The topic of my last blog was high blood sugar so today I thought it would be appropriate to talk about the opposite problem people with diabetes worry about, low blood sugar. The medical term for low blood sugar is hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can cause you to go into a coma. This is why you do not want your blood sugar to go too low. What value is considered too low? Most medical professionals agree a blood glucose reading below 70mg/dl is considered too low. Why is it too low?
Your blood sugar may be too low for the following reasons:
1. You did not eat enough carbohydrates.
I know your doctor, your family and less face it you have been stressing out about eating too many carbohydrates. However, you can run into problems if you do not eat enough carbohydrates, especially if you are taking your diabetes medications. The purpose of your medications is to help you properly absorb carbohydrates and if you do not eat enough carbohydrates you are ask risk for hypoglycemia.
2. Your diabetic medication dose was too high.
Usually this problem occurs for people who are taking insulin, Tolazamide, Pramlintide or Acarbose. You need to talk to your doctor or diabetes educator about adjusting your medications if hypoglycemia occurs often. Preventing low blood sugar may be as simple as learning to properly count your carbohydrate intake.
3. You were exercising too hard.
Exercise makes the cells in your body more insulin sensitive and burns carbohydrates. As a result, if you do not replace these carbohydrates, your blood sugar will become too low. People with diabetes are advised to carry a snack containing carbohydrates when they exercise to prevent low blood sugar.
4. You drank too much alcohol.
Contrary to popular belief, alcohol can cause hypoglycemia. We are not talking about mixed drinks like Pina Coladas or Margaritas. We are talking about wine, distilled liquor and beer. Yes, beer! Your liver is responsible for processing alcohol and carbohydrates. When you drink alcohol, your liver is unable to digest the alcohol and the carbohydrates at the same time. The result is hypoglycemia. Limiting your alcohol intake to two drinks and eating food will prevent this problem.
What do you do if your blood sugar is too low? You follow the 15-15-15 rule. What is this rule you ask? When your blood sugar is below 70mg/dl take the following steps:
Step 1: Eat or drink 15 grams of a fast acting carbohydrate. Examples of fast acting carbohydrates are 4 ounces of orange juice or regular soda, 8 ounces of milk, 3 to 4 sugar packets or 5 to 6 Life Savers candies. You can also take 3 to 4 glucose tablets. Glucose tablets are available at most drug stores.
Step 2: After you take 15 grams of carbohydrates, wait 15 minutes and check your blood sugar again. If your blood sugar is still too low repeat the same steps. If you eat 15 grams of carbohydrates your blood sugar should increase 30 to 40mg/dl, thereby putting your blood sugar back to normal range. However, if your glucose does not increase repeat these two steps again.
Step 3: Eat a snack or meal within ½ to one hour.
If your blood sugar remains low call your doctor or diabetes educator. As I told you earlier, you can go into a coma if you do not treat your low blood sugar. Email me at askard@stablebloodsugar.com if you have any questions about this topic or any of my other blogs.
Allison
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