What does glucose level mean below normal? Low blood sugar

In medical practice, low blood sugar is called hypoglycemia, and this pathological condition develops when glucose levels drop below 3.2 units. For diabetics, the term “hypo” is used, meaning that sugar has decreased.

A decrease in glucose levels in the body is an acute form of complications against the background of a “sweet” disease. And the manifestation of this phenomenon may vary depending on the degree: mild or severe. The last degree is the most severe, and is characterized by hypoglycemic coma.

In the modern world, the criteria for compensation for sugar disease have been tightened, as a result of which the likelihood of developing a hypoglycemic state increases. If this is noticed in time and treated in a timely manner, then the risk of complications is reduced to zero.

Episodes of low glucose concentration are a kind of payment for diabetics to maintain normal sugar levels in order to avoid the negative consequences of the underlying disease.

Blood sugar 2: causes and factors

Before you find out what sugar 2.7-2.9 units means, you need to consider what sugar standards are accepted in modern medicine.

Numerous sources provide the following information: the norm is considered to be indicators whose variability is from 3.3 to 5.5 units. When there is a deviation from the accepted norm in the range of 5.6-6.6 units, then we can talk about impaired glucose tolerance.

A tolerance disorder is a borderline pathological state, that is, something in between normal indicators and a disease. If sugar in the body rises to 6.7-7 units, then we can talk about a “sweet” disease.

However, this information relates exclusively to the norm. In medical practice, there are increased and decreased levels of sugar in the body of a sick person. Low glucose concentration occurs not only against the background of diabetes mellitus, but also with other pathologies.

The hypoglycemic state can be divided into two types:

• Low sugar on an empty stomach, when a person has not eaten for eight hours or more.
• A hypoglycemic response observed two to three hours after a meal.

In fact, with diabetes mellitus, sugar levels can be affected by many factors that change them in one direction or another. Why does blood sugar drop to 2.8-2.9 units?

The reasons for low glucose levels are:

1. Incorrectly prescribed dosage of medications.
2. Large dose of injected hormone (insulin).
3. Strong physical activity, overloading the body.
4. Chronic kidney failure.
5. Correction of treatment. That is, one medication was replaced with a similar drug.
6. A combination of several medications to reduce sugar.
7. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.

It should be noted that a combination of traditional and traditional medicine can lower blood sugar. For this case, we can give an example: a diabetic takes medications in the dosage recommended by the doctor.

But he additionally decides to control glucose using alternative medicine. As a result, a combination of medications and home treatment leads to a pronounced decrease in blood sugar to 2.8-2.9 units.

Clinical picture

Sugar level

When blood sugar drops to: two and eight units, then this condition does not go unnoticed for the person himself. Often a decrease in sugar is detected in the morning, in which case it is enough for a diabetic to eat to improve his well-being.

It happens that a response hypoglycemic state occurs, observed a couple of hours after a meal. In this situation, a low glucose concentration may indicate the development of a diabetes mellitus.

Can be divided into mild and severe. The symptoms of this condition are no different in men and women. If sugar drops to 2.5-2.9 units, the following symptoms will be observed:

• Tremor of the limbs, chills of the whole body.
• Increased sweating, tachycardia.
• Acute feeling of hunger, severe thirst.
• An attack of nausea (maybe to the point of vomiting).
• Fingertips get cold.
• A headache develops.
• The tip of the tongue cannot be felt.

If you do not take any measures when sugar is at around 2.3-2.5 units, then over time the situation will only get worse. A person is poorly oriented in space, movement coordination is impaired, and the emotional background changes.

If carbohydrates do not enter the human body at this moment, the diabetic’s condition worsens even more. Convulsions of the limbs are observed, the patient loses consciousness and falls into a coma. Then swelling of the brain, and then death.

Sometimes it happens that a hypoglycemic state occurs at the most inopportune time, when the patient is completely defenseless - at night. Symptoms of low sugar during sleep:

1. Severe sweating (the sheet is wet through and through).
2. Talking in your sleep.
3. Lethargy after sleep.
4. Increased irritability.
5. Nightmares, sleepwalking.

These reactions are “dictated” by the brain because it lacks nutrition. In this situation, it is necessary to measure the concentration of sugar in the blood, and if it is less than 3.3 or even 2.5-2.8 units, then you must immediately eat carbohydrate food.

After nighttime hypoglycemia, the patient most often wakes up with a headache and feels weak and lethargic all day.

Low sugar: children and adults

In fact, practice shows that each person has a certain threshold of sensitivity to low sugar in the body. And this depends on the age group, the duration of the diabetes mellitus (its compensation), as well as the rate of glucose decline.

As for age, at different ages a hypoglycemic state can be diagnosed with completely different values. For example, a small child is not as sensitive to low readings than an adult.

