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Shaking hands, fast-beating heart, sweaty brows – no, we’re not describing how it feels to be nervous.

All these are the common signs of hypoglycemia, or what we know as low blood sugar. Low blood sugar and its symptoms are often considered a part of the diabetes patient life, and in mild episodes, it is an easily manageable condition.

Understanding the processes that lead to this state of hypoglycemia, knowing what symptoms to watch out for and exactly how to handle it are all aspects that diabetes patients and their caregivers should know.

Keep reading to know more hypoglycemia – it’s causes, symptoms and the best way to be prepared for it. 

What Happens In Your Body During Hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia as most of us know is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of blood glucose in the body.  Since the brain uses glucose for performing its functions the symptoms include dizziness, blurred vision, headache and other neurological problems.

The condition is most commonly seen in diabetes patients as a result of the high dosage of diabetes medication, especially insulin, or a drastic change in diet or exercise. This is because insulin and exercise can potentially lower blood glucose, while certain food can raise it.  

Outside of diabetes patients, hypoglycemia is only observed in certain people, such as those who have had gastrointestinal surgery, pancreatic conditions, lack of certain hormones, severe alcoholism and/or liver diseases. 

Whatever the cause may be, some symptoms that everyone should watch out for are poor coordination, weakness, fainting or convulsions, and all the any of the earlier mentioned symptoms.

What You Can Do To Be Prepared For Hypoglycemia?

If you have experienced hypoglycemia in the past or is prone to it because one of the mentioned reasons, it’ll do well to always be prepared. In a large number of cases, immediately recognizing the symptoms of a hypoglycemia episode and consuming something sweet can help normalize your glucose levels. 

Since hypoglycemia is largely preventable,  keeping the following pointers in mind, and following through with executing them is the best way to be prepared for it: 

• Alcohol is a drink that can lower blood glucose levels and hence requires close monitoring. Discussing the permitted quantity with your doctor during the consultation will help with this.
• Paying close attention to your lifestyles such as meal timings, quantity, exercise type and duration can help regulate your blood glucose levels throughout the day. Following a regular and expert-guided lifestyle plan is the best option for this.
• When your doctor recommends certain medications for you, ensure that you don’t adjust the dosage without consulting them first. An expert doctor can help you adjust it without experiencing hypoglycemia or any other complications.
• Always make sure that you have friends or family members who are aware of your health status and any emergency steps that they may need to take. This may include contacting your doctor and getting you to take your emergency sweet. These two simple steps can make a world of difference when it comes to preventing further hypoglycemia-related problems.

Diabetes is a largely manageable condition if you are willing to be an active participant in your healthcare. The right treatment plan, a wholesome diet, a challenging yet sustainable workout routine are the corners stones of this effective management approach. But even in an ideal disease management scenario, being equipped with the above-mentioned pointers about hypoglycemia can help you recognize, handle and neutralise the complication, if needed. 

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