Most people, having heard the term, wonder what it is?

This is a condition in which the level of glucose in the body is sharply reduced.

Reacts especially acutely to lack of energy brain: to him 30 times more food needed than other cells.

It happens that within a minute after a drop in blood sugar, a person risks ending up in a coma.
That is why it is important to know why this complication occurs in the body, what to do and how to avoid it.

Most people believe that hypoglycemia occurs only in diabetes.

Indeed, this manifestation is typical for diabetics and can occur with:

• exceeding the dose of insulin or glucose-lowering tablets;
• long intervals in eating;
• great physical activity;

Important!

There is also familial idiopathic hypoglycemia associated with a hereditary disorder in the production of important enzymes.

But a complication can develop in the absence of a diagnosis of diabetes.

Non-diabetic (false) hypoglycemia occurs when:

• eating carbohydrate foods(due to increased insulin production);
• fasting or heavy physical activity(due to waste of energy from the body’s reserves);
• alcohol intoxication(with a sharp drop in the level of carbohydrates in the liver);
• adrenal dysfunction(failure of glucocorticoid production);
• tumors in the pancreas(with excess insulin);
• hypothyroidism(the production of thyroid hormones is disrupted);
• pregnancy and breastfeeding(“jumps” in sugar levels).

Development mechanism

Low blood sugar is defined as levels below 3.3 mmol/L for adults.

When glucose levels are below 2.75 mmol/l Many important functions begin to be disrupted in a person.
However, the speed of sugar reduction also matters.

Some diabetics feel tolerable even with a glucose level of 2.2 mmol/l.

If your blood glucose level falls below 1.8 mmol/L, this is extremely dangerous, as it leads to a coma.

Degrees of hypoglycemia

Based on the severity of symptoms, there are 3 degrees: mild, moderate and severe.

1 (mild) degree of the disease is characterized by:

• hand trembling;
• sweating;
• pallor;
• hunger;
• irritability.

With a mild degree, a person himself can provide the help necessary for his body.

At 2 (moderate) degree the following symptoms are added:

• excessive agitation or drowsiness;
• paleness, cold sweat;
• the appearance of numbness in the body;
• blurred vision;
• tachycardia;
• "cotton knees"

This stage is often confused with alcohol intoxication. At stage 2, a person already needs help with administering glucose through the mouth.

At 3 (severe) degree the following symptoms appear:

• disorientation;
• seizures (reminiscent of epilepsy);
• swallowing disorder;
• loss of consciousness and development of coma.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a lack of sugar in the blood are a protective mechanism, indicating the need for urgent measures to introduce easily digestible carbohydrates into the body.

Symptoms that may indicate low blood glucose include:

• sweating;
• drowsiness;
• fatigue;
• increased appetite;
• feeling restless or anxious;
• deterioration of attention.

A person may exhibit several of these symptoms.

The most typical manifestation of hypoglycemia is extreme fatigue and weakness that does not go away even after proper rest.

Usually this condition goes away after eating, especially eating sweet foods.

If you do not respond to such symptoms, the situation can escalate and become life-threatening.

How to detect an acute attack of hypoglycemia? It appears as:

• sudden sweating;
• overexcitement or a sudden feeling of aggression ending in fainting;
• convulsions.

Symptoms in women

Most often, women suffer from this disease due to diabetes. Postprandial hypoglycemia is especially common or in pregnant women.

Patients with bulimia or anorexia often have a state of “fasting hypoglycemia.”

Symptoms in children

Children with a decrease in blood sugar are characterized by such symptoms as dizziness, weakness and behavioral disorders (moody, poor performance, disobedience), convulsions.

Children under 5 years old cannot independently assess the deterioration of their well-being and help themselves.

Therefore, in children, a mild form can immediately turn into a severe one.

It is important for the child’s parents to inform those around him in a timely manner. about the possibility of seizures in such a baby and that he does not suffer from epilepsy.

Hyperglycemia in the elderly

In old age, an increase in sugar often occurs with vascular symptoms: headache, blurred image, chest pain.

Such an atypical manifestation can be misleading both for elderly patients and their environment.

Danger of coma

Light form may pass without consequences.
However, prolonged forms of this condition can lead to serious irreversible consequences in the body.
So, Long-term nocturnal hypoglycemia in diabetics is fraught with memory and attention disorders and myocardial ischemia.

Severe form may result in coma and lead to irreparable consequences in the form of brain disorders (even dementia).

In patients with vascular pathology, coma can provoke heart attacks and strokes.
Hypoglycemic coma rarely ends in death.

First aid for hypoglycemia for diabetics

What a diabetic needs to know about this problem:

1. When symptoms of low blood glucose first appear, a diabetic should measure its level with a glucometer.
2. If this indicator is lower than usual by 0.6 units or even lower, urgently need to take easily digestible carbohydrates(glucose tablets or ampoules, sweet water, sugar, honey). Usually 5-15 g of such products is enough. If after 10 minutes the sugar level has not risen, the intake of carbohydrates in the same dose must be repeated;
3. If symptoms appear more than 2 times a week, the patient must consult a doctor;
4. Anyone with diabetes should always have something sweet with them to prevent these conditions. (sugar, sweet water, glucose tablets);
5. If a person cannot accept sweets on his own, he needs help with this. If the patient’s condition has not improved or he has lost consciousness, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance.

