What to do when your blood sugar drops

Submitted by PatientsEngage on 24 October 2016

Hypoglycaemia or a sharp drop in blood sugar levels can cause severe discomfort and dizziness and, in some extreme cases, even death. Dr Roshani Sanghani, renowned endocrinologist and the founder of Aasaan Health Solutions shares valuable tips on how to tackle a condition which can afflict any person with diabetes at any given time.

Many patients are troubled by sudden and unexpected blood sugar levels dropping. When the level drops below 70 mg/dl, it is considered hypogylcemia! Hypogylcaemia is considered a matter of concern and should be addressed immediately.

Follow these quick and easy steps when hypogylcaemia hits or blood sugar drops below 70 mg/dl:

  • Watch out for signs of Hypogylcaemia such as shaking, dizziness, headache, excessive sweating, anxiety, irritability etc.
  • Measure the blood glucose levels using a home glucometer device.
  • Drink 150 ml of plain milk or 75ml of any fruit juice (fresh or processed). The idea is to intake 15 grams of carbohydrate to raise the blood glucose levels by 15 points.
  • Rest for 15 minutes and recheck the blood sugar levels.
  • If the levels have risen, just try to relax. If levels have not risen, then repeat steps 3 & 4.
  • Keep a diary of food intake and medication dosage to investigate the trigger you’re your hypogylcemia. This will help you to avoid such triggers in the future.
  • Inform your doctor about your hypogylcaemia episode at your next visit. If medication is causing the drop, then your doctor may decide to lower your dosage.
     

Pic below: Dr. Roshani conducting an information session for patients at her clinic.

Changed
03/Nov/2017
Community
Diabetes
Condition
Diabetes

Stories

  • A young woman Ankita Bardhan standing in a purple and white printed dress in an open setting. The bottom of trees can be seen behind her
    "I Hate Diabetes From The Bottom Of My Heart!"
    Ankita Bardhan,29 from Kolkata has been living with Type 1 Diabetes since she was 13. Even though she would give anything for a non-diabetic life, that is not to be, and she has learnt to fight it every single day to respect the sacrifices her family has made for her and to acknowledge life as beautiful. Please tell us a bit about your condition, as in what you are suffering from : The condition is Type 1 diabetes. Essentially, in this condition, the insulin production from the pancreas of one’…
  • Can I Drink Wine If I Have Diabetes?
    This is a common question for people with diabetes. Dietitian Gerard Wong shares his inputs on whether persons with diabetes should have wine or alcohol and what to watch out for if they are on metformin or insulin.  Can red wine have adverse effects on persons with type 2 diabetes on metformin medication? Metformin is an oral anti-diabetic drug used to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes. Let’s see how metformin works. It enhances the available insulin in your body and…
  • Living Better With Diabetes - A Webinar/ Live Q&A Series
    Diabetes Management can be challenging and distressing for a lot of families. In our Live Discussion sessions we talk to eminent doctors and patients for tips, vital information and motivation. In continuation of our series on Living Better With Diabetes we have with us Dr. Usha Sriram, Diabetes Specialist, Founder, Diwaaas.   Jayesh Shah, Type 2 Diabetes, Mumbai  Marianne de Nazareth, Type 2 Diabetes, Bengaluru Dr. Usha is passionate about the role of families in diabetes…
  • Image of some medicines and a book with the text Prediabetes
    Why You Should Take Prediabetes Seriously
    Prediabetes is the stage before Diabetes. Its your best chance of preventing the progression to diabetes if you make the necessary lifestyle changes. Read on to find out more about about Prediabetes. What is Prediabetes Prediabetes is when your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diabetes. Simply put, prediabetes puts you at a higher risk of developing diabetes unless you change your lifestyle. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 15 to 30 per…
  • Whole Wheat Chicken Momos
    Healthy Momos Recipe
    A healthy snack recipe good for everyone - especially people with diabetes contributed by Diabetes Awareness and You Chicken Momos Number of Momos: 20 Ingredients for Momos: Whole Wheat Flour: 75 gms Chicken: 250 gms Onion: 2 tbsp Oat flour: 75 gms Ginger: 1 tsp Garlic: 1 tsp Maida: 100 gms Oil: 200 ml Preparation of Momos:  Mix the flour together. Add some salt and 1 tsp oil. Mix it and make a dough out of it. Take some chicken portion. Steam it. Add some onion, ginger, garlic, soya…
  • A pair of hands, one holding a glucometer and the other a pill showing support of a caregiver to a diabetic patient
    Why Family Support Matters in Diabetes Management
    The theme for World Diabetes Day 2018 and 2019 is The Family and Diabetes. Lets look at how families supported our diabetes patients and the role of the family in the management, care and prevention of diabetes. Marianne de Nazareth, Bangalore My son, Andrew, who was studying at St. John’s Medical College, began to badger me to get my sugar checked. With his growing medical knowledge, he was becoming increasingly concerned about my sugar readings. He knew I had a huge craving for all things…
  • A dark haired woman with spectacles in a yellow and red sari and blouse sitting on a white sofa
    I Am Fighting Diabetes With A Smile
    Nandita Banerjee, 60 a certified Diabetes educator with DAY (Diabetes Awareness and You) in Kolkata, talks about how she has been battling this silent killer herself for the last 18 years with a  lot of success. Please tell us a bit about your condition. I have been suffering from Type 2 Diabetes for last 18 years, but have managed to keep myself disciplined and in control When were you diagnosed? In 2001 What were the early symptoms? It started with rashes in my whole body which I…
  • A pathologist with a mask covering his face holding a urine sample bottle
    What Does The Colour Of Your Urine Mean?
    Urinalyis or Urine Tests are often prescribed by doctors to detect certain conditions. Dr. Shital Raval explains what the results of a urine test mean, and the right way to collect a urine sample.   #KnowYourTest Series What is urinalysis? Urinalysis or Urine tests are a group of tests conducted on your urine that a doctor may prescribe. These tests are indicators of acute or chronic conditions or illnesses. It can also help detect insidious infections like urinary tract infections or…
  • Image Description: A head shot of Mr. Akhileshwar Sahay with spectacles as he shares his experience of living with Bipolar, Depression and COPD
    Bipolar or COPD - Never Lose Hope
    And QUIT SMOKING. Akhileshwar Sahay, a seasoned industry veteran, has been living with bipolar disorder for the last 2 decades. In this interview, he talks about his troubled journey with multiple chronic illnesses including COPD, Depression, Diabetes and his commitment to removing stigma related to mental illness.  How did your bipolar disorder start? What were the early symptoms? Bipolar disorder is not like influenza that it is diagnosed at once. Its roots are biological and I was…
  • Image Description: An elderly person with a walker and supported by a caregiver
    12 Confusing and Overlapping Symptoms in the Elderly
    Symptoms like weight loss, memory loss, weakness, and fatigue should not be mistaken as a sign of the"normal aging" process. Dr. Shital Patel explains 12 common but misleading symptoms in the elderly and why you should seek a doctor's opinion instead of ignoring them.  Symptoms in the elderly can have very different causes than they may have in a young person. Many symptoms in the geriatric population may be masked by concurrent chronic ailments, injuries, age-related physiological…