Hypoglycemia Treatment
Submitted by Thiruvelan on Wed, 06/23/2010 - 13:43
Low blood glucose level called hypoglycemia; treatment is to increase the blood glucose level back to normal by consuming glucose rich food.
Hypoglycemia managment
If have any of the hypoglycemia sign and symptoms, check the blood sugar/glucose level. If the level is 70 or below, hypoglycemia is confirmed and needs to manage hypoglycemia right away with consuming one of the following:
- 3 or 4 glucose tablets
- 1 serving of glucose gel (equal to 15 grams of carbohydrate)
- 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of any fruit juice
- 1 cup (8 ounces) of milk with sugar
- 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of a regular (not diet) soft drink
- 5 or 6 pieces of hard candy
- 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey
Recommended amounts may be less for small children, consult your doctor for advice about the right amount.
Follow up action in Hypoglycemia treatment
After 15 minutes, check your blood glucose again to make sure your level is 70 or above. Repeat these steps as needed. Once your blood glucose is stable, if it will be at least an hour before your next meal, have a snack.
If you take insulin, keep a glucagon kit at home and at a few other places where you go often. Glucagon is given as an injection with a syringe and quickly raises blood glucose. Show your family, friends, and co-workers how to give you a glucagon injection if you pass out because of hypoglycemia.
People with diabetes should get to know their signs and symptoms and describe them to their friends, family members, co-workers, co-staffs so they can help if needed. School staff & nurses should be told, how to recognize a child’s signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and how to treat it.
Prevent frequent hypoglycemia episodes
If you experiencing hypoglycemia frequently then consult you doctor for
- change in medicine dosage
- change of type of diabetes medication or
- diet change.
Hypoglycemia treatment for Acarbose or Miglitol users
Only pure glucose (also called dextrose) in tablet or gel form—will raise their blood glucose level during a low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) episode. Other quick-fix foods and drinks won’t raise the level quickly enough because these medications slows down the digestion of other forms of carbohydrate.
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