Dealing With Low Blood Sugar In Children Taking Only Oral Medication For Diabetes

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Introduction

Low blood sugar, also called hypoglycemia, occurs when the sugar (glucose) level in the blood drops below what the body needs to function normally.

Not all oral medicines for diabetes cause low blood sugar. Usually, these medicines cause blood sugar to drop low enough to cause only mild symptoms, such as sweating, shakiness, and hunger. If your child eats something that contains sugar, his or her blood sugar level will rise. However, if your child doesn't eat something that contains sugar, his or her blood sugar may continue to drop to a very low level. Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia can include disorientation, confusion, combativeness, and loss of consciousness.
Taking too many doses of oral medicine for diabetes in one day, not eating enough food, or doing strenuous exercise can cause your child's blood sugar level to drop below the safe range. If your child's blood sugar drops very low, he or she could go into a coma and possibly die.
To prevent serious problems from low blood sugar:
- Test your child's blood sugar often.
- Be alert to the early signs of low blood sugar, such as sweating, shakiness, hunger, blurred vision, and dizziness.
- Keep some hard candy, raisins, or other sugar foods with your child at all times. Have your child eat some at the first sign of low blood sugar.
- Teach your child's caregivers, teachers, and coaches what to do if your child has low blood sugar.

More information about children with diabetes can be found in these topics:

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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

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