Dealing With Low Blood Sugar From Insulin For Diabetes

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Introduction

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) occurs in people with diabetes when the sugar (glucose) level in the blood drops below what the body needs to function normally.

Key points

• If your blood sugar drops below 65 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), you most likely will have symptoms, such as feeling tired, weak, or shaky.
• If your blood sugar drops very low (usually below 20 mg/dL) and you do not get help, you could become confused, drowsy, or even lose consciousness and possibly die. If you are pregnant, your baby could be harmed.
• Low blood sugar can develop if you take too much insulin, do not eat enough food or skip meals, exercise without eating enough, or drink too much alcohol (especially on an empty stomach).
• You can usually treat mild—and sometimes moderate—low blood sugar by eating something that contains sugar.
• You should teach your friends and coworkers what to do if your blood sugar is very low.

 What is a low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) emergency?

 Why do I need to deal with low blood sugar emergencies?

 How to deal with low blood sugar emergencies

 Where to go from here

More information about diabetes can be found in these topics:

• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 1 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed
• Type 1 Diabetes: Living With the Disease
• Type 1 Diabetes: Children Living With the Disease
• Type 1 Diabetes: Living With Complications
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed
• Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease
• Type 2 Diabetes: Living With Complications
• Type 2 Diabetes in Children
• Gestational Diabetes

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Last updated:	August 14, 2007
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman