What is low blood sugar. Why blood sugar can drop and what to do about it

Low blood sugar - what causes this phenomenon? A decrease in blood sugar in an adult and a child is no less dangerous than its increase, because the brain is at great risk at this moment. The condition when a person has low blood sugar is called hypoglycemia. What does it say? This means that for some reason the body lacks glucose, and in fact it is in some way a fuel for organs and systems. Thanks to it, the cells receive the necessary amount of energy for normal life. A drop in blood sugar is a dangerous condition that can lead a person to a coma. To avoid such serious consequences, those at risk should regularly measure their blood glucose levels and listen to their bodies. So, what determines the level of sugar in the blood?

Why does glucose level go down?

It often happens that the level of sugar is remembered when talking about diabetes. Those who have been diagnosed with such a disease know what to do with elevated rates. But it also happens that the level of sugar in the blood decreases. This can happen in perfectly healthy people. This does not always become very dangerous, often this phenomenon is temporary and does not lead to serious pathologies.

In order to behave correctly when blood sugar is below normal, and not to panic, you should know the reasons for such a change in the body. The degree of development of this process can be mild, moderate and severe.

If a person can cope with the first and second on their own (the main thing is to know the causes of low blood sugar and how to deal with it), then a severe stage of hypoglycemia can turn into serious irreversible processes that require immediate medical attention to quickly bring blood sugar levels to normal .

If a person has diabetes, then a drop in sugar levels can occur for the following reasons:

  • overuse simple carbohydrates;
  • taking strong alcoholic drinks and a small amount of food;
  • uneven hourly intervals between meals;
  • taking medications in combination with antidiabetic drugs;
  • taking an increased dose of insulin;
  • taking antidiabetic drugs of the old generation.

Unfortunately, healthy people can also have low glucose levels. Why does blood sugar drop in people without pathologies?

The following factors play an important role in this:

  • excessive physical activity;
  • exposure to certain drugs;
  • metabolic disease;
  • problems with the kidneys, pancreas, liver;
  • insufficient intake of carbohydrates (for example, with a carbohydrate-free diet);
  • meals 1-2 times a day and long breaks between meals;
  • abuse of sweets;
  • a decrease in glucose in the morning, if more than 8-10 hours have passed since yesterday's meal.

And although this is rare, you need to know the causes of low blood sugar in order to help yourself in time.

Symptoms of low glucose

The decrease in blood sugar can have different intensity. If the level drops slightly, then the person may not feel any special symptoms. Over time, with the exclusion of the cause of this phenomenon (for example, a normal meal or a decrease in the number of cakes, pastries or sweets eaten), sugar returns to normal.

With a slight decrease in sugar levels, noticeable symptoms may include:

  • mild nausea;

  • weakness, dizziness;
  • blurred vision;
  • feeling of hunger;
  • irritability;
  • anxiety state;
  • sweating (especially in the back of the neck);
  • chills;
  • cardiopalmus;
  • a feeling of tingling or numbness in the fingers and toes.

If you experience several of these symptoms, it may indicate low blood sugar. What to do in this case? The lack of sugar can be replenished by eating some kind of sweetness (for example, candy).

The average decrease in blood sugar has the following picture:

  • severe irritation;
  • muscle cramps;
  • tearfulness;
  • drowsiness;
  • violation of coordination of movement when walking;
  • unclear consciousness;
  • poor orientation in space;
  • fast fatiguability.

All of these symptoms of low blood sugar are due to poor brain function.

If the glucose level is low, then the brain suffers first of all, it cannot function normally, which affects the person's well-being. If eating sweets or drinking sweet juice does not help, you should consult a doctor. At the same time, it should be remembered what preceded such a condition, so that the doctor would quickly find out why sugar fell and take appropriate measures.

But a more significant drop in sugar is already seriously affecting human health.

Symptoms of low sugar that occur with severe hypoglycemia include:

  • involuntary muscle contraction;
  • coma.

If sugar drops to a critical level, then this means that irreversible processes in the brain or serious problems in the functioning of the cardiovascular system are possible. Sometimes blood sugar can drop when a person is sleeping. At the same time, he sweats profusely, may walk in his sleep or fall out of bed, make unusual noises, he may have nightmares, which increases anxiety.

Children belong to a category of people who practically do not feel that they are not all right with their health and low blood sugar. Their behavior is not much different from when they have normal performance. Symptoms of low blood sugar in them appear at 2.2-2.6 mmol / l. Adults feel the problem already at 3.8 mmol / l.

