Hypoglycemia
Created | Updated Dec 13, 2004
Hypoglycemia, Pain & watch out for the Catch !
What is Hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia simply means low blood sugar (glucose, actually and more precisely (# note)). Doesn't sound like much of a problem really, does it? But bear with me and let me try to show you exactly how important sugar is to all of us and our bodies performance, and let me show you how serious it can be, if you do not have enough sugar.
# Note: Glucose is a form of sugar.
What's Hypoglycemic?
Someone who has hypoglycemia. Ok, obvious I know, so let me expand. Someone who can not efficiently store and use sugar within their body, hence their blood sugar levels very quickly drop into a danger zone (about 60 mg/dl). In effect, I believe that everyone has hypoglycemia (~ note), but to differing degrees, so that most people could survive for weeks on water alone and no sugar or food or energy other that that already stored in their body, and there blood sugar levels would not drop into the danger zone.
~ Note: Most people have a normal level of blood sugar of over 100 mg/dl, and can maintain it.
Hunger V Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is not just feeling hungry. Hypoglycemic people feel hungry just like anyone else, but the need to eat has a different importance to a hypoglycemic because they know they have to act quickly to feelings of hunger, else they feel pain.
Two types of Hypoglycemia?
There are two types of hypoglycemia - 'moderate' (sometimes called 'mild') and 'severe'. Most cases of hypoglycemia never get beyond the 'mild' stages. 'Mild' hypoglycemia has recognisable symptoms, so if quickly and appropriately treated it is more of an inconvenience than a cause for alarm. Mild hypoglycemia is usually defined as a blood sugar level around 60 mg/dl.
Pain
Hypoglycemia is nearly always an unpleasant experience for the sufferer (even in the mild stages). This can be due to the physical way it makes your body feel, the mental way it reduces your brains performance, problems caused by interaction with other people such as the aggressive way it makes you react to others (* note), and other emotional effects.
* Note: Never annoy or "wind-up" someone who is between the mild and severe stages of hypoglycemia because they act illogically and aggressively (if you are lucky they will be too weak to "interact" with you). This mild-to-severe stage can occur in as short a time as 2 hours after the last intake of food, depending on factors like the amount consumed, the amount previously consumed, amount of alcohol consumed, the level of dehydration, other illnesses, the weather and heat.
Temper
Do you have a temper? Do you lack concentration? Can't you think straight? Isn't yoga working ;) Do you know if you are hypoglycemic?
Severe hypoglycemia
Severe hypoglycemia is rare. Mostly because people suffering from hypoglycemia will eat before it gets out of hand. But everyone must be aware that severe hypoglycemia is extremely dangerous. Not because hypoglycemia is in itself fatal (that is very rare), but the danger is what happens as a result of the hypoglycemia. Its symptoms are, serious mental confusion, extreme antagonistic behaviors, and eventually leading to unconsciousness or seizures. We define severe hypoglycemia as the point where you are not able to independently treat (feed) yourself. The biggest danger is a motor vehicle accident caused, for example, by passing-out at the wheel, swerving into on-coming traffic, hitting a tree or running stop signs. Sometimes, people are seriously injured in other types of accidents related to hypoglycemia, such as falling down stairs. It is equally important to avoid unconsciousness and seizures caused by hypoglycemia, not only because of the increased risk for accidents but because of the potential for brain damage related to repeated severe hypoglycemia.
Triggers
The most common reasons for hypoglycemia are skipping or delaying meals/ snacks, eating less food than usual, more activity than is usual, drinking alcoholic beverages. Diabetics also suffer from hypoglycemia but this is a physical condition in itself (lack of insulin) which I will discuss this later.
Causes
The above actions or inactions can trigger off a hypoglycemic problem. But what causes the medical problem its self. Well, no-one really seems to be able to answer that one?
Do not confuse with Diabetes
There are two opposite problems that people suffer from due to problems with glucose in the body, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Hypo means blood sugar is too low, and the opposite effect is Hyper, meaning blood sugar is too high. Diabetes is where there are problems with the production of insulin, a hormone that enables the body to use glucose found in foods for energy. In Type 1 diabetics the body completely stops producing any insulin. People with Type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to survive. In Type 2 the body produces insulin, but not enough to properly convert glucose into energy. In both cases glucose backs up in the bloodstream, causing Hyperglycemia, the blood sugar level rises too high.
However, If a diabetic takes too much insulin, they will become hypoglycemic, as the blood sugar levels start to sink too low. So diabetics suffer from hyperglycemia, but the treatment for this can also then cause them to suffer from hypoglycemia as well.