In childhood, indicators of 3.7-2.8 units can be regarded as a decrease in sugar, while typical signs are not observed. But the first symptoms of deterioration occur at levels of 2.2-2.7 units.

In a child who has just been born, these indicators are much lower - less than 1.7 mmol/l, and premature babies experience a hypoglycemic state at a concentration of less than 1.1 units.

Some children may not be sensitive to lower glucose concentrations at all. In medical practice, there have been cases when sensations appeared only when the sugar level fell “below low.”

As for adults, they have a different clinical picture. Already with a sugar level of 3.8 units, the patient may feel unwell and exhibit many signs of a drop in glucose.

The following people are particularly susceptible to low sugar levels:

• Persons aged 50 and over.
• People with a history of heart attack or stroke.

The fact is that in these cases the human brain is highly sensitive to a lack of sugar and oxygen, which in turn is associated with a high probability of developing a heart attack or stroke.

A mild hypoglycemic state, with certain actions, can be quickly stopped without likely consequences. However, you should not allow the following people to have low blood sugar:

1. Aged people.
2. If you have a history of cardiovascular pathologies.
3. If the patient has diabetic retinopathy.

Low blood sugar should not be allowed in people who are not sensitive to this condition. Their coma may occur suddenly.

Disease compensation and rate of sugar reduction

Surprising but true. The longer the pathology, the less sensitive a person is to the initial symptoms of a hypoglycemic state.

In addition, when an uncompensated form of diabetes is observed for a long time, that is, sugar levels are constantly at around 9-15 units, then a sharp decrease in its level, for example, to 6-7 units can lead to a hypoglycemic reaction.

In this regard, it should be noted that if a person wants to normalize their sugar levels and stabilize them within acceptable limits, this must be done gradually. The body needs time to get used to new conditions.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia also appear depending on the rate at which glucose drops in the body.

For example, a patient’s sugar level is at 10 units; he injected himself with a certain dosage of the hormone, but, unfortunately, he calculated it incorrectly, as a result of which the sugar dropped to 4.5 mmol/l within an hour.

In this case, the hypoglycemic state was the result of a sharp decrease in glucose concentration.

Low sugar: a guide to action

And the second type of diabetes mellitus must be carefully monitored to avoid deterioration of well-being and the development of pathological conditions. With a sharp drop in sugar, every diabetic should know how to stop this circumstance.

A mild form of hypoglycemia can be relieved by the patient himself. Most often, patients use food, because this is the easiest way to solve problems. However, how much is needed to normalize the indicators?

You can eat 20 grams of carbohydrates (four teaspoons of sugar), as many advise. But there is a nuance here that after such a “meal” you will have to reduce the subsequent prohibitive glucose in the blood for a long time.

Some tips:

• To raise your blood sugar, you need to eat foods with a high glycemic index.
• After taking the food “medicine”, you need to measure your sugar after 5 minutes, and then after 10 minutes.
• If after 10 minutes the sugar is still low, then eat something else and measure again.

Generally speaking, you need to experiment several times to find the required dosage of carbohydrates for yourself, which will increase sugar to the required level. In the opposite situation, without knowing the required dose, sugar can be raised to high values.

To prevent a hypoglycemic state, you need to constantly carry a glucometer and fast carbohydrates (foods) with you, since you can’t buy what you need everywhere, and you never know when low blood sugar will “come.”

Low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia, is considered a rather dangerous condition that requires immediate qualified medical intervention. Most people believe that hypoglycemia is a condition that is unique to diabetes, but this is not true. Low blood sugar can be the result of both pathological and physiological factors.

A little about sugar and its functions in the body

Glucose is a material that provides the cells and tissues of the body with vital energy. It enters the body mainly with carbohydrates. After food is broken down in the stomach and upper parts of the small intestine, sugar enters the bloodstream.

In response to this, the pancreas releases the required amount of the hormone insulin, whose task is to distribute glucose and transport it throughout the body. Insulin is the “key” for sugar and facilitates its penetration into cells.

Features of the close “cooperation” of glucose and insulin in the body

Sugar performs a number of important functions:

• participation in metabolic processes;
• activation and support of the production of amino acids, fats, enzymatic substances, nucleic acids;
• support for the functioning of the heart and blood vessels;
• relief of hunger;
• normalization of the functioning of the nervous system, restoration of the body and its protection from stress;
• increased physical and mental activity;
• stimulation of the work of internal organs and systems.

Important! In a healthy person, sugar levels fluctuate throughout the day, but do not go beyond acceptable limits. A critical lack of blood sugar, especially if repeated repeatedly (before or after meals), may indicate a pathological condition that requires diagnosis and treatment.

About the numbers

In a healthy person, the blood glucose level is in the range of 3.33-5.55 mmol/l. If the readings drop below 3.3 mmol/l, we can talk about hypoglycemia, although this threshold is not always critical.