What to do?

If a person is healthy, then the normal glucose level ranges from 3.2 to 5.5 mmol / l. This figure is the same for men and women. For children from birth to school age, the numbers will be lower.

Not all signs of low blood sugar are the basis for a diagnosis of hypoglycemia. After measuring the glucose level, analyzing the symptoms, the doctor recommends eating or drinking something sweet. If after that the symptoms disappear, the problem goes away on its own. But if the signs of low blood sugar remain unchanged or increase, the doctor examines the patient, asks him about lifestyle, diet, weight jumps, treatment of other diseases and taking appropriate medications.

In order not to be mistaken in the diagnosis, the doctor also needs the following information:

  • whether the patient experienced severe stress (emotional overstrain);
  • whether he has problems in the work of the endocrine system;
  • whether he has epilepsy (this provokes low blood sugar);
  • whether there was carbon monoxide poisoning;
  • whether the pancreas is healthy (pathologies of this organ can lower glucose levels).

Only after this is assigned necessary treatment.

Low blood sugar is not a sentence yet. The main thing is not to panic and contact a specialist in a timely manner. He will explain how to eat, what to avoid, what actions to take when the sugar level is low.

If you know that tomorrow you need to take tests on an empty stomach, then in order to obtain objective data, you should know the following rules:

  1. The day before the test, you can not drink alcoholic beverages.
  2. You should only drink water.
  3. You do not need to brush your teeth on the day of the test: sugar, which is part of any paste, can lower sugar.

Low blood glucose can be expressed in different ways - from mild to severe. But any of these conditions must be under control.

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A severe decrease in the amount of sugar in the blood is a disease called "hypoglycemia". This is a serious disease that is provoked by a low concentration of glucose in the body. All human organs do not receive sufficient nutrition, and metabolism is disturbed. This can lead to serious disturbances in the functioning of the human body. If the patient is brought to a critical state, then he may fall into a coma. The symptoms of the disease can vary and worsen as the disease progresses. There are a large number of reasons that provoke such a violation in the human body.

Common Causes of Violation

Hypoglycemia is usually caused by a number of causes, such as:

  1. Elevated levels of insulin in the pancreas.
  2. The use of a large number of drugs with a high dose of insulin.
  3. Improper functioning of the pituitary and adrenal glands.
  4. Diabetes.
  5. Improper carbohydrate metabolism in the liver.

The causes of hypoglycemia are divided into drug and non-drug. People with diabetes are most commonly affected by drug-induced hypoglycemia. If the dose of insulin that is administered to the patient is incorrectly calculated and exceeds the norm, then this can provoke various disorders in the body. Reasons not related to improper medication include fasting. Often, after prolonged fasting, the human body can respond to carbohydrate intake by lowering blood sugar.

Quite often, diabetics suffer from hypoglycemia due to malnutrition. In case of non-compliance with the norm of consumption of products, insulin is found in the human body in excess. As a result, the drug begins to help reduce the amount of sugar in the blood. Patients who have been suffering from diabetes mellitus for a long time are especially susceptible to the development of hypoglycemia. This is provoked by improper functioning of the pancreas and adrenal glands. The reasons lie in the fact that glucagon and adrenaline are produced in insufficient quantities. This means that the body has a weak defense against hypoglycemia. Become the cause of the development of the disease can not only drugs for diabetics, but also many other medicines.

The reasons for the development of the disease sometimes lie in the mental state of the patient. If a person is very susceptible to various mental disorders, this may lead to hypoglycemia. Mentally unhealthy people can deliberately inject themselves with insulin if they have access to it. Treatment of such patients is carried out in special clinics.

The cause of a decrease in sugar levels is often an excessive consumption of alcohol by a person. If a person suffers from alcoholism for a long enough time and at the same time neglects proper nutrition, then the body begins to gradually deplete. Subsequently, an attack (stupor) sometimes occurs even with a low blood alcohol content.

Rare causes of low blood sugar

Why does blood sugar drop? The cause may be a strong exercise stress. Such a lesion can occur even in the most healthy person. Sometimes the cause of a strong decrease in the amount of sugar is a malfunction of the pituitary gland. With damage to the liver, the supply of carbohydrates in it is significantly reduced. This means that the human body cannot maintain the required amount of sugar.

