Diabetes is a disease that causes high blood sugar because the body either does not produce insulin, or produces some insulin but the cells do not respond to the insulin produced. Insulin is a hormone that will help to regulate or lower blood sugar levels. Too much insulin can cause blood sugar levels to drop very low and cause complications for patients.
Significance
According to "Nursing and Residential Care," hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a common, unpredictable and potentially dangerous side effect of insulin therapy for people with diabetes. A major risk associated with low blood sugar is the lack of glucose that will be supplied to the brain.
Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. In patients with type 1 diabetes the pancreas does not produce any insulin. These patients require insulin, either by injection or a pump, to help manage their glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body produces some insulin, but it is not being used effectively, which results in high blood glucose levels. Patients with type 2 diabetes may be able to manage their glucose levels with diet modifications, oral diabetic medications and some require the use of insulin.
Low Blood Sugar
According to "Current Diagnosis and Treatment Emergency Medicine," low blood sugar is defined as a glucose level less than 50 mg/dL. Less than 30 mg/dL is considered severe hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar most commonly occurs in diabetes patients who require insulin therapy. Changes in daily activities such as diet, exercise or dose changes can result in hypoglycemia. Other factors that may contribute to low blood sugar may include infection, alcohol consumption or medical conditions such as liver failure.
Symptoms
Patients who are diabetic often recognize the early symptoms of low blood sugar and will correct the situation by eating. Early symptoms may include cool, sweaty skin, trembling, shaking and a hunger feeling. Patients will feel like their heart is pounding, become anxious and irritable. If the early symptoms are not recognized and treated, they will progress to a more severe hypoglycemia. As hypoglycemia progresses, patients will experience blurred vision, slurred speech and confusion. Aggressive behavior, seizures and loss of consciousness occur without treatment for the low blood sugar.
Treatment
The treatment for hypoglycemia is to raise the blood glucose level rapidly. If the patient recognizes the early symptoms they may know enough to take glucose tablets or to add sugar to a drink such as orange juice. Diet drinks are not beneficial because they do not contain sugar. Following this initial treatment, carbohydrates break down into glucose, so bread, potatoes or pasta are beneficial for treating early symptoms. Treatment for severe hypoglycemia will require intravenous glucose and medical treatment.
References
- "Nursing & Residential Care"; The dangers of hypoglycemia: Hicks; January 2010
- "Current Diagnosis and Treatment Emergency Medicine"; McGraw Hill; 2008
