If you have diabetes, you need to check your blood sugar level on a regular basis to make sure it does not get too high or too low. Both can lead to complications. If your blood sugar gets too low, it is called hypoglycemia. Your blood sugar level can drop as a result of exercise, skipping meals or taking too much insulin. If you notice the signs or symptoms, you can avoid complications by eating or drinking something that can bring your blood sugar level up to normal, or by taking a glycogen tablet.
Common Signs
Be on the lookout for symptoms such as feeling shaky, nervous, unusually hungry, lightheaded, tired or weak. In addition, you may experience confusion, trouble speaking, anxiety and excessive sweating. The Mayo Clinic recommends that you be aware of additional signs, such as heart palpitations, blurred vision and tremors.
Additional Symptoms
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse states that you can become hypoglycemic while sleeping. Consult with your health care team if you repeatedly wake up sweating or constantly feel unrefreshed after a night's rest. Being irritable, having nightmares or crying out in your sleep can be other warning signs of this condition. Your blood sugar may be low if you have a headache, a craving for sweets, and cold hands and feet.
Severe Symptoms
If your hypoglycemia becomes severe, you may become confused and disoriented, have trouble coordinating movement, suffer from fainting spells, develop seizures and even go into a coma. Hypoglycemia can also be fatal.