Occasionally, hypoglycemia can occur in patients with liver disease after several hours of fasting. Such people need to adhere to a strict diet and eat according to the schedule. If the patient does not fulfill this condition, then the amount of sugar in his blood can drop sharply. Children under one year of age are also susceptible to hypoglycemia.

Surgery can cause hypoglycemia. If the patient has undergone stomach surgery, this can cause a decrease in blood sugar. In most cases, such a deviation is provoked by non-compliance with the diet during the rehabilitation period after surgery. Sugar very quickly begins to be absorbed, and this provokes excessive production of insulin. Very rarely, if the stomach is affected, hypoglycemia can occur without a specific reason.

There is a separate type of disease called reactive hypoglycemia. This is a malaise that occurs in a person and is accompanied by a sharp drop in the amount of sugar in the blood. To date, this phenomenon is quite rare in adults. A drop in blood sugar is recorded during a short refusal of food, but the results of the study change as soon as the patient takes food. This is not true hypoglycemia.

The reactive form of the disease is most common in children under one year of age. During this period, they are especially susceptible to the consumption of fructose or lactose. These foods may prevent the liver from making glucose freely. And the consumption of leucine provokes a strong production of insulin by the pancreas. If a child eats a lot of foods containing these substances, then he has a sharp drop in blood sugar immediately after eating. In adults, a similar reaction can occur when drinking alcoholic beverages with a high sugar content.

Additional Causes of Hypoglycemia

In very rare cases, a decrease in the amount of sugar is triggered by the development of a tumor of insulin-producing cells, which are located in the pancreas. As a result, the number of these cells increases, and the amount of insulin produced increases. Also provoke a decrease in sugar, any neoplasms that occur outside the pancreas, but contribute to an increase in insulin.

Rarely enough, sugar goes down if a person is sick with an autoimmune disease. In this case, the body's system fails, and it begins to produce antibodies to insulin. In this case, the level of the element in the body begins to rise sharply, then decrease. This leads to a change in blood sugar levels and contributes to the progression of hypoglycemia. This progression of the disease is extremely rare.

Low blood sugar is sometimes found in patients with kidney or heart failure. Hypoglycemia may develop on the basis of another disease (for example, cirrhosis of the liver, viral hepatitis, severe viral or inflammatory infection). At risk are people with an unbalanced diet and patients who have a malignant tumor.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia

There are various degrees of manifestation of this disease. In some patients, the level of sugar is greatly reduced only in the morning. This is accompanied by decreased tone, drowsiness and weakness. In order to remove such symptoms of the disease and return to a normal rhythm of life, it is enough for the patient to have breakfast and restore his strength. Sometimes hypoglycemia begins to manifest itself, on the contrary, after eating. This disorder usually occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus. There are symptoms by which you can determine a sharp drop in blood sugar:

  1. Strong nausea.
  2. Hunger.
  3. Sudden decrease in visual acuity.
  4. Chill, limbs become very cold.
  5. Irritability and severe fatigue.
  6. Numbness of hands and feet.
  7. Weakness in the muscles.
  8. Increased sweating.

Such symptoms are manifested as a result of a lack of nutrients that do not enter the brain. Usually in this case, the use of quickly digestible carbohydrates helps. Blood sugar levels should be measured before and after meals. If after eating it returned to normal, then there is no cause for concern. If carbohydrate-containing foods are not taken in time, the patient's condition may worsen, and the following symptoms will appear:

  1. Seizures.
  2. Unsteadiness in the legs.
  3. Incoherence of speech.

If a sufficient amount of glucose does not enter the body, then a person may even lose consciousness. The patient may experience an attack that outwardly resembles an epileptic seizure.

Sometimes, on the basis of the disease, a stroke and severe brain damage can develop.

This condition is especially dangerous for people with diabetes, as they can fall into a coma.

Thanks for the feedback

Comments

    Megan92 () 2 weeks ago

    Has anyone managed to completely cure diabetes? They say it is impossible to cure completely ...

    Daria () 2 weeks ago

    I also thought it was impossible, but after reading this article, I had long forgotten about this "incurable" disease.

    Megan92 () 13 days ago

    Daria () 12 days ago

    Megan92, so I wrote in my first comment) I will duplicate it just in case - link to article.

    Sonya 10 days ago

    Isn't this a divorce? Why sell online?

    Yulek26 (Tver) 10 days ago

    Sonya, what country do you live in? They sell on the Internet, because shops and pharmacies set their markup brutal. In addition, payment is only after receipt, that is, they first looked, checked and only then paid. And now everything is sold on the Internet - from clothes to TVs and furniture.

