What are the symptoms of hypoglycemia?
Can I check for hypoglycemia myself?
Many people who have never experienced hypoglycemia may not be able to imagine what the symptoms are like or be able to check for it themselves
In this article, we will explain how to check for symptoms of hypoglycemia and how to deal with it
table of contents
Symptoms of hypoglycemia
Symptoms of hypoglycemia vary from person to person. The symptoms appear and their intensity also vary from person to person, and change over time
In order to check for the symptoms of hypoglycemia, it is important to have a clear understanding of what symptoms there are beforehand
Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
Symptoms of hypoglycemia
Palpitations
·sweating
・Weakness
·headache
Sleepiness
・Psychiatric symptoms
- Decreased level of consciousness
Such
Hypoglycemic symptoms by blood sugar level
Symptoms vary depending on the blood sugar level in the body
Hypoglycemia is defined as a blood sugar level of less than 70 mg/dl
When blood sugar levels reach around 55 mg/dl, adrenaline begins to be secreted and sympathetic symptoms begin to appear. Sympathetic symptoms are symptoms seen when the sympathetic nervous system of the autonomic nervous system becomes overactive. Typical symptoms include palpitations, sweating, and trembling of the hands and feet
When the blood sugar level reaches around 50 mg/dl, central nervous system symptoms begin to appear. Central nervous system symptoms are caused by a decline in brain function. Specific symptoms include drowsiness and weakness
When the blood sugar level reaches around 30 mg/dl, brain function declines, and symptoms such as convulsions, loss of consciousness, transient hemiplegia, and coma may occur
If blood sugar levels drop and brain function declines, death may occur
As hypoglycemia progresses, it can become difficult to recover on your own, and you may become unable to move. A condition that requires help from others to recover is called severe hypoglycemia
Severe hypoglycemia can be fatal, and even if the patient survives, it can leave them with brain damage. If the condition becomes severe, it can make it impossible for the patient to take in glucose orally, making it a very frightening condition
To prevent this from happening, it is important to regularly check for symptoms of hypoglycemia
When you need to check your blood sugar symptoms frequently and be careful
If a person with diabetes experiences something unexpected with their meal, such as not being able to eat or having a small portion, they are at risk of developing hypoglycemia
Also, when you exercise intensely, you may temporarily experience a lack of energy, which can put you at risk of hypoglycemia
When your normal energy intake decreases or your energy expenditure increases, you need to be careful
In addition, some people may experience hypoglycemic symptoms due to stress, so you should also pay attention to your mental state
The dangers of severe hypoglycemia
Severe hypoglycemia can lead to brain damage, impaired cardiac function, and even death. It is also believed to increase the risk of developing dementia
Some people who suffer from hypoglycemia are unaware of it and may not realize they have it until it becomes severe
Because they are unaware of mild hypoglycemia, they do not realize it until their blood sugar level becomes so low that they cannot cope with it themselves
Therefore, even if they have glucose, they will not be able to extract it themselves. People who have difficulty recognizing early stages of hypoglycemia are said to be 6 to 17 times more likely to develop severe hypoglycemia
In addition, there have been reports of car accidents caused by hypoglycemia, so people who experience hypoglycemia without realizing it need to be especially careful
How to deal with hypoglycemia
There are two ways to deal with hypoglycemia: when you can ingest sugar orally yourself, and when you cannot ingest sugar yourself
If you can take sugar orally
Even if you need help from others, if you can take sugar orally, take it orally. Sugar is fine, but glucose is ideal
Soft drinks also contain glucose, so that's fine too
If you are unable to ingest sugar orally on your own, immediately call an ambulance and have the person transported to a medical facility. This is a high level of urgency as it can be life-threatening
Since 2020, it has become possible to choose a nasal spray called nasal glucagon
Nasal glucagon is a single-use nasal spray that contains a single dose of sugary glucagon powder
It can be stored at room temperature and is easy to use. Simply place the glucagon nasal spray in your nose and press the plunger. The powder is released into your nose, allowing the glucagon to be absorbed through the nasal mucosa. Family members can administer the product, so be sure to thoroughly review the instructions with your family beforehand
Previously, injections were prescribed by family members as emergency treatment for severe hypoglycemia
However, because the medication needs to be adjusted before injection, doctors do not prescribe it often. Nasal sprays are administered by simply pressing the plunger, so it is easy for family members to administer them
summary
In this article, we have explained the symptoms of hypoglycemia, when you should check frequently, and severe hypoglycemia
Severe hypoglycemia can be fatalIt can cause brain damage and increase the risk of developing dementiaIn any case, there is a possibility that you may be left with incurable symptoms, so you need to be careful on a daily basis to avoid severe hypoglycemia
It is also important to have a thorough discussion with your family so that you can get help as quickly as possible if you develop severe hypoglycemia
Also, simply carrying a card or other identification that indicates you have diabetes can make a difference in how you respond in an emergency
To minimize the risk, be sure to check your situation regularly and have emergency plans in place
References
・Ohira, T. et al. “Trends in domestic and international research on blood glucose fluctuations and psychiatric symptoms.” Holistic Medicine 20.1 (2022): 25-30.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ifcm/20/1/20_25/_pdf/-char/ja
Minami, et al. “Pathogenesis and treatment of hypoglycemia associated with diabetes treatment.” Therapeutic Research 43.2 (2022): 127.
http://therres.jp/3topics/images/feature/20220228115118.pdf
Supervision: Dr. Yasushi Tsuda