What Happens If You Have Dangerously Low Blood Sugar? Ways To Regulate It
what happens if you have dangerously low blood sugar levels? ways to regulate it
New Delhi: Hypoglycemia or low sugar levels happen when the glucose in your blood drops below the range that is healthy for you. Also known as hypoglycemia, the condition is common in people with diabetes, especially type 1.
According to experts, hypoglycemia happens when your blood sugar level falls below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or 3.9 millimoles per litre (mmol/L).- For most people without diabetes, hypoglycemia is when your blood sugar level is below 55 mg/dL or 3.1 mmol/L.
However, low blood sugar levels are not exclusive to diabetes, even though it is rare. It also happens if your body makes more insulin than it should. Another possible cause of hypoglycemia is too much consumption of alcohol. It can interfere with the liver’s ability to create a buildup of glucose and then release it into your bloodstream when you need it. A few other reasons can be:
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- Liver diseases
- Hepatitis
- Anorexia
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- Sepsis
What causes hypoglycemia?
After meals, your stomach begins the process of digestion by breaking down carbohydrates and turning them into glucose. However, as your sugar levels rise, the pancreas releases insulin, which helps glucose get taken up and used by cells throughout your body.
Any excess glucose goes to your liver for storage.
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But when you do not eat for a few hours, blood sugar levels go down causing a rapid heartbeat and heart palpitations.
Other common issues include:
- Taking too much insulin
- Not timing insulin and carb intake correctly
- Not eating your meals in time
- Being more active than usual
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Not including fat, protein, and fibre in your diet
Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia
According to experts, symptoms of hypoglycemia begin quickly even before you realize it and vary from person to person. Severe hypoglycemia is life-threatening and would need immediate medical treatment else can cause coma or even death. A few unpleasant signs of hypoglycemia include:
- Shaking or trembling
- Weakness
- Sweating and chills
- Extreme hunger
- Fast heart rate
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Confusion or trouble concentrating
- Anxiety
- Tingling or numbness in your lips, tongue, or cheeks
- Blurred or double vision
- Difficulty with coordination
- Being disoriented
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Complications caused by hypoglycemia
Prolonged severe hypoglycemia is life-threatening and can lead to complications like:
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Cardiac arrest
- Permanent brain damage
- Coma
- Death
Ways to treat hypoglycemia
If you suffer from low blood sugar levels, make sure to inform your family members, friends, and caregivers about the signs of hypoglycemia so that you can get the help you need.
Doctors say the best way to treat low blood sugar is injectable glucagon. Make sure to keep long-acting sources of sugar like crackers and cheese or toffee with you all the time.