    Editorial response 10 days ago

    Sonya, hello. This drug for the treatment of diabetes mellitus addiction is really not sold through the pharmacy network in order to avoid overpricing. Currently, you can only order official website. Be healthy!

    Sonya 10 days ago

    Sorry, I didn't notice at first the information about the cash on delivery. Then everything is in order for sure, if the payment is upon receipt.

Glucose is the most important source of energy for all body tissues, including brain cells. A drop in blood sugar is called hypoglycemia. The first symptoms of pathology are associated with a general deterioration in well-being, headaches, and weakness. A person feels constant fatigue, his performance decreases, dizziness may occur. In severe cases, fainting may occur. During a hypoglycemic crisis, the patient may fall into a coma caused by a sharp energy starvation of brain cells and their death.

In order to prevent serious consequences, it is important to control the level of sugar in the blood using a special device - a glucometer - or periodically take a sugar test at the clinic (this should be done every 4-6 months). If the patient has symptoms of low blood sugar, it is necessary to consult a specialist and undergo an examination. Not only the health of the patient, but also his life depends on timely medical care.

The diagnosis of "hypoglycemia" to the patient is made if the drop in sugar levels has a chronic course. Can be used to confirm pathology different types analyses. If the concentration of glucose was determined in the lymph, then hypoglycemia is diagnosed at values ​​below 3.5 mmol / l. If peripheral blood was taken for analysis (blood circulating through vessels outside the organs of the hematopoietic system), this figure may be slightly lower - 3.3 mmol / l.

A critical drop in blood sugar is considered to be 2.2 mmol/l. With such indicators of glucose, a person develops a convulsive syndrome, loss of consciousness occurs, and convulsions may appear. Medical care for this clinical picture must be provided within 20 minutes - otherwise the risk of mortality will be more than 85%.

Types of pathology

Signs of low blood sugar in women and men are almost the same. Clinical manifestations pathologies depend on the type of hypoglycemia, which can be of two types.

"Hungry" hypoglycemia

Most often occurs in the morning, immediately after waking up, when a person has not yet had time to have breakfast. Low sugar levels during this period are considered normal, but provided that the glucometer mark does not fall below 3.0 mmol / l. Long periods of fasting (more than 8-10 hours) can also lead to a lack of sugar and the development of pathological symptoms.

Response hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar, which is the result of a response to the use of food (comes in 1.5-2 hours), is most often diagnosed after undergoing surgical interventions on the digestive tract, as well as on early stages diabetes mellitus. Some independent diseases that occur in isolation from other pathologies in the functioning of the body can also lead to the development of response hypoglycemia.

Signs and symptoms

A sharp drop in blood sugar is always accompanied by characteristic symptoms, which are evaluated in aggregate. The most common signs of pathology experts include the following manifestations:

  • unnatural pallor of the skin (if sugar has fallen to critical levels, a marbled shade may appear);
  • tremor of the limbs (most often of the hands);
  • a constant feeling of hunger that does not go away even after a hearty meal (or reappears 1-1.5 hours after eating);
  • increased consumption of water and other liquids due to feeling thirsty;
  • increased heart rate and pulse;
  • dizziness;
  • bouts of nausea (without vomit);
  • sweating, an unpleasant smell of sweat, which appears almost immediately after a hygienic shower.

In women, hypoglycemia is often accompanied by frequent urination. Soreness, burning, pain and other pathological symptoms are usually not observed. Decreased blood sugar in men can cause muscle weakness, heaviness in the legs, and a feeling of stiffness. Almost all patients with different types of hypoglycemia complain of apathy, increased drowsiness, bad mood and loss of energy.


Symptoms in children

Children react more sharply to a lack of sugar compared to adult patients, although they usually do not have any specific signs. After waking up, such a child is very lethargic, he hardly wakes up, he can be capricious in the morning. If a child's blood sugar drops, he experiences constant weakness, may refuse to eat (despite the feeling of hunger). AT kindergarten At school, such children are distinguished by poor perseverance, low concentration of attention and unwillingness to take part in joint games and activities.

In chronic hypoglycemia, children between the ages of 3 and 10 may develop specific symptoms during nocturnal sleep. These include:

  • screaming and talking in a dream;
  • excessive sweating, which manifests itself at night;
  • very difficult waking up in the morning.