Treatment

Before hospitalization, administration of a 10% glucagon solution or 40% glucose solution is used. In a hospital setting, intravenous infusions of glucose solution are usually used for this condition.

At the stage of hypoglycemic coma, the patient is placed in the intensive care unit for complex symptomatic treatment.
In the future, it is carried out taking into account the main cause of this condition.

Prevention

To prevent a sharp decrease in blood sugar, it is necessary to identify the causes of this complication as early as possible.

For diabetics, such prevention will be adequate treatment with the correct dose of insulin or glucose-lowering drugs.

For non-diabetic hypoglycemia in patients It is necessary to establish a normal diet and adequate physical activity.

It is important to prevent the development of complications and promptly contact specialists to select adequate treatment.

Useful video

All the symptoms of the disease are described very interestingly in this video:

The development of hypoglycemia - what is it in diabetes mellitus? This question interests a huge number of patients suffering from this disease.

The mechanism of the hypoglycemic action of insulin is triggered in the patient’s body when the concentration of glucose in the blood plasma approaches a value close to 4 mmol/g.

Hypoglycemia in diabetes is a common companion for patients suffering from this disease. Hypoglycemia most often occurs in type 1 diabetes. Hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus develops if the disease is treated with injections of drugs containing the hormone insulin. In some cases, the occurrence of hypoglycemia in diabetics with type 2 diabetes mellitus can be observed even in cases where insulin is not used in the treatment of the disease.

The presence of diabetes mellitus makes hypoglycemia a common occurrence in patients, so any diabetic and people from his immediate environment should know how to behave if such a condition occurs, and what measures should be taken to prevent the development of complications in the body.

The main causes of hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus are that the action of most glucose-lowering drugs is associated with the process of stimulating the beta cells of the pancreas in order to produce more of the hormone insulin. In type 2 diabetes, taking such drugs increases the amount of insulin produced, which leads to a reduction in the amount of sugar in the blood to levels close to the physiological norm.

If there is a violation of the recommendations of the attending physician and a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus takes a large dose of hypoglycemic drugs, there is a sharp increase in the amount of insulin during hypoglycemia, this, in turn, leads to a sharp decrease in the glucose content in the blood plasma of the patient with diabetes mellitus.

The occurrence of hypoglycemia in diabetes can lead to the development of severe irreparable consequences, such as damage to brain cells and even death. In accordance with data obtained from medical studies, symptoms of hypoglycemia occur in a patient when the level of sugar in the blood plasma is equal to or close to 2.8 mmol/l.

The main causes of hypoglycemia

Symptoms of glycemia develop in the patient’s body only if there is more insulin in the patient’s blood than glucose. When this situation occurs, the body's cells begin to lack carbohydrates, which are used by cellular structures to obtain energy.

The patient’s internal organs begin to feel energy starvation, and if the necessary measures are not taken in a timely manner, the person’s death may occur.

Signs of hypoglycemia develop in the body for a whole range of reasons. The causes of hypoglycemia are the following:

1. If the patient has type 1 diabetes, hypoglycemia may occur as a result of an overdose of insulin. The lack of sugars caused by excess insulin should be treated primarily by taking fast sugars inside a portion or administering an intravenous glucose solution.
2. If sulfonylureas are used in treatment? These drugs can cause complications in the body.
3. Using a faulty syringe pen when administering insulin.
4. Malfunction of the glucometer, which shows inflated readings, which leads to an increase in the dose of insulin administered.
5. Incorrect calculation of insulin dosage by an endocrinologist.
6. Violation – intramuscular administration of the drug.
7. Carrying out massage in the injection area.
8. Using a new drug with which the patient’s body is unfamiliar.
9. Kidney disease, which prevents the normal removal of insulin from the body.
10. Using short-acting insulin instead of long-acting insulin at the same dose.
11. Unpredictable interactions between medications used during treatment.

In addition, a state of hypoglycemia can be caused in a person even without diabetes if disorders occur in the body that affect the process of hormone secretion by the adrenal glands or pituitary gland.

Without diabetes, plasma sugar may also drop sharply during pregnancy and lactation.

Development of hypoglycemia due to poor diet

Sugar level

Dietary disorders and problems with the digestive system can provoke hypoglycemic attacks in the body. Such violations may include the following:

1. Insufficient synthesis of digestive enzymes. This disorder can provoke a lack of blood sugar due to insufficient absorption of glucose from the gastrointestinal tract.
2. Irregular eating and skipping meals.
3. An unbalanced diet that contains insufficient sugar.
4. A large physical load on the body, which can cause an attack of sugar deficiency in a person if it is not possible to take an additional dose of glucose.
5. Typically, a patient's diabetic hypoglycemia can be caused by drinking alcohol.
6. Hypoglycemia can be triggered by weight loss medications and strict dieting, while simultaneously taking the recommended dose of insulin.
7. Diabetic neuropathy, which provoked slow emptying of the gastrointestinal tract.
8. Use of rapid insulin before meals while delaying food intake.