For each person, there are individual numbers at which we can talk about low sugar. One will feel great with a glycemia of 3 mmol/l, worse - with 2.7 mmol/l. For another person, already 3.2 mmol/l will be a critical indicator requiring immediate medical attention.

As a rule, it depends on the gender, age of the person, his constitution and body weight. This can also include lifestyle.

Causes of hypoglycemia

• prolonged deliberate or forced refusal of food;
• the presence of insulinoma (pancreatic tumor that uncontrollably synthesizes insulin on its own);
• long-term use of medications or self-medication (insulin, glucose-lowering tablets, salicylates, beta-blockers);
• the effect of ethyl alcohol and its derivatives on the body;
• hepatitis;
• adrenal insufficiency;
• diabetes;
• neuropsychiatric disorders.

Uncontrolled use of medications is a step towards the development of hypoglycemia

If a person has diabetes, low glucose levels can be explained by an incorrectly selected dose of insulin, which is used in the treatment of almost all insulin-dependent and some non-insulin-dependent diabetics.

Another important point why there may be little sugar in the bloodstream in diabetes is large gaps between meals, alcohol consumption (delayed hypoglycemia) and significant physical activity.

There are provoking factors that help lower glycemic levels due to internal changes in the body. These include a long period of diabetes mellitus, pathology of the kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract, endocrine diseases (in particular, the thyroid gland).

Important! To this list you can add the period of pregnancy and lactation, alcoholism and hereditary predisposition.

You can read more about the causes of low blood sugar in this article.

Classification of hypoglycemia

A list of the most common forms of pathology in which the level of glucose in the blood of a child and an adult is below the permissible level:

• Severe – the pathology requires immediate medical correction (administration of carbohydrates, glucagon). This form can progress to a comatose state. In order to prevent the development of complications, it is important to raise the glycemic level to normal.
• Confirmed symptomatic - this form is characterized by laboratory confirmation, in which a blood test shows numbers of less than 3.3 mmol/l, and all obvious signs of hypoglycemia are present.
• Asymptomatic - as a rule, it is manifested only by laboratory indicators, there is no clinical picture of the pathology.
• Probable symptomatic - manifestations correspond to the specifics of the condition, but are not confirmed by diagnostic results.
• Relative - symptoms of low sugar are present, but according to the examination results, glycemia is within normal limits.

Determining the type of hypoglycemia is the prerogative of a qualified specialist

Symptoms

The pathology begins to manifest itself when blood sugar in women and men drops below 3 mmol/l. The following complaints appear:

• dizziness;
• cephalgia;
• impairment of consciousness and cognitive functions;
• pathological desire to eat;
• chills;
• twitching of fingers, limbs;
• nervousness, excitement;
• excessive sweating.

As hypoglycemia progresses, a person may fall into a coma. At the same time, body temperature decreases, breathing becomes noisy and can be heard from a distance. The pulse becomes frequent, barely audible, and low blood pressure is observed.

The tone of the eyeballs decreases, frequent urination is replaced by its complete absence. Seizures resembling epilepsy and convulsions appear. The patient loses consciousness. From this moment on, 4-8 hours remain to provide medical assistance. Next – cerebral edema, death.

Important! Symptoms of hypoglycemia may be similar to manifestations of other pathologies, so it is important that a doctor conduct a differential diagnosis.

Low sugar in pregnant women and children

There are times when a pregnant woman’s condition requires her blood sugar to increase. This means that she had an attack of hypoglycemia. Such a pathological condition during the period of bearing a child is more the exception than the rule.

Why does hypoglycemia occur during pregnancy?

• changes in a woman’s hormonal background;
• active metabolic processes;
• strengthening the functioning of the endocrine apparatus;
• severe toxicosis accompanied by dehydration;
• hypovitaminosis;
• incorrect treatment of diabetes during pregnancy;
• high weight of a woman;
• multiple pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a period during which glycemic levels should be monitored frequently.

Women who have relatives with diabetes have a high risk of low glucose levels.

There is such a thing as neonatal hypoglycemia. It can be temporary, occurring in the first days of life. Disappears on its own or after minor drug intervention.

However, there is also a long-term form of pathology (persistent), which requires long-term treatment and is manifested by significant disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism. Such children need constant monitoring, as well as clarification of the presence of genetic abnormalities.

Complications and consequences

Mild hypoglycemia slightly affects a person’s quality of life. Weakness and nervousness appear, mood disappears, and increased fatigue occurs. Low sugar, which accompanies severe forms of pathology, is very dangerous due to its consequences and complications.

The consequences appear:

• attacks of psychosis;
• epilepsy;
• acquired dementia (dementia);
• blood clotting disorder;
• cerebrovascular accident;
• arrhythmia;
• heart attack;
• renal failure;
• glaucoma;
• cerebral edema;
• fatal.

How to check your blood sugar level?

