Hypoglycemia is a condition that can occur with people who have Type I or Type II diabetes. It happens when you have too little blood sugar or glucose in your system. Whilst it is mainly diabetics who suffer from hypoglycemia symptoms, anyone can suffer. It can be caused by many different things including fasting or poor nutrition.
It’s true to say that there’s a misconception that if someone is suffering from hypoglycemia they should be given something sweet to eat. In fact, it is much more likely that the person is suffering from a lack of protein. Peanut butter is a great choice to give to somebody who is hypoglycemic.
One way you can look at hypoglycemia is as the opposite of diabetes. Diabetics should avoid having too much sugar as they have high levels of glucose in their blood. Hypoglycemics on the other hand have low glucose levels and need tho replenish the lack of sugar. It’s quite common for many diabetics to develop hypoglycemia as a reaction to their diet or insulin intake. This needs to be differentiated from people who develop the condition due to a poor diet.
Hypoglycemia symptoms
There are many symptoms that hypoglycemics can experience. The most common are a feeling a of anxiety, sweating more than usual, clammy skin, palpitations and feeling like you are going to faint. This happens when the brain starts to shut down as a result of loss of glucose.
It is a potentially dangerous situation. If left untreated, a person could fall into a diabetic coma or even die from their hypoglycemia. If you suspect some is exhibiting these signs you should give them something to eat, preferably rich in protein.
More serious symptoms can also occur such as vomiting and stomach pains. If the hypoglycemia continues, the sufferer may experience neurological effects such as slurred speech, tiredness, headaches and a general slowing down of brain function.
If you are unsure of whether or not someone is suffering from hypoglycemia, you should call a doctor straight away. The doctor will need to do a physical examination and will probably want to take a blood sample. This will help determine if the patient has a healthy blood sugar level or not.
In lots of cases, hypoglycemia is nothing to be concerned about. It can simply be a result of an inadequate diet. However if the condition continues to be a problem you should always consult a medial professional to find out the real cause of the illness. You’ll be pleased to know that many times the cause cannot be established and the situation improves on it’s own.