For patients with type 2 diabetes to feel normal, they should not experience a strong feeling of hunger. The appearance of a feeling of hunger is the first sign of a lack of sugar in the blood of a patient who has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This requires constant adjustment of the diet of a patient with type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms and signs of the development of hypoglycemia in the body of a patient with diabetes mellitus

When taking medications to lower sugar levels, you should remember the normal level of glycemia, which is individual for each person. Optimal indicators are those that coincide with the physiological norm in a healthy person or are close to it. If the amount of sugar deviates downward, the patient begins to hypoglycemia - he begins to show signs of hypoglycemia, which is provoked by a lack of sugars in the blood plasma.

The first signs of carbohydrate deficiency begin to appear in mild forms of malaise and become more pronounced over time.

The first symptom of a lack of carbohydrates is a feeling of extreme hunger. With the further development of hypoglycemia, the following symptoms are observed in a person:

• pale skin;
• increased sweating process;
• strong feeling of hunger;
• increased heart rate;
• muscle cramps;
• weakening of attention and concentration;
• appearance of aggressiveness.

In addition to these symptoms, hypoglycemia can cause a feeling of anxiety and nausea in a sick person.

These symptoms appear with hypoglycemia, regardless of what type of diabetes the patient is diagnosed with.

In cases where a further decrease in sugar levels continues in the body of a patient suffering from diabetes, the patient develops:

1. weakness;
2. dizziness;
3. strong;
4. disruption of the speech center in the brain;
5. feeling of fear;
6. impaired coordination of movements
7. convulsions;
8. loss of consciousness.

Symptoms may not appear at the same time. At the initial stage of development of hypoglycemia, one or two symptoms may appear, which are subsequently joined by others.

In some cases, in people who have had diabetes for a long time and with frequent attacks of hypoglycemia, the mild malaise that occurs at the first stage may not be noticed at all.

Some people suffering from diabetes are able to notice the first symptoms in a timely manner and, by measuring their blood sugar levels, quickly stop the development of the disorder by raising the glucose level in the body to the required level.

It should be remembered that some drugs used in treatment can mask the initial symptoms of the development of complications.

Particular attention should be paid to patients in whom hypoglycemia can develop during sleep.

Treatment and prevention of complications

The only way to avoid complications is to constantly monitor sugar levels in the body. If the patient feels acute hunger, the sugar level in the body should be immediately measured and measures taken to treat the attack that occurs.

If there are no symptoms, but a timely snack was not taken or significant physical activity was applied to the body, then the development of hypoglycemia can be prevented by taking glucose medications, which quickly raise the sugar level in the body.

If the treatment of a complication is carried out using glucose preparations, then its dose should be correctly calculated. After taking the tablet drug, you should measure the sugar content in the body 40 minutes later and if there is no change in concentration, you need to take an additional amount of glucose.

Some diabetics, when their blood sugar is low, eat flour, fruit juices or carbonated drinks, but when using these products, the opposite condition may occur - hyperglycemia. This is due to the fact that such products contain both fast and slow carbohydrates. Slow carbohydrates enter the blood slowly and are able to maintain glucose levels at a high level for a long time. Hypoglycemia can be treated with a steep solution of sugar in water. Taking such a solution allows glucose to be almost instantly absorbed into the blood in the oral cavity and quickly raise the sugar level in the patient’s body.

If the complication is treated with glucose tablets, then it is very easy to calculate the dose of sugar consumed, which cannot be done when consuming regular foods. In the absence of glucose tablets, the patient is advised to carry several pieces of sugar with him at all times and use them in case of a hypoglycemic state. This recommendation especially applies to patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes; hypoglycemia can develop if there is an error in the dosage of insulin medications.

Every diabetic should know what hypoglycemia is and know measures to prevent the occurrence of such a condition.

For this purpose, the patient should consult an endocrinologist.

Providing first aid for the development of glycemia and the consequences of complications

In the event that a diabetic patient is not able to control the situation and cannot take preventive measures to prevent the further development of a hypoglycemic state, the help of others will be required.

Usually, when a complication develops, the patient’s body during the period of hypoglycemia is weakened and inhibited. During this period the person is practically unconscious. At such a moment, the patient is not able to chew the tablet or eat something sweet, as there is a serious risk of choking. In such a situation, it is best to use special gels containing large amounts of glucose to stop the attack. If the patient is able to swallow, then he can be given a sweet drink or fruit juice; warm sweet tea is well suited in this situation. During an attack of hypoglycemia, you should carefully monitor the condition of the sick person.

After the patient’s condition has been stabilized, the amount of sugar in the body should be measured and find out how much glucose should be introduced into the body to completely normalize the body’s condition.

People who suffer from diabetes have a lot of health problems. Hypoglycemia is considered one of the most dangerous. At first glance, this is a slight ailment, but if you neglect the rules, then everything ends in an insulin coma and loss of consciousness. Knowing the symptoms and causes can help prevent blood sugar spikes.

What is hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus?

