Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, occurs when the body's glucose levels drop below standard levels. The condition occurs with most diabetic patients at one time or another, but is rare for people without diabetes. A person with blood sugar levels below 70 mg/dL is considered hypoglycemic, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Treatment includes drinking 1/2 cup of juice or soda, sucking on five to six pieces of hard candy or eating 1 tbsp. of sugar. Left untreated complications of hypoglycemia can become life threatening. Severe complications commonly occur in people who have type 1 diabetics.
Confusion and Unconsciousness
A person suffering from severe hypoglycemia may seem extremely confused. He may eventually pass out and lose consciousness also known as a diabetic coma. The condition is often referred to as "insulin shock" and requires immediate medical attention. The brain requires glucose to function. Extreme low levels of glucose require an injection of glucagon, says the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Glucagon is a hormone that stimulates the release of sugar, reports MayoClinic.com. Many diabetics carry emergency glucagon kits with them. Family members and friends should be educated on when and how to properly give an injection if a person falls unconscious due to low blood sugar. Vomiting may occur as a side effect of glucagon. Choking and suffocation may result, as well as aspiration of vomit into the lungs.
Seizure
Extreme hypoglycemia occasionally causes diabetic seizures to occur. Common symptoms of a seizure include twitching and convulsions of the body, though not all seizures show these signs. Additional symptoms include loss of muscle tone, memory loss and numbness to the body. A person may seem alert to bystanders, yet he is actually very confused and unaware of his surroundings, says the diabetes information website Islets of Hope. The initial goal is to lay the person on the ground, and move away any items which may cause him injury. An injection of glucagon is required as well as immediate medical attention.
Hyperglycemia
A person who receives treatment for hypoglycemia may receive too much sugar causing glucose to rise above normal levels. Also known as hyperglycemia, the condition can cause damage to nerves, blood vessels and organs, according to MayoClinic.com. After the initial treatment of hypoglycemia, continue to check blood sugar levels using a glucose meter every 15 minutes, states the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. If the second check is still low, continue to give small quick-fix foods such as juice, soda or candy. By giving small amounts of sugar and rechecking blood often a person decreases the chance of overdosing on sugar and going into a hyperglycemic state.
