In India, the population who are suffering from diabetes is increasing at a rapid pace, and so are issues with blood pressure, heart issues, arthritis, etc. Rarely do people discuss HYPOGLYCEMIA, though it is common among diabetic people and especially seniors. Low blood sugar levels characterise this condition. It can occur in patients under treatment for diabetes. People taking medicine for lowering blood sugar can have hypoglycemia and be unaware of it. It is a neglected complication of diabetes treatment and can have grave consequences unless managed.
Understanding Hypoglycemia
This conditions generally occurs when blood sugar levels fall below 70 m/dl, considered normal. It can happen due to many reasons, such as:
- Changes in eating pattern
- Medications (mostly diabetic)
- Hormonal changes due to ageing
- Mismanaged diabetes
- Organ dysfunction (kidney or liver)
- Excess alcohol consumption
- Auto immune conditions
- Stress
- Excessive exercise
- Pancreatic tumours
The issue is that most people are unaware that something like this can happen and are not aware of symptoms. Often, the only remedy they know is to eat something, especially sugar, if they feel dizzy. Here are some common symptoms you must watch out for:
- Feeling dizzy
- Sweating
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Trembling
- Blurred vision
- Excessive hunger cravings
- Anxiety
- Rapid heartbeat
Strange as it may seem, not everyone will have noticeable symptom always. In my personal case (as I am also diabetic), I generally get different symptom other than mentioned above and the symptom is ‘I get the feeling of numbness around my lips’. Hence only regular check up of blood sugar levels help you spot this indication. If you do not have diabetes and experience such symptoms, it could mean you are pre-diabetic.
Hypoglycemia Complications
If this condition goes unnoticed and occurs frequently, then it can impair your cognitive function and even cause coma and death. Such people are at higher risk of dementia. It also can severely impact your heart and cause cardiovascular issues. It can also cause vision issues.
Management Strategies
Here are some strategies that you can rely on to manage hypoglycemia.
Blood sugar monitoring– Monitoring blood sugar levels periodically is imperative to diagnose and manage this health conditions, especially if you are on regular medications or insulin injections to lower blood sugar levels. One may never know when the low become too low. When the blood sugar level vary, there is need to adjust medications accordingly.
Diet– The role of diet in health cannot be overstated. Every other issue we discuss will revolve around healthy diet as one of the best health management strategies. Eat a balanced diet with whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and contain lean proteins. Avoid processed foods, especially those with added sugar.
Watch your lifestyle– Fad diets that encourage you to skip meals, excessive exercise, irregular eating and sleeping patterns, consuming alcohol, etc., are harmful habits that can land you in trouble. Eat and sleep on time, and do not follow excessive diet patterns without consulting your health expert, especially those that require you to skip meals.
Carry emergency remedy– People prone to this condition must carry emergency remedy kits that are fast-acting carbohydrates such as glucose tablets, fruit like bananas or apples, sugar sachets, toffees/chocolates etc.
Awareness is the key here. You and your loved ones around you must know and understand the condition so that you can seek help when needed. The best way to keep a watch is to have diabetes home testing kit and test according to doctor’s advice. Keep a journal of readings and any symptoms that you notice so that they can be correlated to help a diagnosis.
Waiting for your feedback on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
11th June 2024