Glycemic levels are monitored in several ways. The most common is a blood test, which is taken in a public or private laboratory. What sugar level is known the next day, in emergency cases - within 10-15 minutes. The study is carried out on an empty stomach or immediately at the time of an attack.

The second method is to measure your sugar level with a glucometer. This method is carried out both at home and in a hospital or outpatient clinic. Glycemia is measured with a special portable device, which includes a lancet (which is used to make a puncture to draw blood) and test strips (treated with chemical reagents for the necessary reaction with blood components).

Important! Within a minute, the diagnostic result is displayed on the screen. It is important to have such a device for patients with diabetes and those people who often experience similar conditions of critical low blood sugar.

A laboratory doctor will help you clarify your sugar level in the laboratory.

How to increase your sugar levels

Treatment of hypoglycemia begins with nutritional correction. A prerequisite that helps prevent the development of attacks is diet. Its principles are as follows:

• Frequent meals, portions should be small, breaks between the intake of food into the body no more than 3 hours.
• Avoid coffee or reduce its consumption, since this drink is considered a stimulator of insulin synthesis.
• Quit alcoholic beverages and smoking.
• The diet should include up to 150 g of carbohydrates daily (unless hypoglycemia occurs due to diabetes mellitus).
• Include nuts, lean fish and meats, vegetables, and fruits in your individual menu.
• With your doctor's permission, use supplements rich in vitamins and microelements. They will reduce the risk of complications and support the functioning of internal organs.

Help with an attack of hypoglycemia

In the initial stages, you should give the patient something sweet. This could be refined sugar, candy, cookies, sweet hot tea. Against the background of a precomatous state, the patient should be placed on his side (so as not to choke on vomit if there is any), and dentures should be taken out.

In the absence of consciousness, 1 ml of glucagon is injected under the skin or into a vein. Further assistance is provided in a hospital setting.

Ambulance team - specialists who will arrive to the patient in case of an attack of hypoglycemia

Hospital treatment

• glucose solution is injected into a vein;
• later - a glucose solution into a vein drip;
• hormonal drugs (Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone);
• adrenaline solution;
• Cardiotonics are administered to support heart function.

It is easier to prevent a decrease in blood sugar than to restore the patient’s condition and the functions of his internal organs and systems. This will be helped by following the recommendations of qualified specialists and the principles of diet, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and adequate physical activity.

Content

A state of low blood sugar is no less dangerous than an increase in glucose above normal, so it is important for men and women to know why such a deficiency occurs and what symptoms the disease manifests itself. It is necessary not only to monitor indicators of sugar absorption, but also to understand what actions need to be taken in case of hypoglycemia, since a critical situation is fraught with serious complications, even life-threatening.

What is low blood sugar

Lack of blood sugar or hypoglycemia is a pathology when the level of glucose in the blood falls below normal, which in a healthy person on an empty stomach is 3.3 - 5.5 mmol/l. Glucose is the fuel of our brain, and an imbalance in its levels leads to a hypoglycemic reaction, even coma. Low blood sugar is caused by many reasons: illness, physiological characteristics of the body, poor diet.

Causes of low blood sugar

The cause of the pathology is the discrepancy between the level of the hormone insulin in the blood and the intake of carbohydrates during physical activity and with food. The main provocateur is poor nutrition, when the body does not receive the necessary carbohydrates, and with them, energy. As a rule, a sharp drop in blood sugar occurs with diabetes, but this condition is also possible in healthy people. Among the causes of pathology:

• overdose of insulin, hypoglycemic drugs for diabetes;
• poor nutrition (deficiency of fiber, mineral salts and vitamins with a predominance of foods with refined carbohydrates);
• dehydration;
• excessive physical activity;
• alcohol abuse;
• organ failure (pancreas, liver, heart, kidneys, adrenal glands);
• exhaustion;
• hormonal deficiency with inhibition of the production of glucagon, somatropin, adrenaline, cortisol;
• extracellular tumors, benign neoplasms, autoimmune abnormalities;
• excess intravenous drip of saline;
• chronic diseases;
• long breaks between meals (empty stomach);
• menses.

The child has

Low blood glucose levels in children occur, as a rule, due to low-calorie nutrition, large time intervals between meals against the background of physical activity, psychological stress, and lack of sleep. Less commonly observed is familial idiopathic (spontaneous) hypoglycemia on a pathogenetic basis, which manifests itself in children under two years of age. The catalyst is high sensitivity to leucine, which accelerates insulin synthesis and blocks gluconeogenesis in the liver, which causes a decrease in glucose.

Hypoglycemia in premature newborns, manifested by hypothermia, respiratory disorders, and cyanosis, is also considered a frequent occurrence. However, it can also be asymptomatic; in this case, it can be detected in the first hours of life only with the appropriate analysis. The mother herself is a risk factor for the child if she has type 2 diabetes and takes glucose-lowering medications. The baby, regardless of the degree of clinical manifestations, needs urgent therapy - administration of glucose or glucagon and hydrocortisone.