Many people believe that Hypoglycemia is just the side effect cause when diabetics accidentally take too much insulin. But you do not have to be diabetic to suffer from hypoglycemia. Hyperglycemia is a medical condition, Diabetes is a medical condition, but most people do not realise that Hypoglycemia is a medical condition in its own right.
The Catch 22 of Mild Hypoglycemia
The key to managing hypoglycemia (see the section below) is to firstly recognise the physical (body), emotional (mood), and mental (neuroglycopenic) symptoms. The responsibility for this must lie with the sufferer, and you would think that that is ok, but can they do the job of spotting a hypoglycemic attack?
It is true that the sufferer him/ herself will generally be the first to be aware of the symptoms that hypoglycemia is beginning, because the symptoms are very specific to each individual and they also may change over time, so none sufferers generally will have to know the sufferer very well in order to be able to spot the symptoms quicker than the sufferer themselves.
The catch 22 is that generally common symptoms of mild hypoglycemia are, slow or difficult thinking and concentration. This can mean that a sufferer is confused and unsure that they are becoming hypoglycemic, even though all the symptoms are apparent and even if they have recognised those symptoms. Also, this confusion mixed with another sign of mild hypoglycemia, antagonistic behavior, means that even if a sufferer becomes aware that they are mildly hypoglycemic, they may not admit it, or refuse or delay with food intake etc.
For this reason the most important thing for none sufferers to remember (assuming they are aware of the problem) is to ASK a sufferer if they think they are becoming hypoglycemic and if they have eaten enough food recently etc. The signs will generally increase in severity with the severity of Hypoglycemia and so a more serious attack will be easier to spot.
Never ignore these symptoms! Left untreated, hypoglycemia gets progressively worse, and leaves you less and less able to help yourself.
Some common signs of Mild Hypoglycemia
Confusion, poor concentration, slow speech, slow thinking, lack of coordination, disorientation, inability to cooperate, antagonistic or aggressive behavior, feeling shaky, weakness, headache, nervousness, sweating, hunger, heart pounding, rapid heart beat, tingling lips, slurred speech, etc
Even though you may be unaware of the physical and emotional symptoms associated with low blood sugars, you do not lose the mental (neuroglycopenic) symptoms of low blood sugar.
Neuroglycopenic Symptoms
Over time, these mental symptoms may become your best and first symptoms of low blood sugar. Examples of mild hypoglycemic mental symptoms include difficulty concentrating, slowed speech, slowed thinking, or lack of coordination. These kinds of symptoms become critically important because they start at a blood sugar level of 65 mg/dl, a blood sugar level where you should still be able to independently treat yourself. These early mental symptoms are subtle and have to be distinguished from normal performance. For example, most people are slower at math when their blood sugars are low, but if you are just as good at math when your blood sugars are 60 mg/dl as 120 mg/dl, then doing math tells you very little. Feeling confused and disoriented are certainly mental symptoms, but once you are having these kinds of symptoms it is too late for an independent response. Mental symptoms can help you detect early mild hypoglycemia, but research indicates that they are much more effective if used in combination with a sophisticated understanding of the match between insulin action, carbohydrates and activity. In essence, you use these factors to predict the times of the day when you might be at higher risk for hypoglycemia and therefore pay closer attention to early warning signs at those times. Of course, when you are asleep, symptom detection doesn't help. The goal when you are asleep is to prevent hypoglycemia by predicting hypoglycemia and then taking corrective action.
Most people have mental symptoms that give them early warning of hypoglycemia. Research tells us the most common reasons that people progress from mild hypoglycemia to severe hypoglycemia is because they (1) recognize symptoms and wait to treat (2) rationalize symptoms away or (3) have not considered subtle, personal or idiosyncratic symptoms as an indication of hypoglycemia.
Another Catch 22
So far, we know that someone with hypoglycemia can try to prevent it occurring by looking out for the symptoms, but this may not be as easy as it appears because you might either not spot them at all, spot them but not understand that they are bone-fide symptoms, spot them but not want to admit they are symptoms, but the problem does not end there. Because you may feel some of the symptoms of low blood sugar when your sugars are normal, you might not realise you have hypoglycemia even if you spot all of the symptoms, you might just think, it is a bit hot in the room or someone annoyed you or you didn't sleep very well last night, etc, in fact a million reasons will come to mind. The only way to deal with this is to treat (e.g. eat) just in case!
Pain!!
You will now begin to see that someone who regularly suffers from hypoglycemia will have a very high tolerance level to pain and discomfort. Not really any consolation really, but it can have its advantages!
Managing your Hypoglycemia
Eat properly
Understand the interaction between food intake and activity to anticipate times of risk for hypoglycemia.
