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Understanding the Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar

Diabetes patients have hypoglycemia or low blood sugar when their bodies stop producing enough sugar. Since sugar acts as a fuel for the body, it is essential to keep a check on one’s sugar levels. Low blood sugar displays several symptoms that depend on the severity of the drop in the blood sugar. While some symptoms such as dizziness, anxiety, and weakness remain constant, most symptoms low blood sugar displays usually vary.

Understanding the Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar
Often, blood sugar that is mildly low has symptoms that last for only a few seconds; however, people with severely low blood sugar may have life-threatening complications. Here are some common symptoms people with varying types of low blood sugar experience.

General symptoms of low blood sugar
Symptoms that are generally associated with all types of low blood sugar include a sense of ambiguity, dizziness, shakiness, extreme hunger, pale skin, trembling, irritability, headaches, racing heartbeat, and the like. Most of these symptoms can be diagnosed as the early signs and symptoms. In case these symptoms are undiagnosed and untreated, the disease may progress to give way to more severe symptoms like poor coordination, numbness, fainting, nightmares, and even coma.

Mildly low blood sugar
For people whose blood sugar has dropped under 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) usually have mild low blood sugar. Most children diagnosed with low blood sugar generally tend to have mildly low blood sugar. In such patients, the symptoms low blood sugar displays include sweating on the back of the neck at the hairline, nervousness, weakness, extreme hunger, nausea, anxiety and rapid heartbeat, blurred vision, and dizziness. Usually, symptoms of low blood sugar in such patients go away with the intake of items that have sugar.

Symptoms of moderately low blood sugar
A reading of blood sugar that drops below 40mg/dL is recognized as moderate low blood sugar. People who suffer from this often experience symptoms that include low concentration, inability to focus, twitching, confusion, unsteadiness, extreme anger or sadness, slurred speech, a general sense of powerlessness, and the like.

When the blood sugar is severely low
Blood sugar level that drops further down the 20mg/dL mark is known to be severely low blood sugar. In case a patient’s blood sugar drops beyond that mark, the symptoms of low blood sugar include seizures, unconsciousness, coma, and even death. If a patient experiences symptoms of low blood sugar for a prolonged period, it is necessary that she/he is given immediate treatment. In case of severely low blood sugar, it is rather imperative to recognize all the symptoms low blood sugar exhibits. People who are at a risk of having low blood sugar must carry a glucagon kit and necessary drugs at all times. In an unfortunate event of passing out, one must get an injection. In case a person is suffering from an episode of low blood sugar, it is recommended that you call 911. Feeding an unconscious person food, fluids, insulin, or any food is strictly prohibited as it may choke the patient.

Low blood sugar symptoms at night
Symptoms of low blood sugar vary not only with the degree of severity but also differs during different times of the day. Most patients with a low level of blood sugar, for instance, may noticeably sweat and seem more restless. People with low blood sugar may exhibit signs of nocturnal hypoglycemia that include making unusual sounds, accidentally rolling out of bed, sleepwalking, sweating profusely, or having frequent nightmares. People who experience nocturnal hypoglycemia at night often wake up with a headache in the morning.

Hypoglycemic unawareness
People with low blood sugar may also experience something called hypoglycemic unawareness that causes lots of confusion. One of the most characteristic symptoms of low blood sugar and hypoglycemia unawareness is the inability to tell the symptom and become unconscious. People with the ailment must get their blood sugar tested before venturing out alone. Additionally, they must also carry sugar foods and glucagon kit in case of an emergency.

Prevention
While recognizing the symptoms of blood sugar is the first step towards managing the ailment, people with low blood sugar must also be aware of tackling the episodes of low blood sugar effectively. One of the common ways of preventing the episodes from causing harm includes checking the sugar levels frequently, snacking on carb-rich food, granola bars, cookies, etc. especially before exercising and stepping out. Some of the best remedies for low blood sugar patients also include eating at regular intervals. People with the problem should keep handy about 15 grams of carbs that can effectively boost a person’s energy levels. Carrying or consuming either three or four tablets that have glucose, or a glucose gel, about six candies, half a cup of fruit juice, a cup of milk, about half a cup of soft drink, and a tablespoon of honey, can instantly raise dropping sugar levels.

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