Hypoglycemia is a temporary painful condition in which blood sugar drops below a critical minimum. In the case of diabetes mellitus, this minimum may be lower than 3.4 mmol/l.

If in healthy people hypoglycemia is always associated only with glucose in the blood, then in patients with diabetes it can occur due to the increased content of unrefined carbohydrate products in the daily diet. If the diet also lacks vitamins and fiber, then the situation worsens many times over. Hypoglycemia also develops against the background of hormonal deficiency or diseases of the endocrine system.

You can find different indicators of normal blood sugar, and these discrepancies are associated with individual characteristics. Thus, hypoglycemia develops if a patient with diabetes sees a drop in blood sugar by 0.5 mmol/l below its usual level. This rule applies even if a person does not feel symptoms at all.

You need to understand that even taking into account its temporary nature, hypoglycemia can lead to a critical drop in blood sugar, even with all attempts to stop the process. Therefore, it is so important to monitor individual indicators and know the specifics of operational actions in the event of an exacerbation.

A slight drop in sugar below the required norm is accompanied only by unpleasant symptoms, but a critical drop in glucose is fraught with loss of consciousness, coma and even death. It is believed that if glucose drops below 2.8 mmol/l, then brain damage is irreversible.

Stages of hypocemia

Hypoglycemia can have 3 stages of pathology:

• Light form . Anxiety arises against the background of hunger, and mild tachycardia develops. Chills, nausea, and dizziness may occur. Diabetic patients should immediately check their blood sugar levels. 8 mmol/l is the norm. Higher is bad, but lower is even worse. It is impossible to allow 4 mmol/l, otherwise hypoglycemia occurs.
• Medium form . If for some reason it is not possible to stop a mild form, the next one is accompanied by trembling, weakness and cold sweat. The weakening becomes uncontrollable.
• Severe form . The third stage of hypoglycemia is accompanied by seizures, convulsions, and the blood sugar level drops to 2.2 mmol/l.

Features of hypoglycemia in type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2 differs slightly. Symptoms, causes, complications - everything is the same with the only difference being that for type 1 diabetics, a drop in blood sugar occurs more often in its severe form. This is due to the fact that insulin-dependent people have critical indicators.

Thus, attacks are significantly more common in people with type 1 diabetes, but this does not exclude the possibility of such attacks in people with type 2 diabetes. There have been cases when symptoms appeared even in those who do not take insulin. Everything is individual.

However, for type 1 diabetics, hypoglycemia is a scarier and more difficult prospect. Symptoms associated with low blood glucose (production of adrenaline and cortisone, tremors and tachycardia) are almost absent 5 years after the development of diabetes. The body does not adapt for the better, and a type 1 diabetic immediately goes to energy starvation of the brain, which manifests itself in lethargy, seizures and even coma.

Cases are especially severe if there was already an attack of hypoglycemia the day before - then the symptoms the second time will be even less pronounced.

Symptoms of mild hypoglycemia may go unnoticed, as they appear insignificantly against the backdrop of a slow drop in blood sugar. Slight clouding of consciousness, dizziness, and mild nausea may occur.

Another thing is a sharp drop in blood sugar. In this case, the diabetic will immediately feel:

• trembling throughout the body, especially in the knees;
• sweat will appear (you should pay attention to this when the temperature is not suitable for sweating);
• tongue and lips go numb;
• pulse becomes too fast;
• hunger sets in suddenly and is clearly pronounced;
• fatigue, drowsiness, and weakness appear.

It may be that a person has symptoms of hypoglycemia, but their blood sugar is normal. This is because the body becomes tolerant to high glucose levels and considers normal sugar levels to be low.

Since hypoglycemia is a sudden reaction, you need to monitor the first two forms and try not to miss the moment, because then little can be done, especially if no one nearby knows about the patient’s condition.

• First 10 minutes . A mild form of hypoglycemia appears within the first minutes and can last from 5 to 10 minutes. During this time, you can feel incessant anxiety, which has nothing to do with external stimuli. Your fingertips may become numb and your heart rate may increase. Against the background of unconscious anxiety, hunger may appear;
• Next 30 minutes . The first stage of hypoglycemia quickly stops, but if this moment is missed and glucose does not enter the body over the next few minutes, then the average form of hypoglycemia occurs, which lasts from 20 to 30 minutes and is accompanied by more pronounced symptoms associated with weakness, vomiting, severe hunger, nervousness, dizziness. Speech and vision may be impaired (double vision or circles).

Nocturnal hypoglycemia also occurs. The most dangerous form of the disease occurs during sleep. It is dangerous because in a dream it is almost impossible to realize the symptoms of the disease, but they still exist: you have nightmares and excessive sweating.

