The main source of energy for our body is glucose. It comes from food, mostly from carbs (products like bread, rice, potatoes, cereal etc.). If glucose (blood sugar) gets lower than normal, a person will feel the symptoms and signs of hypoglycemia (medical term for low blood sugar). This condition can be dangerous and occurs mostly in people with diabetes as side effect of diabetes treatment.
Symptoms can vary from person to person, but if blood sugar gets too low, person can experience such common symptoms as:
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Unexplained weakness
- Sudden headache
- Sudden nervousness
- Intense sweating
- Tingling or shaking
If it gets worse, hypoglycemia can lead to:
- Seizures
- Hard to concentrate and think
- Hard to speak
- Unconsciousness or even coma
The worst thing is that sometimes it is hard to notice the drop of blood sugar. If a person experiences hypoglycemia for some period of time and does not receive proper assistance, it can even progress to a diabetic coma. Continuous glucose monitoring systems such as Dexcom or Freestyle libre can help avoid these situations. If you have diabetes and experiencing even mild symptoms, not to get medical emergency you should eat or drink 15 grams of easily digestible carbohydrates, such as:
- Half a cup of soft drink or fruit juice
- 1-2 tablespoons of honey or sugar
- 3-4 pieces of hard candies
- Glucose tablet or gel
Don't forget to check your blood sugar level with Dexcom or Freestyle libre sensor! And If you are woddied about your CGM, that should be firmly attached to the skin, remember that you can just put a protective adhesive patch over it!