A sharp drop in blood glucose childhood can lead to very serious consequences (up to the death of the child), so one of the main tasks of parents is to provide a complete and balanced diet for children's diet, as well as control over the well-being and any changes in the child's condition.

Why is sugar dropping?

There are many reasons that can lead to low glucose levels. Most often they are associated with prolonged fasting. This situation is typical for women who are on starvation diets and limit themselves in the amount of food eaten, as well as people who do not follow the rules and norms of healthy eating and allow long breaks between meals.

Another common cause of hypoglycemia at any age is dehydration. Insufficient fluid intake (mainly pure drinking water) can provoke an attack, so it is important to observe the drinking regimen and drink at least 1.5-1.8 liters of fluid per day. Increased water intake is necessary for athletes and people with increased physical activity, as well as those who take acetylsalicylic acid or blood thinners. In hot weather, the daily amount of liquid must be increased by 300-400 ml.

Other causes of hypoglycemia:

  • chronic alcohol or tobacco intoxication;
  • unhealthy or malnutrition;
  • hormonal imbalance;
  • diseases of the pancreas, liver and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • obesity;
  • increased and prolonged physical activity;
  • taking certain medications (for example, Aspirin or beta-blockers).

During pregnancy, low sugar is diagnosed mainly in girls aged 16 to 21 years.

In some cases, a decrease in glucose may be a response of the body to the growth of malignant cells, therefore, in cases where the pathology has a chronic course, the patient is prescribed a comprehensive examination.

Nutrition for low sugar

The basis of treatment for any form of hypoglycemia is the observance of a special diet high in foods with a low glycemic index. The basis of the diet should be the following food groups:

  • fermented milk products with a fat content of 2% to 5%;
  • boiled vegetables (limit the consumption of potatoes, beets and carrots due to the high content of starchy substances);
  • fish and seafood (tuna, sardines, shrimp are especially useful);
  • nuts;
  • lean meat (it is better to use beef or veal tenderloin).

From drinks, preference should be given herbal teas(with the addition of chamomile, linden, thyme), fruit and vegetable juices, berry fruit drinks, dried fruit compotes without added sugar.

Most strong alcoholic drinks (especially vodka) have a sugar-lowering effect, so it is better to stop using them altogether. If this fails, it is important to observe the following precautions:

  • do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach;
  • for every 50 ml of alcohol, there should be the same amount of snacks containing proteins or complex carbohydrates (meat, black bread, etc.);
  • the maximum allowable dose of alcohol for diabetics is 250-300 ml (for beer - 450 ml).

At any feast, be sure to have a glucometer with you in order to control the level of sugar and take action in time in case of a sharp drop in indicators.

How to raise sugar: folk methods

Lemons are an excellent remedy for treating hypoglycemia. To prepare the medicine at home, you need to grind the following ingredients with a meat grinder or combine:

  • lemons with zest and seeds - 1 kg;
  • fresh parsley - 1 large bunch (about 250-300 g);
  • peeled garlic - 4 heads.

Place the resulting mixture in a glass jar and put it in a cold place for 5 days. After that, squeeze the contents of the jar through gauze. It is necessary to take the resulting juice 3 times a day before meals. A single dosage is 5 ml. The course of treatment is at least 1 month.

Onion infusion can also give a good healing effect if sugar drops to low levels. It's easy to prepare. Three medium-sized onions must be peeled and finely chopped. Put the onion in any container and pour 200 ml of boiling water. Cover the bowl with a lid and leave for 3 hours.

The infusion should be taken 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day for 3-4 weeks.

When should you call an ambulance?

Some do not know why low glucose levels are dangerous, so they pay attention to pathological signs. If the sugar falls to a critical level, the patient may fall into a coma. Risk of occurrence sudden death more than 80%, so it is important to know dangerous symptoms. It is necessary to call for medical help if the following signs appear:

  • convulsions and convulsions;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • violation of motor coordination;
  • incoherent speech;
  • lack of concentration of attention on objects and the interlocutor (the patient looks at one point).

Any of these symptoms may indicate the development of a hypoglycemic crisis, so it is important not to waste time and immediately call " ambulance". If urgent measures are taken within 20-30 minutes after the onset of dangerous manifestations, it is possible not only to avoid many complications, but also to save a person's life.

Low blood sugar is medically referred to as hypoglycemia. pathological condition no less dangerous to human health than hyperglycemia. If the glucose levels are critical, the onset of coma, death is possible.