Causes of hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus

Hypoglycemia develops from a high-carbohydrate diet, but in the case of diabetes mellitus, the range of causes expands. The main reasons include:

• Poor nutrition . In diabetes, diet plays a key role and non-compliance with it leads to sharp jumps in blood sugar, which should absolutely not be allowed. Usually, attending physicians prevent a number of dangerous situations and teach patients to “save themselves” with fast sugar from juices or desserts;
• Incorrect insulin dosages . If the dose of insulin was administered incorrectly, this may affect the general condition (see also - insulin administration technique);
• Abuse of drugs containing sugar . A number of medicines are supplemented with sugar syrup, sugar or sweeteners. When using certain medications, this needs to be checked;
• Long gaps between meals . If a diabetic forgets to eat or is unable to do so on the road or in a public place, a drop in sugar will not be long in coming;
• Alcohol abuse . Alcohol is contraindicated in diabetes mellitus. Relaxations are allowed only with the permission of a doctor, subject to all safety measures.

Video: What you need to know about hypoglycemia?

It will be useful to watch a video about what hypoglycemia is as one of the manifestations of diabetes.

Diabetics have a lot to consider in their diet and treatment. Hypoglycemia is one of the most important issues, as it is associated with sugar surges. Sudden falls should not be allowed, and timely recognition of symptoms will lead to the exclusion of the painful condition altogether. The main thing is to arm yourself with knowledge and follow the recommendations of your doctor.

The sugar content is considered normal from 3.5 to 5.5 mmol/l. If a deviation occurs in the direction of decrease or increase, the person begins to feel nausea, weakness, dizziness, and even loss of consciousness. When sugar decreases, the patient is diagnosed with hypoglycemia, and if it increases, hyperglycemia is diagnosed.

What is glycemia and what are the symptoms

If the glucose level is stable and does not go beyond the norm, the human body works without failures, easily tolerates stress, and quickly restores spent energy. Changes in sugar concentration cause disease that is life-threatening. This is the essence of glycemia.

In addition to general malaise, which may be present in many other diseases, glycemia is characterized by the following symptoms:

• sweating increases;
• coordination of movements is impaired;
• the skin turns pale;
• muscle weakness occurs;
• state of trembling, irregular heartbeat;
• There is a tingling sensation in the fingertips;
• extreme thirst and hunger.

If the patient's glycemia continues for a long time, the body becomes so depleted that it causes nervous breakdown and severe headaches, including migraines. Vision also decreases and there is double vision. Increased irritability and inability to sleep, daytime sleepiness, weakness throughout the body are also signals of glycemia.

In such cases, the doctor directs the patient to donate blood for sugar “with a load”. First, blood is taken on an empty stomach, then the patient takes glucose or sugar diluted in water orally and the analysis is done again. Based on the results of the indicators, the cause of glycemia is determined.

Features of glycemia in diabetes mellitus

An attack of glycemia can occur in a healthy person, for example, after severe physical overload, stress, or during pregnancy. If this condition is observed in a type 1 diabetic, the reason lies in the error of the insulin dose taken.

Treatment for low or high glucose levels is prescribed strictly on an individual basis for each patient. It is based on the results of scrupulously conducted tests and diagnostic procedures.

Hypoglycemia

With this clinical syndrome, the blood glucose level decreases sharply. It may appear due to a too strict diet with excessive physical activity. The main symptoms of hypoglycemia are:

• severe malaise (weakness and slight trembling throughout the body);
• profuse sweating;
• state of anxiety;
• nausea;
• feeling of fear;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• decreased vision;
• speech apparatus disorder;
• feeling of extreme hunger;
• convulsions;
• loss of consciousness.

These symptoms require consulting a doctor. It is possible that glucose levels may drop to a critical level. Inactivity in this condition can lead to coma.

People often treat this condition carelessly and are unaware of the disruptions occurring in the body. And only when undergoing a medical examination, in particular, after donating blood for sugar, is hypoglycemia accidentally discovered.

The most common cases of hypoglycemia are observed in type 2 diabetics. A condition where sugar levels are too low is extremely dangerous; it is fraught with serious changes in the brain, which can cause death.

This condition is characterized by malabsorption syndrome, the essence of which is the absence of the required amount of enzymes for better absorption of nutrients obtained from food.

The essence of this disease is that there is less glucose in the blood than insulin. The following factors can provoke this condition:

• error in insulin dosage;
• use of glinides or sulfonylureas;
• poor quality syringe;
• inaccurate glucometer readings;
• Prescribing the wrong dose of drugs containing sugar;
• unauthorized increase in insulin dose by the patient;
• incorrect administration of insulin (not under the skin, but into the muscle);
• introduction of a new medication;
• liver and kidney disease;
• not “long” insulin, but “short” insulin was introduced;
• hormonal disbalance;
• state of pregnancy, breastfeeding, postpartum period.

This disease is quite insidious in that if the glucose level is less than 2.2 mmol/g, the patient may not feel any discomfort. Therefore, the doctor’s main recommendation is strict monitoring of the condition with periodic checking of sugar levels, despite the absence of symptoms.

For those suffering from glycemia due to diabetes, it is necessary to adjust their behavior. Due to possible loss of consciousness, a person may be injured. Such patients are not allowed to perform work on which the lives of other people depend, and they are also contraindicated to drive a car.

Some diabetics behave too carelessly and ignore the doctor's advice, especially if they do not feel any signs of illness. This is very reckless behavior, which often ends in loss of consciousness and falling into a coma.

This video describes all the symptoms of hypoglycemia, as well as the causes of low blood sugar, and what to do in case of attacks of malaise.