Symptoms

During an attack of hypoglycemia, a person’s well-being depends on the speed and level of sugar drop. Symptoms of low blood sugar may occur if your glucose levels drop sharply but remain within normal limits. The main features include:

• adrenergic disorders - increased sweating, jump in blood pressure, pale skin, agitation, anxiety, tachycardia;
• parasympathetic signs - weakness, nausea, vomiting, hunger;
• neuroglycopenic phenomena - fainting, dizziness, disorientation, inappropriate behavior.

Among women

Low blood sugar can be expressed weakly, the signal is manifested only by increased drowsiness and fatigue. Women are more prone to this pathology, especially with hormonal changes during pregnancy, menopause and endocrine diseases, ovarian dysfunction. But the following characteristic symptoms may also appear:

• sweating;
• anxiety, aggressiveness;
• pale skin;
• muscle hypertonicity;
• tachycardia;
• muscle tremors;
• increased blood pressure;
• mydriasis;
• general weakness;
• nausea, vomiting;
• hunger;
• dizziness, amnesia;
• fainting, impaired consciousness.

In men

Blood glucose concentrations can change in men and women with age, due to lifestyle changes and addiction to bad habits. The opinion that the sugar norm for men is higher than for women has no basis. The indicator depends on nutrition, bad habits, stressful situations, and excessive stress. Low blood sugar manifests itself in men with the following symptoms:

• headache;
• fast fatiguability;
• cardiopalmus;
• slow reaction;
• nervous excitement;
• lack of energy;
• convulsions.

Why is low blood sugar dangerous?

Neuroglycopenic and adrenergic manifestations disappear with proper therapy, however, in addition to them, low blood glucose is dangerous for the development of hypoglycemic coma, cerebral dysfunction, even dementia. In addition, this condition is risky for people with cardiovascular diseases; it can provoke strokes and heart attacks, and retinal hemorrhage. In pregnant women, hypoglycemia negatively affects fetal development by reducing the amount of glucose supplied.

What to do if your blood sugar is low

You can cope with a minor lack of sugar yourself: drink a glucose solution, sweet juice, eat a lump of sugar, caramel, a spoonful of honey. However, not all sweet foods are recommended: for example, you cannot eat pasta, cakes, cereals, chocolate, ice cream, fruits, and white bread. In a serious condition, a person can lose consciousness and only immediate medical intervention will help.

The patient requires administration of glucagon or glucose, and after half an hour a blood test must be monitored. During therapy, it is important to observe the rate of administration so that the sugar level remains within 5-10 mmol/l. Subsequent treatment depends on the causes (insulin overdose, renal failure, liver disease), on the basis of which the duration of glucose infusion is determined.

Medicines to control blood sugar

For patients taking insulin and loved ones living with diabetics, the constant availability of drugs containing dextrose (glucose), glucagon should become mandatory, as well as knowledge of their correct use. To independently relieve hypoglycemia, there are the following medication options:

• Glucose tablets. Dietary glucose is characterized by rapid absorption and active action. Pros: predictable action, cheap price. Cons: none. An alternative drug replacement option is ascorbic acid with glucose, sold in every pharmacy.
• Dex4 tablets. Chewable tablets with dextrose do not require digestion by the intestines and are absorbed instantly. Pros: different pleasant tastes. Cons: little represented on the market.
• Dextro4. Available in the form of gel, tablets, containing D-glucose. Quickly combats hypoglycemia. Pros: ease of choosing different shapes. Cons: none identified.

Diet

In a situation of glucose deficiency, the doctor prescribes a personal diet, taking into account the severity of the situation and underlying diseases. General recommendations are to increase complex carbohydrates in the menu - whole grain bread, vegetables, durum wheat pasta. You should choose low-fat, protein-rich foods: fish, chicken, rabbit, legumes. Not very sweet fruits must be included in the diet.

A condition known as hypoglycemia, which is characterized by a low level, is considered dangerous for the human body. When glucose levels are low, organs do not receive the necessary nutrition they need to function normally.

The consequence of this is the appearance of problems with the functioning of the brain, that is, it gradually turns off and coma occurs. What are the causes of low blood sugar in a person, what symptoms appear with such a pathology, and how to restore normal blood sugar levels?

Many patients mistakenly believe that only those who have been diagnosed should take care of their levels. There is some truth to this statement, since in the body of diabetics the concentration of sugar is labile and can reach critical levels. Many patients with diabetes are aware of this feature of their body, so they use a piece of sugar or candy as an emergency aid.

There are situations when a decrease in sugar levels is observed in completely healthy people, and the levels reach a critical level.