Always carry carbohydrate foods for treatment.
If you have symptoms, test immediately if possible to see if your blood sugar is low.
Understand the interaction between insulin/medication levels to anticipate times of risk for hypoglycemia.
React to blood sugar levels below 70 mg/dl or symptoms immediately
Treat appropriately. The most common error for full diabetics is to over treat low blood sugar.
Check blood sugar levels again in 15 minutes, and repeat treatment if symptoms persist or blood sugar levels have not risen above 70 mg/dl.
Take care when about to perform special physical or mental tasks, e.g. driving
Recognize symptoms (physical, emotional, mental) and that these symptoms are very specific to each individual and may change over time.
How to treat
If your blood sugar is low, follow the steps below to treat:
1 Eat something equal to 15 grams of carbohydrate
2 Rest for 10-15 minutes, then recheck your blood sugar. If it's over 70, go to step number 5 below.
3 Eat the same amount of food again if you still do not feel well or your blood sugar is still less than 70.
4 Rest again for 10-15 minutes.
5 Follow with a meal or snack:
If it is about an hour or less until the next meal, follow with one carbohydrate serving .
If the next meal is more than an hour away, follow with one carbohydrate and one low fat protein
E.g. 1 oz cheese and 6 crackers, or 1 cup skim or 1 % milk or one-half sandwich
Foods equal to 15 grams of carbohydrate:
3 Glucose tablets
4 Dextrose tablets
4 ounces of fruit juice
5-6 ounces (about 1/2 can) of regular soda, such as Coke or Pepsi
2 tablespoons of raisins
Call Your Doctor
Call your doctor or healthcare provider if you have a low blood sugar reaction and do not know what caused it.
Call Your Doctor
If you think that hypoglycemic people are just hypochondriacs, then let me just say "one" thing to you - you are simple, you have no brain, you are not logical (seeing as you make a statement not based on fact - does the sun go round the earth, no, so wake up and learn from the assumptions and mistakes of the past), o, and you are total and utter twa*. I wish someone would starve me for a day or so, let me drink 2 liters of wine, and lock me in a small room with you! I need a pizza.
Call Me
Please note that all of the information and text on this page is purely my unprofessional opinion and is just my own personal experience and only has relevance to me. And if you have similar experiences I would love to hear from you at [email protected]
Thanks for listening,
Paul
www.englishpaul.co.uk
What is Hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia simply means low blood sugar (glucose, actually and more precisely (# note)). Doesn't sound like much of a problem really, does it? But bear with me and let me try to show you exactly how important sugar is to all of us and our bodies performance, and let me show you how serious it can be, if you do not have enough sugar.
# Note: Glucose is a form of sugar.
What's Hypoglycemic?
Someone who has hypoglycemia. Ok, obvious I know, so let me expand. Someone who can not efficiently store and use sugar within their body, hence their blood sugar levels very quickly drop into a danger zone (about 60 mg/dl). In effect, I believe that everyone has hypoglycemia (~ note), but to differing degrees, so that most people could survive for weeks on water alone and no sugar or food or energy other that that already stored in their body, and there blood sugar levels would not drop into the danger zone.
~ Note: Most people have a normal level of blood sugar of over 100 mg/dl, and can maintain it.
Hunger V Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is not just feeling hungry. Hypoglycemic people feel hungry just like anyone else, but the need to eat has a different importance to a hypoglycemic because they know they have to act quickly to feelings of hunger, else they feel pain.
Two types of Hypoglycemia?
There are two types of hypoglycemia - 'moderate' (sometimes called 'mild') and 'severe'. Most cases of hypoglycemia never get beyond the 'mild' stages. 'Mild' hypoglycemia has recognisable symptoms, so if quickly and appropriately treated it is more of an inconvenience than a cause for alarm. Mild hypoglycemia is usually defined as a blood sugar level around 60 mg/dl.
Pain
Hypoglycemia is nearly always an unpleasant experience for the sufferer (even in the mild stages). This can be due to the physical way it makes your body feel, the mental way it reduces your brains performance, problems caused by interaction with other people such as the aggressive way it makes you react to others (* note), and other emotional effects.
* Note: Never annoy or "wind-up" someone who is between the mild and severe stages of hypoglycemia because they act illogically and aggressively (if you are lucky they will be too weak to "interact" with you). This mild-to-severe stage can occur in as short a time as 2 hours after the last intake of food, depending on factors like the amount consumed, the amount previously consumed, amount of alcohol consumed, the level of dehydration, other illnesses, the weather and heat.
Temper
Do you have a temper? Do you lack concentration? Can't you think straight? Isn't yoga working ;) Do you know if you are hypoglycemic?