Hyperglycemia

Attacks of a sharp increase in sugar (hyperglycemia) are mainly observed in diabetics or in patients with a predisposition to this disease. Due to the fact that the signs of hyperglycemia are similar to the symptoms of other diseases, it is difficult to determine without the results of laboratory blood tests.

• dry mouth and severe thirst;
• frequent urination;
• sudden change in body weight (weight loss or weight gain);
• unconscious, spontaneous state of irritation;
• high fatigue.

All these symptoms are associated with dysfunction of the endocrine system.

There are three degrees of hyperglycemia:

• mild (up to 10 mmol/l);
• average (16 mmol/l or more);
• severe (over 16 mmol/l).

To determine an accurate diagnosis, a complex of laboratory tests is carried out. If the glucose value exceeds 6.2 mmol/l, a repeat blood test is performed for sugar. After this, an analysis is carried out for adequacy to sugar (with a load).

Patients with diabetes are susceptible to both types of glycemia. Hyperglycemia (7.2 mmol/l or more) can occur after a long break (up to 8 hours) between meals.

A sharp increase in glucose can also be triggered by food that contains carbohydrates. By the way, an increase in sugar after a heavy meal can also occur in a healthy person. This is a signal warning of a high risk of developing an incurable disease.

Hyperglycemia is especially dangerous for patients with type 1 diabetes; it often causes complications, including ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolaria.

Glycemia in children

Glycemia in childhood is characterized by a variety of its manifestations. If a child is born to a mother with diabetes, it is possible that he will have the same health problems. Immediately after birth and in the first days of life, the baby’s sugar level may decrease to such a level that for an adult it will be critical. However, the baby tolerates this condition normally, since he has a minimal need for energy for brain function.

This does not mean that such hypoglycemia is not life-threatening. It is necessary to measure the sugar level and transfer the baby to frequent feedings.

Symptoms of glycemia in children are similar to those observed in adults. An adult can easily notice some of them:

• redness of the face from a rush of blood;
• dry skin;
• abdominal pain;
• breathing rhythm disturbance.

Perhaps the most important point regarding the treatment of glycemia in children is not only the child’s lifestyle, but also the attitude of adults towards him.

The course of treatment includes training parents in the rules of consistent systemic behavior; teachers are no exception, who should be aware of the condition of a student suffering from diabetes. The main thing is that he always has something sweet with him. The teacher must allow him to have a snack even during class.

Glycemic attacks during sleep

As a rule, at night, any disease worsens, and glycemia is no exception. You need to pay attention to your condition during this period of time. If your sleep is restless or insomnia occurs, interruptions in breathing and heartbeat, or excessive sweating, you should immediately check your sugar level using a glucometer, which is the main attribute of a diabetic.

Similar situations often arise with children, so it is important to also measure glucose levels before bed and especially strictly follow the diet when eating during dinner. In infancy, after breastfeeding, the baby can be given additional low-carbohydrate foods.

Features of pathology treatment

The method of treating glycemia differs from the usual method in that preference is given not to a set of medications, but to a revision of the patient’s lifestyle. You should first pay attention to nutrition:

• The first and main condition for achieving the patient’s normal condition is following a diet. His diet should consist of foods with a minimum carbohydrate content for hyperglycemia and a higher carbohydrate content for hypoglycemia.
• Food should consist of foods with complex carbohydrates in order to satisfy hunger for longer and not experience weakness.
• Sugar, baked goods, and fats are considered “bad carbohydrates” and should be avoided.
• Priority is given to protein foods.
• Activate your lifestyle - exercise, cycling, long walks, swimming, outdoor games.
• You need to eat in small portions, the number of meals should be increased compared to the usual 3 meals a day.

If, for example, glycemia is based on a genetic predisposition, a person may experience few symptoms. In this regard, for any disease, the patient undergoes a basic set of tests, including donating blood for sugar. Thus, during the treatment of another disease, glycemia may be detected, which requires a special course of treatment.

Drug treatment

If glycemia manifests itself in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, they are prescribed the following medications:

• “Butamide” is an oral drug, taken 2-3 times a day, 500-3,000 mg.
• “Tolinase” – 1 or 2 times a day, 100-1,000 mg.
• "Chlorpropamide" - 100-500 mg once a day.
• “Glipizide” – first half of the day, 1-2 times 2.5-40 mg.

Depending on the clinical picture, alternative medications are prescribed:

• "Metformin" - 2-3 times a day, 500-1000 mg. This drug is contraindicated for kidney disease and heart attack. For older patients with problems of the cardiovascular system, it should be taken with extreme caution.
• “Acarbose” – 3 times 25-100 mg, indicated for hyperglycemia after meals. This medicine has contraindications - inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, colitis.

Folk remedies

In addition to medicines, folk remedies based on medicinal plants and natural products are widely used.