Experts identify several reasons that can provoke such a pathological state of the body:

1. One of the most common reasons for a decrease in sugar levels in the human body is considered to be improper and inadequate nutrition. This leads to depletion of the body’s internal reserves and, above all, to a significant reduction in the amount of carbohydrates, which serve as the main suppliers of energy.
2. A decrease in blood sugar concentration can be observed when the time intervals between meals are too long. The fact is that along with food, the body is saturated with carbohydrates, which are quickly broken down during metabolism. A certain part of them is recycled, and the rest is converted into energy reserves. If there is a long-term abstinence from eating, then the consequence of this may well be a strong decrease in blood sugar. In addition, low glucose concentrations are observed in the morning, when a person has not yet had time to eat.
3. The presence of a large amount of sweets in a person’s diet leads to a rapid increase in blood glucose. The fact is that a too rapid increase in blood sugar is replaced by a sharp decline. Exactly the same effect is accompanied by a person drinking alcoholic beverages and sweet water with gases.
4. Active physical activity on the body, even with adequate nutrition, is accompanied by a decrease in blood sugar concentration. The consequence of this is the appearance of a lack of energy, since the level of consumed carbohydrates significantly exceeds consumed ones.

There are reasons that cause a decrease in sugar levels in the body of people with a disease such as diabetes:

• taking certain types of antidiabetic medicines
• drinking alcoholic beverages without food
• injecting too much insulin into the body
• mixed intake of alcohol with antidiabetic drugs

Often, low sugar concentrations are diagnosed in completely healthy people as a result of various pathologies, and, as well as problems with metabolic processes.

Symptoms of the disease

A disease such as hypoglycemia can be mild or severe. When diagnosing a mild stage of the pathology, the patient may complain of the appearance of cold sweat mainly on the back of the neck, severe hunger, increased anxiety and slight trembling throughout the body. In addition, signs of the disease such as headaches, dizziness, mild chills and attacks of nausea are noted.

As the pathology progresses, an even greater deterioration of the person’s condition and the development of the following signs are possible:

• problems with orientation in space
• sudden change of mood
• crying or joy without any expressed reason
• speech is too slow and unclear
• the appearance of problems with consciousness

With severe hypoglycemia, a person becomes like a very drunk person, and often those around him are convinced that this is exactly what he is doing and refuse to help him. In fact, this condition is considered extremely dangerous, because a person is no longer able to help himself on his own.

In the absence of timely measures taken, the state of health deteriorates even more and a convulsive syndrome occurs in combination with loss of consciousness.

Gradually, a diabetic coma sets in, which is accompanied by cerebral edema and leads to death.In some cases, hypoglycemia can develop completely unexpectedly, for example, at night.

If a decrease in blood sugar occurs at night, the following symptoms may appear:

1. increased sweating
2. increased anxiety
3. sleepwalking
4. nightmares

When the amount of glucose decreases during sleep, a person usually complains of a headache in the morning.

Features of hypoglycemia

Experts say that hypoglycemia predominantly develops in adult patients with long-term diabetes therapy. Not strictly following the daily routine and diet, disruption of circadian rhythms in combination with physical activity leads to the fact that taking glucose-lowering drugs or insulin injections causes a too strong decrease in concentration.

People with alcohol dependence are also diagnosed with severely low blood sugar. The fact is that ethanol has a side effect on the body and the consequence of this is the accelerated depletion of gluten reserves and the inhibition of the genesis associated with it.It is important to monitor the concentration of glucose in the blood throughout the day, because hypoglycemia can cause a dangerous condition such as coma.

The main reason for low blood sugar concentrations in childhood may be a low-calorie diet.

In addition, too long intervals between meals against the background of increased physical activity and strong psychological stress can cause the development of the disease.Hypoglycemia is detected in premature infants with asphyxia during labor, respiratory distress and hypothermia.

Treatment method

Hypoglycemia is diagnosed in a person if a blood test shows low sugar levels. In addition, the patient exhibits signs of the disease, which disappear after eating sweet foods. Diagnosis of pathology is complemented by a physical examination, studying the patient’s lifestyle and state of health.

In the event that there is an insignificant drop in sugar in the body, then it can easily cope with such a pathological condition on its own. To do this, it is recommended to eat some sweet product, for example, a little honey, candy or a piece of sugar. With a strong decrease in sugar, loss of consciousness is possible, so you need to call an ambulance as soon as possible. In such a situation, a glucose solution or glucagon is injected into the patient’s body intravenously, after which the concentration of sugar in the blood is determined an hour later.

In severe cases, it is possible to hospitalize the patient in a hospital facility and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Drug therapy depends on the reasons that provoked the development of hypoglycemia. After identifying the cause of low blood glucose, it is determined how long the glucose infusion will last and the rate of its elimination. In fact, the sugar content should be between 5-10 mmol/liter.