Severe hypoglycemia
Severe hypoglycemia is rare. Mostly because people suffering from hypoglycemia will eat before it gets out of hand. But everyone must be aware that severe hypoglycemia is extremely dangerous. Not because hypoglycemia is in itself fatal (that is very rare), but the danger is what happens as a result of the hypoglycemia. Its symptoms are, serious mental confusion, extreme antagonistic behaviors, and eventually leading to unconsciousness or seizures. We define severe hypoglycemia as the point where you are not able to independently treat (feed) yourself. The biggest danger is a motor vehicle accident caused, for example, by passing-out at the wheel, swerving into on-coming traffic, hitting a tree or running stop signs. Sometimes, people are seriously injured in other types of accidents related to hypoglycemia, such as falling down stairs. It is equally important to avoid unconsciousness and seizures caused by hypoglycemia, not only because of the increased risk for accidents but because of the potential for brain damage related to repeated severe hypoglycemia.
Triggers
The most common reasons for hypoglycemia are skipping or delaying meals/ snacks, eating less food than usual, more activity than is usual, drinking alcoholic beverages. Diabetics also suffer from hypoglycemia but this is a physical condition in itself (lack of insulin) which I will discuss this later.
Causes
The above actions or inactions can trigger off a hypoglycemic problem. But what causes the medical problem its self. Well, no-one really seems to be able to answer that one?
Do not confuse with Diabetes
There are two opposite problems that people suffer from due to problems with glucose in the body, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Hypo means blood sugar is too low, and the opposite effect is Hyper, meaning blood sugar is too high. Diabetes is where there are problems with the production of insulin, a hormone that enables the body to use glucose found in foods for energy. In Type 1 diabetics the body completely stops producing any insulin. People with Type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to survive. In Type 2 the body produces insulin, but not enough to properly convert glucose into energy. In both cases glucose backs up in the bloodstream, causing Hyperglycemia, the blood sugar level rises too high.
However, If a diabetic takes too much insulin, they will become hypoglycemic, as the blood sugar levels start to sink too low. So diabetics suffer from hyperglycemia, but the treatment for this can also then cause them to suffer from hypoglycemia as well.
Many people believe that Hypoglycemia is just the side effect cause when diabetics accidentally take too much insulin. But you do not have to be diabetic to suffer from hypoglycemia. Hyperglycemia is a medical condition, Diabetes is a medical condition, but most people do not realise that Hypoglycemia is a medical condition in its own right.
The Catch 22 of Mild Hypoglycemia
The key to managing hypoglycemia (see the section below) is to firstly recognise the physical (body), emotional (mood), and mental (neuroglycopenic) symptoms. The responsibility for this must lie with the sufferer, and you would think that that is ok, but can they do the job of spotting a hypoglycemic attack?
It is true that the sufferer him/ herself will generally be the first to be aware of the symptoms that hypoglycemia is beginning, because the symptoms are very specific to each individual and they also may change over time, so none sufferers generally will have to know the sufferer very well in order to be able to spot the symptoms quicker than the sufferer themselves.
The catch 22 is that generally common symptoms of mild hypoglycemia are, slow or difficult thinking and concentration. This can mean that a sufferer is confused and unsure that they are becoming hypoglycemic, even though all the symptoms are apparent and even if they have recognised those symptoms. Also, this confusion mixed with another sign of mild hypoglycemia, antagonistic behavior, means that even if a sufferer becomes aware that they are mildly hypoglycemic, they may not admit it, or refuse or delay with food intake etc.
For this reason the most important thing for none sufferers to remember (assuming they are aware of the problem) is to ASK a sufferer if they think they are becoming hypoglycemic and if they have eaten enough food recently etc. The signs will generally increase in severity with the severity of Hypoglycemia and so a more serious attack will be easier to spot.
Never ignore these symptoms! Left untreated, hypoglycemia gets progressively worse, and leaves you less and less able to help yourself.
Some common signs of Mild Hypoglycemia
Confusion, poor concentration, slow speech, slow thinking, lack of coordination, disorientation, inability to cooperate, antagonistic or aggressive behavior, feeling shaky, weakness, headache, nervousness, sweating, hunger, heart pounding, rapid heart beat, tingling lips, slurred speech, etc
Even though you may be unaware of the physical and emotional symptoms associated with low blood sugars, you do not lose the mental (neuroglycopenic) symptoms of low blood sugar.