These can be different forms of traditional medicines, for example:

• An infusion of 10 large laurel leaves, poured with a glass (250 ml) of “steep” boiling water. Leave for at least 3 hours. Strain the tincture and take it in 3 doses 30 minutes before meals.
• Add grated horseradish (1 tbsp) to homemade sour milk (1 glass), mix well and refrigerate for 7-9 hours. Take 1 tbsp 30 minutes before meals. l.
• Dry the currant leaves, chop them, add a few currant berries. There should be 1 glass in total. Then pour “steep” boiling water (200 mg) and leave for half an hour. Drink the strained infusion in 4-5 doses of 1/2 cup at any time.

First aid for loss of consciousness

In this condition, a diabetic cannot do without outsiders. First of all, he needs the following help:

• during convulsions, the patient may bite his tongue, so a wooden stick is inserted into his teeth;
• turn his head to the side so that he does not choke on vomit or saliva;
• do not give water or food, but immediately give an injection of glucose;
• Call a doctor or ambulance immediately.

Preventive measures

The only way to prevent a hyperglycemic episode is through strict blood glucose control. If you feel an acute feeling of hunger, you should immediately consult a glucometer to check your sugar level. If the patient does not feel any abnormalities in his physical condition, but knows that he has not had a periodic snack or has undergone high physical activity, an analysis should also be done. If the indicator decreases, take glucose tablets or eat a piece of sugar. After this, after about 45 minutes, repeat the analysis.

Low or high blood glucose levels are called glycemia. This does not always indicate the presence of diabetes. Deviation from the norm can be caused by a number of other reasons discussed above. This should alert a person, make them pay more attention to their health and be sure to consult a doctor.

Hypoglycemia is an unhealthy state of the body in which the blood glucose level drops below 3.3 mmol/l. It is accompanied by unpleasant physical sensations in the body, and in severe cases, without timely treatment, it can lead to organic brain damage and even the development of coma.

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Understanding what hypoglycemia is in diabetes mellitus and how it is dangerous, you can provide timely help to a sick person and preserve his health, and sometimes his life.

Why is low blood sugar dangerous for diabetics?

It would seem that lowering blood sugar levels is what every patient strives for. Then why does hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus not bode well? The fact is that in this condition, the sugar level drops catastrophically, which can lead to severe disruptions in the functioning of the brain and other vital organs. Moreover, with diabetes, this is not always good.

For each diabetic, the optimal glycemia (blood sugar) values ​​are individual. Ideally, they should correspond to similar figures for this indicator in a healthy person. But often real life makes its own adjustments, and then we have to rely on the patient’s well-being at different blood sugar levels.

The normal glucose value for diabetes is from 4 to 7 mmol before meals. This interval is average, and the “corridor” of acceptable values ​​should be selected by the attending physician, taking into account the age, weight and type of disease of the patient.

The danger of hypoglycemia is that due to the lack of sufficient glucose, the brain experiences energy starvation. Its symptoms appear very quickly, and in the most severe cases, a person may develop a hypoglycemic coma. It is terrible for its consequences on the nervous system and in itself threatens human life.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus can be divided into early and later, which appear in the absence of treatment. First, a decrease in blood sugar levels is manifested by the following symptoms:

• pronounced feeling of hunger;
• nausea (sometimes vomiting is possible);
• mild excitability, psycho-emotional discomfort;
• rapid pulse;
• pale skin;
• headache and dizziness;
• involuntary trembling of muscles and limbs;
• increased sweating;
• prostration.

If you take the necessary measures and replenish the glucose deficiency in the body, these unpleasant manifestations will quickly pass, and the person will feel normal again. But if you ignore them for a long time, the patient’s condition will worsen, which will manifest itself with the following signs:

• confusion of thoughts, incoherence of speech;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• visual disturbances;
• inability to concentrate, feelings of internal anxiety, fear or discomfort;
• convulsive muscle contractions;
• loss of consciousness.

The most severe outcome that can happen is hypoglycemic coma. This is an emergency condition that requires immediate medical attention and further careful monitoring of the patient's condition.

Hypoglycemic coma

Hypoglycemic coma occurs in situations in which it was not possible to stop the onset of hypoglycemia in time. As a result, the central nervous system begins to suffer. First, the cerebral cortex and cerebellum are affected, so the heart beats faster and coordination of movements is impaired. Then paralysis of the parts of the brain in which vital centers are concentrated (for example, the respiratory center) may occur.

If blood sugar drops below 1.3-1.6 mmol/l, the likelihood of losing consciousness and developing coma is very high

Although coma symptoms develop rapidly, they are characterized by a certain sequence:

• The patient feels a sense of anxiety, becomes restless and irritable. His skin becomes covered with perspiration, and headache and dizziness may be present. The heart begins to beat faster.
• Sweating increases, the face becomes red. A person cannot fully control his actions, his consciousness is confused. Vision is impaired - surrounding objects look blurry or may appear double.
• Blood pressure rises, pulse becomes even more frequent. The muscles are in increased tone, and convulsive contractions may begin.
• The pupils dilate and the convulsions progress, and soon the diabetic loses consciousness. The skin is very moist to the touch, the pressure is increased, but the body temperature usually does not change.
• Muscle tone drops, the pupils do not respond to light, the body becomes lethargic and limp. Breathing and pulse are disrupted, blood pressure drops sharply. There may be a lack of vital reflexes. If the person is not helped at this stage, he may die due to cardiac arrest or cerebral edema.