Most often, low sugar becomes one of the complications of diabetes, but mild hypoglycemia is also observed in healthy people.

The reasons may be different, first of all we are talking about eating a lot of simple carbohydrates, taking certain medications. Skipping meals, inadequate physical activity, and the introduction of an excessive amount of the hormone insulin can provoke changes in the level of glycemia.

Other reasons should be called the pathology of the kidneys, pancreas, adrenal glands, metabolic disorders in the body, regular drinking.

Signs of hypoglycemia

When glucose levels drop different people feel it in their own way. Symptoms will depend on the level of sugar reduction and the speed of this process.

If the sugar levels drop to 3.8 mmol / liter, a person will notice chills, weakness in the body, tremors and tremors of the limbs. It is possible that developing increased sweating, and the sweat is cold and clammy, coming out on the back of the head and neck.

Some diabetics experience dizziness, bouts of nausea and vomiting, tachycardia, anxiety, nervousness and unreasonable anxiety, their fingers and lips go numb, and vision becomes blurred.

To normalize the condition in this case, it is necessary to eliminate the causes - eat some carbohydrate food, for example, candy.

The symptoms of moderate hypoglycemia will be more noticeable, now glucose drops below 3 mmol / liter and is manifested by the condition:

  1. anger, bouts of aggression;
  2. muscle cramps;
  3. weakness, fatigue even after sleep and rest;
  4. slurred speech;
  5. disorientation in space;
  6. confusion, problems concentrating.

In severe hypoglycemia, sugar drops to 1.9 mmol / liter, which gives symptoms: convulsions, coma, stroke, and a decrease in overall body temperature. If hypoglycemia is not compensated, glucose deficiency leads to the fact that a person is expected to die.

A significant and prolonged decrease in glucose provokes severe and, as a rule, irreversible changes in the brain and cardiovascular system. It must be remembered that there may be no symptoms at all, this happens with the use of certain medications, such as adrenoblockers.

Medicine knows many cases when glucose drops are observed in a dream, in the morning the patient wakes up with a severe headache. You can suspect hypoglycemia by symptoms:

  • restless sleep behavior
  • nightmares;
  • profuse sweating;
  • sleepwalking and falling out of bed.

A sick person may make unusual sounds, noises during sleep.

All these symptoms appear in healthy people if the normal level of sugar falls rapidly. A persistent lack of glucose in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus gives symptoms even with sugar levels of 6-8 mmol / liter. Therefore, the longer the patient has diabetes, the less his body feels the manifestations of the pathology.

If the child's blood sugar is below normal, there may be no manifestations, children are less sensitive to sugar drops.

Explicit symptoms are visible only with glycemic values ​​ranging from 2.6 to 2.2 mmol / liter.

Diagnostic methods, treatment

Sugar level

Hypoglycemia can be diagnosed based on a fasting blood test. The study in this case shows a reduced amount of glucose, but after eating sweet food, the patient's health returns to normal.

Additionally, the therapist or endocrinologist should conduct a physical examination, he will ask the person about his lifestyle, eating habits, health status, intake medicines and likely weight changes.

Few people know that a slight decrease in blood glucose can be treated with simple methods, you need to eat a little sugar, honey, drink sweet tea. Doctors do not recommend increasing glycemic levels with bakery products and other types of muffins.

A serious condition is fraught with complications, a person can even suddenly lose consciousness. For this reason, it is extremely important to immediately call an ambulance team, the doctor will inject intravenously a solution of glucose, glucagon. Sometimes it is justified to introduce such solutions:

  1. subcutaneously;
  2. intramuscularly.

Extremely severe cases of hypoglycemia require mandatory hospitalization of the patient, treatment in this case will directly depend on the cause of the decrease in sugar: kidney failure, liver pathology, high dose of insulin or sepsis.

Based on the root cause of the problem, doctors determine the tactics of treatment, decide on the duration of the infusion, the rate of administration of the drug. As a rule, glucose is administered at a level of 5-10 mmol/liter.

If a person has diabetes and has had an attack of hypoglycemia, it is necessary to raise the glucose content by the same methods. If sugar drops immediately after eating any amount of simple carbohydrates, the diabetic is instructed to reconsider their diet. He needs to learn to eat in small portions, often (at least 5 times a day).

  • complex carbohydrates;
  • squirrel.

