levels to shoot way up. Using the step-wise approach of the " Rule" can help you avoid this, preventing high blood sugar levels.

Glucagon is a hormone produced in the pancreas that stimulates your liver to release stored glucose into your bloodstream when your blood sugar levels are too low. Glucagon is used to treat someone with diabetes when their blood sugar is too low to treat using the rule. Glucagon is available by prescription and is either injected or administered or puffed into the nostril. For those who are familiar with injectable glucagon, there are now two injectable glucagon products on the market—one that comes in a kit and one that is pre-mixed and ready to use.

Speak with your doctor about whether you should buy a glucagon product, and how and when to use it. The people you are in frequent contact with for example, friends, family members and coworkers should be instructed on how to give you glucagon to treat severe hypoglycemia.

If you have needed glucagon, let your doctor know so you can discuss ways to prevent severe hypoglycemia in the future. Find products for dealing with low blood glucose. If someone is unconscious and glucagon is not available or someone does not know how to use it, call immediately. Do NOT:. Low blood sugar is common for people with type 1 diabetes and can occur in people with type 2 diabetes taking insulin or certain medications.

If you add in lows without symptoms and the ones that happen overnight, the number would likely be higher. Too much insulin is a definite cause of low blood sugar. Insulin pumps may also reduce the risk for low blood sugar. Accidentally injecting the wrong insulin type, too much insulin, or injecting directly into the muscle instead of just under the skin , can cause low blood sugar. What you eat can cause low blood sugar, including:. Exercise has many benefits.

The tricky thing for people with type 1 diabetes is that it can lower blood sugar in both the short and long-term. Nearly half of children in a type 1 diabetes study who exercised an hour during the day experienced a low blood sugar reaction overnight.

The intensity, duration and timing of exercise can all affect the risk for going low. Many people with diabetes, particularly those who use insulin, should have a medical ID with them at all times. In the event of a severe hypoglycemic episode, a car accident or other emergency, the medical ID can provide critical information about the person's health status, such as the fact that they have diabetes, whether or not they use insulin, whether they have any allergies, etc.

Emergency medical personnel are trained to look for a medical ID when they are caring for someone who can't speak for themselves. Medical IDs are usually worn as a bracelet or a necklace. Traditional IDs are etched with basic, key health information about the person, and some IDs now include compact USB drives that can carry a person's full medical record for use in an emergency.

Injectable glucagon is the best way to treat severely low blood sugar. A glucagon kit is available by prescription. Speak with your doctor to see if you should have a kit. Be sure to learn how and when to use it. When the person is awake and able to swallow:. A medical ID, usually a bracelet or necklace, can be critical in keeping you safe and healthy. After you have low blood sugar, your early symptoms for low blood sugar are less noticeable for 48 to 72 hours.

Be sure to check your blood sugar more often to keep it from getting too low again, especially before eating, physical activity, or driving a car. For example, if you can't eat, you might need glucagon injection or intravenous glucose. In general, people with diabetes who are treated with insulin should have a glucagon kit for emergencies. Family and friends need to know where to find the kit and how to use it in case of emergency.

If you're helping someone who is unconscious, don't try to give the person food or drink. If there's no glucagon kit available or you don't know how to use it, call for emergency medical help.

Preventing recurrent hypoglycemia requires your doctor to identify the underlying condition and treat it. Depending on the underlying cause, treatment may involve:.

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. If you have type 1 diabetes and you're having repeated hypoglycemic episodes, or if your blood sugar levels are dropping significantly, talk with your doctor to find out how you might need to change your diabetes management.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. To diagnose hypoglycemia, a doctor first asks a person about their symptoms. If the doctor suspects hypoglycemia, they may perform a blood test. However, everyone has a different base blood sugar level, and the measurement that determines hypoglycemia can vary. According to research from , the best way to treat mild hypoglycemia is to:.

A non-diabetic hypoglycemia diet can help keep blood sugar levels balanced. The following tips can help to prevent hypoglycemia:. Carrying a snack to eat at the first sign of hypoglycemia can prevent blood sugar levels from dipping too low.

Low blood sugar or glucose levels can lead to hypoglycemia. It is not a disease, but it can signal an underlying health issue. Find out why it happens,. When a person is pregnant, their condition may affect how their body regulates the glucose it needs for energy.

Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar can…. Blood sugar or blood glucose supplies energy from food to all the cells in the body. Diabetes happens when healthy sugar levels are not maintained.

Blood glucose levels drop during the night, which means that people with diabetes may experience low blood sugar in the mornings. This is called…. Insulin and glucagon are hormones that help to regulate blood sugar levels.