It is common knowledge that diabetes is a debilitating disease that results from blood sugar or glucose levels that are too high. It is ironic, though; that an affliction coming from blood sugar levels that are abnormally low can develop in diabetic people. The disorder mentioned is called Hypoglycemia, which is characterized by intense hunger, dizzy spells, headaches, irregular heartbeat and pulse, pale skin, profuse sweating and anxiety attacks that all come from low glucose count in the blood. Extreme cases of hypoglycemia in diabetes-afflicted people have symptoms that are commonly misdiagnosed as coming from neurological or psychiatric disorders.
Hypoglycemia in diabetes cases usually occur as a side effect of various medications given to diabetics, usually intended to treat high blood sugar by lowering the body’s blood glucose levels. Hypoglycemia happens when the medicine intended to regulate blood sugar lowers the body’s glucose levels too much (probably as a result of wrong dosage or improper administration) and results in the body’s natural glucose-regulating functions kicking in, forcing the liver to release its glucose stores and for other parts of the body such as the hormones and the nervous system to adjust to the changes, all of these are happening too fast resulting in irregular external effects.
Hypoglycemia resulting from blood sugar regulating medicines has a bigger chance of occurring with oral diabetes medicines, particularly with sulfonylureas and meglitinides. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, biguanides, and thiazolidinediones have very little chance of causing Hypoglycemia in diabetes cases except when used in tandem with other blood sugar lowering medicines.
Hypoglycemia in diabetes may also occur after taking too much insulin compared to the amount of your carbohydrates intake, but cases can be very rare since the dosage and frequency of insulin administration is carefully monitored and regulated by a physician or a healthcare provider. Majority of cases like this have resulted from unqualified or untrained family members and roommates injecting the wrong amount of insulin.
Problems relating to a diabetic’s eating habits can also cause hypoglycemia attacks. Referred to as Reactive Hypoglycemia, a person who tends to miss meals, or does not eat enough, or eats much later than usual, may develop hypoglycemia. It can also result from drinking alcohol on an empty stomach, or eating a meal with too much simple sugar (candies, chocolates, pastries that have icing, and snacks that contain dried sugar).
It is important for diabetic individuals to pay attention to their dietary habits and to observe proper medical procedures in order to avoid hypoglycemia attacks. Always check your blood glucose level, avoid food with lots of simple sugar, make sure your stomach is never empty, and most importantly - work closely with your physician to ensure that your diet is well within the limit and that your insulin intake is within the prescribed dosage. With proper care, careful planning, and a little bit of help from a physician - hypoglycemia will not be a problem and should not hinder a diabetic person’s primary goal of getting better.
Quick Tip #1
Treatment of hypoglycemia is an ongoing process, remember to have a good diet with evenly spaced out meals every 2-3 hours apart. Also exercising can really help in keeping this condition under check.
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Quick Tip #2
A lot of symptoms of low blood sugar have common signs as other diseases. If you exeperience any of the hypoglycemia symptoms, do consult your doctor for treatment.
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