Hypoglycemia is the term associated with a blood glucose reading of 70 mg/dL or lower. Diabetics are susceptible to hypoglycemic episodes at any time without warning, particularly if you do not follow the recommended diet for your treatment plan. While there is no way to prevent hypoglycemia, you can significantly reduce your risk if you take precautionary measures by following the proper diet.
Step 1
Establish a meal schedule with the help of your diabetic nutritionist. Follow the schedule daily, ensuring that your meals are as close as possible to the same time daily. Particularly if you take insulin, this schedule is important to maintaining steady blood sugar control.
Step 2
Eat a 15-gram carbohydrate snack with protein two hours after your morning meal and after lunch. A complex carbohydrate and lean protein snack before bed will help stabilize your blood sugar overnight, a time when you may be more susceptible to blood sugar lows.
Step 3
Eat an additional carbohydrate snack if you increase your exercise. Physical activity helps lower your blood sugar, but it should be accounted for if it is in excess of your normal routine.
Step 4
Test your blood sugar regularly, at least according to the frequency recommended by your doctor. If you begin to feel out of the ordinary and suspect that your blood sugar may be low, test right away.
Step 5
Double-check your insulin dosage before administering it. Ensuring the accuracy of your medication will help protect you from lows due to dosing errors.
Step 6
Treat lows with a rapid-acting carbohydrate such as 4 ounces of orange juice, 1 tablespoon of honey or a 15-gram serving of crackers.
Step 7
Treat a hypoglycemia reaction with a 15-gram carbohydrate snack. Test your blood sugar 15 minutes after eating the snack to be sure that your glucose level is improving. Repeat the process if necessary until your blood sugar returns to a normal range, above 60 mg/dL.