More information about hypoglycemia can be found in the video:

Elimination of hypoglycemia is based on conservative treatment of the underlying disease and relieving the patient of the symptoms of the disease. For this purpose, the following medicinal measures are carried out:

• administration of glucose intravenously using a dropper or oral administration of the monosaccharide dextrose, which is immediately absorbed in the oral cavity into the blood without entering the digestive tract
• consumption of simple fast and slow carbohydrates in a certain dosage
• intramuscular injection of glucagon
• fractional injections of corticosteroids - adrenaline and hydrocortisone
• compliance with special diet instructions

Hypoglycemia can be treated using traditional medicine, but only after consulting a doctor.In order to prevent a significant decrease in sugar in the human body, it is necessary to comply with certain preventive measures. First of all, you should adhere to a special diet with divided doses and a proper daily routine.

In addition, it is necessary to take multivitamin complexes, which must contain chromium. Prevention of hypoglycemia involves giving up bad habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol. It is important to correct the treatment of diabetes mellitus, and physical education and sports should be strictly dosed. In addition, you should familiarize your family members with how to act in the event of a sudden onset of a symptom.

Carbohydrate metabolism is the biochemical process of breaking down “complex” carbohydrates into monosaccharides. It is he who suffers primarily from such an endocrine disease as diabetes mellitus (it is characterized by a significant increase in the concentration of glucose in the blood).

Why does hypoglycemia develop? This condition can develop in both a diabetic and an absolutely healthy person. What is associated with low blood sugar: we will look at the causes, symptoms and dangerous consequences of the pathology in our review.

One of the key laboratory indicators of carbohydrate metabolism is blood sugar - its low level is not considered normal and is called hypoglycemia in medicine.

Important! In a healthy person, the physiological values ​​of sugar are 3.3-5.5 mmol/l on an empty stomach and do not exceed 7.8 mmol/l after meals.

What does low blood sugar mean?

Hypoglycemia is no less dangerous than its opposite condition – hyperglycemia. Insufficient concentration of the nutrient and the main source of ATP in the blood leads to disruption of the functioning of internal organs. First of all, the heart and brain suffer, requiring a constant and uninterrupted supply of energy.

Causes

So, why is blood sugar low? Most often, any disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism are usually associated with diabetes, and this is partly true: hypoglycemia is one of the complications of the disease.

Hypoglycemia as a complication of diabetes mellitus

This laboratory pathology can be provoked by:

1. Overdose of insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs.
2. Starvation.
3. Long time interval between meals.
4. Chronic somatic diseases in the stage of decompensation.
5. Acute infections, intoxication.
6. Heavy physical activity, intense mental work.
7. Drinking alcohol in large doses.

Another common mistake patients make that leads to a sharp decrease in glucose concentration is the use of a large number of medicinal plants and products with glucose-lowering properties during insulin treatment.

Table 1: Plants that enhance the effect of hypoglycemic agents:

	chicory (herb); hawthorn fruits; rose hip; linden (flowers); burdock grass; lingonberry (leaves); dandelion grass; bean shells; Bay leaf; clover.
	Jerusalem artichoke; radish; zucchini; asparagus; bell pepper; garlic; eggplant; spinach; parsley; horseradish.
	black currant; chokeberry; blackberry; raspberries; pineapples; cowberry; sour apples; citrus.

Important! The selection of the dosage of anti-diabetic drugs is carried out by the attending physician strictly individually. In addition, it is important for the patient to regularly monitor his condition at home using an individual glucometer. Without treatment, low blood sugar—hypoglycemia—can cause life-threatening complications.

Other factors in the development of pathology

What other conditions provoke low blood sugar: the cause may be related to:

• insulinoma - a hormone-producing tumor of the pancreas;
• severe liver diseases;
• the patient’s condition after resection (partial removal) of the stomach or intestines;
• congenital deficiency of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism;
• pathologies of the hypothalamic-pituitary system;
• diseases of the adrenal glands.

In healthy people, pathology occurs when:

• prolonged and intense physical activity;
• following a strict diet, fasting;
• irregular food intake;
• during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Clinical manifestations

The first signs of a decrease in glucose levels begin to appear when its value reaches 3.3 mmol/l.

Note! In diabetics, pathological symptoms may develop much earlier, since the body is already accustomed to living in conditions of high sugar content. Sometimes hypoglycemia manifests itself with a sharp decrease in glucose levels (for example, in cases where it was 20 and became 10 mmol/l).

The severity of signs of pathology can be divided into three degrees.

Table 2: Severities of hypoglycemia:

Important! The development of hypoglycemia in a child is especially dangerous, since young patients do not feel it approaching or cannot talk about their complaints. Low blood sugar can only be diagnosed in a newborn or infant using a glucometer.

Possible consequences

How dangerous is the pathological syndrome?

A one-time slight decrease in blood sugar concentration does not pose a threat to health and goes away immediately after eating. Prolonged and severe hypoglycemia can cause coma, stroke, and in some cases (if the pathology is not diagnosed on time) death of the patient.