When health problems are associated with insulin injections, it is indicated to consult an endocrinologist, he will tell you how to increase sugar levels, why a shortage can be life-threatening.

Prevention measures for low blood sugar

It is important to know that low blood glucose in a person can be easily prevented, for this it is enough to follow certain rules. Low sugar will not occur if a person constantly follows a special diet recommended by a doctor or nutritionist, taking breaks between regular meals for no more than 4 hours.

Another tip is to regularly monitor sugar levels, this will be an excellent prevention of a drop in glucose, which increases the likelihood of serious health problems. You can use a glucometer for this.

You should also control the doses of the drug that prevents the increase in sugar, the hormone insulin, you need to learn the mechanism of action of all drugs prescribed by the doctor. With any type of diabetes, it is always necessary to have medicines on hand that contain substances that lower glycemia, because low blood glucose can be observed at any time.

It is impossible to allow a decrease in blood glucose levels in such cases:

  1. a diabetic over 65 years old;
  2. there is a history of retinopathy, there is a possibility of retinal hemorrhage;
  3. there are pathologies of the heart, blood vessels;
  4. glycemic fluctuations often occur.

For such patients, regardless of the cause of the disease, it is vital to monitor blood sugar levels, keep it at around 6 to 10 mmol / liter.

It is shown to prevent a sharp drop in sugar levels in case of uncompensated diabetes mellitus of any type for a long period, since in this case the level of glycemia increases constantly, and its rapid decrease will cause severe symptoms, up to a coma, death. This means that sugar should decrease gradually.

If a person does not pay attention to the mild and moderate stages of hypoglycemia, does not take drugs that increase glucose, this means that the condition quickly turns into severe hypoglycemia, in which you can lose consciousness at any time.

With a decrease in human sugar, it is necessary to begin treatment as early as possible. If glucose drops too often, it is no less dangerous than hyperglycemia. Such a pathological condition cannot be ignored, but it is better to take preventive measures in advance, then the level of glycemia will drop extremely rarely. It is also important to follow the prescribed.

O possible reasons lowering blood sugar will tell the video in this article.

If low blood sugar is found, symptoms in women, causes of low sugar and prevention methods are information that will be useful to every woman. Low glucose levels are a common phenomenon in our time, especially common in older women.

Blood is an important body fluid, it has many functions, and its condition must be continuously monitored. A slight increase in proteins or leukocytes can indicate the onset of any disease. A serious indicator is the level of sugar in the blood.

Sugar is formed in the human blood after it enters the body with food. Glucose is processed by the pancreas and enters the bloodstream.

general information

Low blood sugar is considered a disease, doctors call this condition hypoglycemia. This is a rather serious illness, due to a low level of glucose in the blood, working capacity decreases, a person becomes lethargic, which often leads to unpleasant consequences.

The main cause of low sugar in both women and men is nutrition. After each meal, the sugar level rises, the pancreas works intensively, it produces insulin. After this hormone has converted the sugar into energy, the sugar level should drop. But this does not happen in people with low glucose levels.

Most often, low blood sugar in women is accompanied by diabetes. During this disease, insulin is not enough to convert food into energy. The condition can only be improved by eating sweet foods. Diabetes is a serious disease that requires treatment.

Hypoglycemia can also occur in healthy people. The causes of this condition are different, may depend on the diet or lifestyle of a person.

Normal blood sugar

Normal fasting glucose ranges from 3.3 to 5.5 mmol/L. Diabetes characterized by a blood sugar level above 6.7 mmol/L.

Why does low blood sugar occur?

The causes of low blood sugar in women are different, these can be:

  1. Improper nutrition with long intervals between meals.
  2. Exercise while eating a low calorie diet.
  3. The use of sweet, flour.
  4. Smoking, drinking alcohol.
  5. Tumors of the pancreas.

Now thin women are in fashion, so often girls are on different diets, malnourished, eat wrong. This leads to an imbalance in blood sugar levels. Also, you can not play sports for several hours without including high-calorie foods in your diet. The body must always be saturated with proteins in order to cope with stress.

In any case, the causes and signs of a decrease in blood sugar in women are individual, for clarification, you should seek the advice of a specialist.

Problem symptoms

To begin with, it should be said that the signs of low blood sugar do not appear immediately, hypoglycemia is a long process, and when sugar levels drop to the lowest possible level, the body reports abnormalities.

