Glucose provides energy for your entire body. Too little glucose in the blood is called hypoglycemia and can lead to symptoms like dizziness or shakiness, sweating, or mental status or behavior changes. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can lead to unconsciousness and even death. It is extremely important for diabetics and patients with identified diagnoses of hypoglycemia to know how to raise their blood sugar levels back into a normal range and how to instruct family members about their assistance in a hypoglycemic crisis.
Conscious and Able to Help Yourself
Step 1
If you are having symptoms of hypoglycemia, check your blood glucose level using your glucometer. Follow manufacturer instructions for glucometer use.
Step 2
If your blood glucose level is below 60 or if you are having symptoms and it is below 90, consume an oral source of simple sugar. The Americal Diabetes Association states you should take enough to get approximately 15 to 20g of carbohydrates and you should avoid foods that are high in fat because the sugars in these foods won't be processed as quickly by your body.
Step 3
Recheck your blood sugar about 20 to 30 minutes after your high-sugar snack to determine whether it is climbing back to your normal range. Once your symptoms resolve and your sugar is normal, eat a healthy diet with meals at regular intervals to maintain blood sugar levels.
When You Become Unconscious
Step 1
If you become unconscious, it is important to have someone close by who can administer a glucagon injection and activate emergency medical services. Tell this person ahead of time where your prescribed glucagon injection is and teach him how and when to administer the injection.
Step 2
Keep both your glucagon and the instruction card in consistent, easily reachable places. If someone needs to inject glucagon for you in an emergency, they should be able to find your instruction sheet or wallet card for injecting the glucagon. Islets of Hope says that even untrained people can safely administer glucagon in an emergency.
Step 3
Always activate the emergency response system for an unconscious diabetic whether glucagon has been given or not.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are ever asked to treat a diabetic who is unconscious and you are not sure if the problem is a sugar level that is too low or one that is too high, always treat the situation as though sugar level is too low . The American Diabetes Association states that very low blood glucose is much more dangerous over the short term than very high blood glucose, so it's important to assume that sugar is too low and treat that first.
- Never leave your home without your glucagon, your medical alert ID, and your glucagon wallet instruction card. Always wear your ID and carry other items in consistent, easily accessible places like a purse or jacket pocket.
Things You'll Need
- Glucometer with test strips and lancets
- Source of simple sugar such as hard candy, glucose tablets, honey or orange juice
- Injectable glucagon as prescribed by a physician
- Instruction sheet for injectable glucagon
- Medical alert ID bracelet