Neuroglycopenic Symptoms
Over time, these mental symptoms may become your best and first symptoms of low blood sugar. Examples of mild hypoglycemic mental symptoms include difficulty concentrating, slowed speech, slowed thinking, or lack of coordination. These kinds of symptoms become critically important because they start at a blood sugar level of 65 mg/dl, a blood sugar level where you should still be able to independently treat yourself. These early mental symptoms are subtle and have to be distinguished from normal performance. For example, most people are slower at math when their blood sugars are low, but if you are just as good at math when your blood sugars are 60 mg/dl as 120 mg/dl, then doing math tells you very little. Feeling confused and disoriented are certainly mental symptoms, but once you are having these kinds of symptoms it is too late for an independent response. Mental symptoms can help you detect early mild hypoglycemia, but research indicates that they are much more effective if used in combination with a sophisticated understanding of the match between insulin action, carbohydrates and activity. In essence, you use these factors to predict the times of the day when you might be at higher risk for hypoglycemia and therefore pay closer attention to early warning signs at those times. Of course, when you are asleep, symptom detection doesn't help. The goal when you are asleep is to prevent hypoglycemia by predicting hypoglycemia and then taking corrective action.
Most people have mental symptoms that give them early warning of hypoglycemia. Research tells us the most common reasons that people progress from mild hypoglycemia to severe hypoglycemia is because they (1) recognize symptoms and wait to treat (2) rationalize symptoms away or (3) have not considered subtle, personal or idiosyncratic symptoms as an indication of hypoglycemia.
Another Catch 22
So far, we know that someone with hypoglycemia can try to prevent it occurring by looking out for the symptoms, but this may not be as easy as it appears because you might either not spot them at all, spot them but not understand that they are bone-fide symptoms, spot them but not want to admit they are symptoms, but the problem does not end there. Because you may feel some of the symptoms of low blood sugar when your sugars are normal, you might not realise you have hypoglycemia even if you spot all of the symptoms, you might just think, it is a bit hot in the room or someone annoyed you or you didn't sleep very well last night, etc, in fact a million reasons will come to mind. The only way to deal with this is to treat (e.g. eat) just in case!
Pain!!
You will now begin to see that someone who regularly suffers from hypoglycemia will have a very high tolerance level to pain and discomfort. Not really any consolation really, but it can have its advantages!
Managing your Hypoglycemia
Eat properly
Understand the interaction between food intake and activity to anticipate times of risk for hypoglycemia.
Always carry carbohydrate foods for treatment.
If you have symptoms, test immediately if possible to see if your blood sugar is low.
Understand the interaction between insulin/medication levels to anticipate times of risk for hypoglycemia.
React to blood sugar levels below 70 mg/dl or symptoms immediately
Treat appropriately. The most common error for full diabetics is to over treat low blood sugar.
Check blood sugar levels again in 15 minutes, and repeat treatment if symptoms persist or blood sugar levels have not risen above 70 mg/dl.
Take care when about to perform special physical or mental tasks, e.g. driving
Recognize symptoms (physical, emotional, mental) and that these symptoms are very specific to each individual and may change over time.
How to treat
If your blood sugar is low, follow the steps below to treat:
1 Eat something equal to 15 grams of carbohydrate
2 Rest for 10-15 minutes, then recheck your blood sugar. If it's over 70, go to step number 5 below.
3 Eat the same amount of food again if you still do not feel well or your blood sugar is still less than 70.
4 Rest again for 10-15 minutes.
5 Follow with a meal or snack:
If it is about an hour or less until the next meal, follow with one carbohydrate serving .
If the next meal is more than an hour away, follow with one carbohydrate and one low fat protein
E.g. 1 oz cheese and 6 crackers, or 1 cup skim or 1 % milk or one-half sandwich
Foods equal to 15 grams of carbohydrate:
3 Glucose tablets
4 Dextrose tablets
4 ounces of fruit juice
5-6 ounces (about 1/2 can) of regular soda, such as Coke or Pepsi
2 tablespoons of raisins
Call Your Doctor
Call your doctor or healthcare provider if you have a low blood sugar reaction and do not know what caused it.
Call Your Doctor
If you think that hypoglycemic people are just hypochondriacs, then let me just say "one" thing to you - you are simple, you have no brain, you are not logical (seeing as you make a statement not based on fact - does the sun go round the earth, no, so wake up and learn from the assumptions and mistakes of the past), o, and you are total and utter twa*. I wish someone would starve me for a day or so, let me drink 2 liters of wine, and lock me in a small room with you! I need a pizza.
Call Me
Please note that all of the information and text on this page is purely my unprofessional opinion and is just my own personal experience and only has relevance to me. And if you have similar experiences I would love to hear from you at [email protected]
Thanks for listening,
Paul
www.englishpaul.co.uk