The first and main sign of low blood sugar is fatigue and lethargy of a person, he is constantly thirsty. Nervousness, irritability are also the main signs of hypoglycemia and can occur throughout the day.

However, there are patients in whom the symptoms are mild, they do not feel very tired, they attribute their fatigue to work. In such cases, drowsiness on weekends can become a signal, for example, a person has had enough sleep, but drowsiness is still present at lunchtime. In this condition, it is better to consult a specialist.

Low blood sugar symptoms in women are as follows:

  • weakness, fatigue;
  • headache;
  • irritability and nervousness;
  • blurred vision;
  • frequent heartbeat;
  • constant feeling of hunger and thirst.

Signs of low blood sugar in women are mostly the same, but the symptoms can vary individually. If you have all the symptoms that recur every day, you should immediately consult a doctor. The specialist will have to prescribe studies to understand the nature of the disease and prevent the unpleasant consequences of developing hypoglycemia.

How can you check your sugar level

Now there are several ways to measure your blood sugar. If a person feels the above symptoms, then it is better to check their sugar level. This can be done using the test on an empty stomach, as well as after the introduction of glucose into the body.

Another test is the glucose tolerance test. During this study, a person needs to get a few grams of glucose dissolved in water. A few hours later, a specialist should take the blood.

The best result can be obtained if both studies are done at the same time. Prior to the start of the study, the patient must adhere to a certain diet. He should not eat fatty foods, drink or smoke. In the morning on an empty stomach, the first blood sampling is performed, after a few minutes the patient needs to drink a solution with glucose. After a few hours, the specialist will take a second blood sample.

How to treat this phenomenon

The main thing to remember in the treatment of hypoglycemia is the need to consult a specialist in a timely manner.

You can not leave low blood sugar unattended, it is necessary to identify the cause of the decrease. You should contact a specialist who will prescribe various studies, the necessary treatment and a special diet. Only complex treatment can give a result.

If the problem of low blood sugar has appeared due to diabetes, it is necessary to treat this disease, to monitor your lifestyle. Regularly measure blood sugar and eat right: this will help keep glucose levels normal.

In general, therapy includes the use of agents containing glucose. If a person is in a hypoglycemic coma, you should immediately call an ambulance, doctors should administer the necessary drugs. It may be necessary to administer drugs that normalize the production of insulin.

Low sugar can also be caused by neoplasms of the pancreas. In this case, the doctor may recommend surgery to remove the tumor. If the neoplasm is of a benign nature, then the surgical intervention gives a favorable prognosis, the patient recovers.

It is worth noting that any medicines must be taken after consultation with a specialist. He can choose the necessary drugs to avoid adverse consequences, he can prescribe inpatient treatment. In no case should you self-medicate.

low sugar diet

With hypoglycemia, you need to pay increased attention to your diet. It must be correct, balanced, diet is one of the main points of successful treatment. Here are some nutritional guidelines:

  1. You need to eat often, do not skip breakfast, make snacks, do not allow a long break between meals.
  2. Now in stores there are many products for diabetics, in which sugar is balanced or completely absent. If you dilute your diet with such products, then normal sugar levels will remain throughout the day, which will prevent hypoglycemia.
  3. Do not get carried away with drinking coffee, because of it, more insulin is produced.
  4. You should get rid of bad habits, stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
  5. You need to add nuts, vegetables, cheese to the diet, they help sugar stay normal.
  6. It is necessary to add fish, flax seed, Omega-3 vitamins to your diet, these products regulate blood parameters.

If you follow all these points, you can forever forget about the problem of hypoglycemia, because it occurs precisely because of malnutrition. After 2 weeks, a noticeable result will appear, the blood condition will improve, sugar will normalize.

What causes low blood sugar

Many patients do not seek medical care because they believe that low blood sugar is harmless and will go away on its own. First of all, changes occur in the body that can interfere with a person’s normal life, slow him down, a patient with low blood sugar quickly gets tired, nervous, relationships with loved ones begin to deteriorate.

Due to hypoglycemia, the brain is damaged, the body lacks nutrition. Orientation in space is significantly reduced, a person may behave inappropriately.

A person with hypoglycemia can hardly drive a car, can get into an accident. At work or at home, the patient may fall or injure himself.

To avoid all these consequences, it is necessary to consult a doctor and begin appropriate treatment. Do not delay, hypoglycemia requires due attention, treatment should be comprehensive, include taking the necessary medications and proper diet. Only then can you completely get rid of the disease and improve your well-being.

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