First aid for this condition is rapid intravenous administration of glucose solution (on average, 40-60 ml of 40% drug is required). After a person regains consciousness, he should immediately eat both quickly digestible carbohydrates and foods that are a source of sugars that are absorbed into the blood for a long time. While the patient is unconscious, he should not force sweet drinks or glucose solution down his throat, as this will not be beneficial and may cause choking.

The most dangerous cause of hypoglycemic coma is alcohol. It greatly inhibits the process of glucose synthesis in the body and masks the symptoms of the onset of a decrease in sugar (because they are similar to intoxication)

Causes

A drop in blood glucose levels is most often associated with errors in drug treatment or with violations of the patient’s usual lifestyle and diet. This may be influenced by certain characteristics of the body and disease. Factors that are associated with drugs:

• incorrectly selected (too high) dose of insulin or tablets for the treatment of diabetes;
• switching from insulin from one manufacturer to the same drug from another company;
• violation of the drug administration technique (injection into the muscle instead of the subcutaneous area);
• injection of the drug into an area of ​​the body that has never been used for this before;
• exposure of the injection site to high temperatures, direct sunlight, or active massaging or rubbing.

It is necessary to periodically check the serviceability of insulin pens, since the wrong dose of medication with a normal diet can lead to sudden changes in blood glucose levels. A hypoglycemic state can develop in situations where a patient switches from using a pump to regular injections. To prevent this, you need to constantly monitor your sugar levels and carefully calculate the amount of insulin.

The glucometer must work properly and accurately, since false readings can lead to incorrect calculation of the required amount of medicine

Diet has an important influence on sugar levels, so a person's diet may also become a risk factor in some situations.

Reasons for a sharp decrease in blood glucose associated with food:

• eating too little food;
• long intervals between meals;
• skipping another meal;
• drinking alcohol (especially during meals or before bedtime);
• vigorous physical activity without adjusting the diet and monitoring blood sugar levels.

In addition, hypoglycemia can be caused by the following body conditions and diseases:

• pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• chronic renal failure;
• early postpartum period;
• lack of pancreatic enzymes, which ensure normal digestibility of foods;
• decreased activity of the pituitary gland and adrenal glands;
• the first time after suffering any acute infectious disease;
• slow digestion of food in the stomach due to diabetic damage to the nerves in this area.

How to provide first aid?

The easiest way to help a patient with mild hypoglycemia is while it does not seriously threaten health and life. At the stage of malaise, weakness and dizziness, you need to use a glucometer, and if your fears are confirmed, begin to act. To make up for the lack of carbohydrates, you can eat a chocolate bar, a sandwich with white bread, or drink a sweet soft drink.

You can wash down sweet foods with hot tea - the heat will speed up the absorption of glucose

If the patient is conscious, but his condition is already close to serious, the best thing that can be done at home is to give him a pharmaceutical glucose solution (or prepare it yourself from sugar and water). After the person comes to his senses, he needs to measure his glucose level. He must rest. It is important to ensure that the patient does not choke on the drink, he should not be left alone, and if his condition worsens, he should immediately call an ambulance.

Prevention

Considering that split meals are recommended for diabetics, a feeling of extreme hunger should be an alarm bell and a reason to check your sugar once again. If your fears are confirmed and your glucose level is close to the acceptable limit, you need to eat.

To prevent a sudden drop in blood sugar, people with type 1 diabetes should:

• adhere to a certain daily routine or at least maintain equal intervals between meals and medications;
• know your target blood glucose level and try to maintain it;
• understand the differences between insulins of different periods of action and be able to adjust your diet to the medications;
• reduce the dose of insulin before intense physical activity (or increase the amount of food eaten before that is rich in carbohydrates);
• stop drinking alcohol;
• Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly.

A diabetic should always have a chocolate bar, sweets or glucose medications with him in case of hypoglycemia. It is important that the doctor conveys to the patient the danger of this condition and teaches the principles of first aid to himself in the event of its occurrence.

If you stop hypoglycemia at the initial stage of its development, it will pass without a trace for the body and will not cause much harm

Does hypoglycemia occur in people who do not have diabetes?

Hypoglycemia can develop in a person without diabetes. There are 2 types of this condition:

• hypoglycemia occurring on an empty stomach;
• a decrease in sugar that develops as a response to food.

In the first case, glucose levels may drop due to drinking alcohol or certain medications in the evening. This condition can also provoke hormonal imbalance in the body. If hypoglycemia occurs several hours after eating, then most likely it is associated with fructose intolerance or a lack of glucagon (this is a pancreatic hormone that is involved in the absorption of glucose). This also occurs after gastric surgery, which interferes with the absorption of nutrients in the digestive tract.

Symptoms of glycemia are similar to its manifestations in diabetics, and they also arise suddenly. A person may experience hunger, body tremors, weakness, nausea, anxiety, cold sweats and drowsiness. First aid for this condition is the same as for diabetes. After stopping the attack, you should definitely consult a doctor to find out the cause of hypoglycemia and a detailed diagnosis of your health condition.

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