Normalization methods

What to do if your sugar level drops sharply? Methods of emergency care and prevention of hypoglycemia should be familiar to everyone, especially patients suffering from diabetes.

What can be done immediately?

Eliminating the first signs of pathology is quite simple. It is enough to eat one of the following foods within 5-10 minutes:

• sugar or honey – 1-2 tsp;
• caramel or chocolate candy – 1-2 pcs;
• fruit juice – 100-150 ml.

Taking rapidly digestible carbohydrates will normalize physiological glucose values ​​in the shortest possible time and prevent the progression of pathology. If time is lost, and the victim has already developed signs of hypoglycemic syndrome, he should be immediately provided with emergency assistance.

Its algorithm includes:

1. Place the patient in a horizontal position with raised legs.
2. Call an ambulance with a brief description of the situation.
3. Clearing the airways (if the patient is unconscious, you need to carefully turn him on his side to avoid aspiration of the bronchial tree with vomit).
4. Ensuring a flow of fresh air.

After the ambulance team arrives, doctors assess the victim’s condition and establish a preliminary diagnosis, the patient is injected intravenously with a 40% glucose solution and an intravenous drip infusion of a 5% solution of the drug is established. After this, he is urgently hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the nearest hospital.

How can I avoid developing the condition in the future?

Even a one-time decrease in blood sugar levels cannot be ignored. It is important to find out the causes of the pathology and promptly address them. Only comprehensive treatment of the underlying disease will avoid the development of the problem in the future.

If episodes of hypoglycemia are associated with diabetes, it is important to consult with an endocrinologist, select the optimal dosage of insulin and glucose-lowering drugs, and follow the doctor’s recommendations. A balanced, regular diet is also important.

The diet for low blood sugar is:

1. Regular meals 5-6 times a day in small portions. Patients with diabetes, especially those receiving insulin therapy, are recommended to eat according to the schedule every 2.5-3 hours. Skipping meals, including snacks, is strictly prohibited.
2. A sharp restriction in the diet of easily digestible carbohydrates. There are now many products for diabetics in health food departments that will help maintain normal sugar levels throughout the day.
3. Avoiding coffee and alcoholic beverages.
4. The presence in the daily menu of products that normalize carbohydrate metabolism - vegetables, nuts, cheese, fish, flax seeds.

Compliance with all these points will help avoid the development of hypoglycemia. If the syndrome does develop, it is important to stop it in a timely manner and prevent the development of complications.

Prevention of hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is not as harmless as it may seem. A drop in blood glucose concentration reduces performance, impairs quality of life, and provokes the development of chronic diseases.

To prevent hypoglycemia, you must follow simple but effective rules:

• for diabetics it is important to follow the rules for taking insulin and its dosage;
• monitoring the concentration of glucose in the blood with a glucometer;
• In no case should you allow long breaks between meals;
• It is advisable to avoid alcohol consumption;
• when planning physical activity, it is necessary to provide for mandatory additional nutrition in the form of chocolate, sweets, and sugar-containing products;
• be sure to drink warm tea with sugar or honey after intense physical activity;
• You should always have d-glucose or glucagon tablets with you.

A low concentration of glucose in the blood, if it is constant or frequent, indicates insufficient energy metabolism in the body. It is commonly believed that only diabetics should measure their blood sugar levels, but this is not true. The advent of portable glucometers allows anyone to monitor this indicator.

A modern person who follows the rules of a healthy lifestyle is obliged to monitor his energy, for which he must have a glucometer at home or always with him. Controlling glucose levels is important for the prevention of many metabolic pathologies. Glucose is not sugar, it is life itself.

Questions for the doctor

Consequences of hypoglycemia

Hello! I am 32 years old, I have had diabetes mellitus 1 since childhood. Now I often go into hypothermia, several times until I lose consciousness. At the hospital, the doctor said that low sugar is even worse than high sugar. Why are we reducing it then?

Hello! Hypoglycemia is dangerous, first of all, due to its sudden development and extremely negative effect on the nervous system. That is why, if its symptoms develop (anxiety, weakness, strong feelings of hunger), you should first eat candy or drink sweet tea, and only then take out a glucometer for analysis.

Constantly high glucose levels, although easier to tolerate, also have an extremely negative impact on health. Therefore, you should always try to maintain normal sugar levels.

Interpretation of the study

Hello! I have a strange situation with my tests: in the morning on an empty stomach my sugar is high (ranges from 6.1 to 7.3), and in the afternoon and evening it is low – 4.2-5.3. With what it can be connected?

Hello! High fasting glucose levels are an indication for a more in-depth study of carbohydrate metabolism. I recommend that you contact an endocrinologist and get tested (glucose tolerance test, glyhemoglobin test, etc.).