It is very important to educate people living with diabetes on the symptoms of low blood sugar when prescribing diabetes medications or insulin. As risky as high blood sugar is, so is low blood sugar. Low blood sugar can tilt an individual to coma and this can be deadly. This is why you need to know how to recognize symptoms of low blood sugar and know what to do at that moment.

About diabetes

When the sugar level in your blood exceeds the normal level (115mgldl), you have diabetes. This should be confirmed with a blood sugar test (preferably before eating in the morning) on 2 different occasions. One test can be used if this individual has started to develop symptoms. These set of people are then placed on drugs or insulin to lower their blood sugar depending on the type of diabetes they have.

What is low blood sugar?

Low blood sugar occurs when the sugar in your blood drops below the lower normal (70mg/dl). This usually occur in people with diabetes on blood sugar lowering drugs or insulin. It is advisable to check your blood sugar level as frequent as possible. For those on insulin, your blood sugar must always be checked prior to this injection.

What causes low blood sugar?

• Skipping of meals can be a cause of this. When you keep skipping your meals because you want your blood sugar to normalize, you are putting yourself at risk.
• You can also develop low blood sugar if you do not follow the quantity of the food groups as recommended by your dietician.
• When you delay your meals, you are at risk of developing low blood sugar.
• An individual living with diabetes who suddenly becomes ill can develop low blood sugar. 
• If you take overdose of your medications, you may be at risk.
• Drinking of alcohol can also put you at risk of developing low blood sugar.

What will you notice if you have low blood sugar?

• You may feel hungry.
• Your body may start to shake.
• You may feel anxious.
• Your heart beat becomes fast.
• You feel tired.
• Your vision may become blurred.
• Some may even feel dizzy or fall into coma.

What must you do when you notice these symptoms?

• If possible, try and confirm you blood sugar level with your glucometer.
• Take a sugar or glucose drink immediately.
• Ensure you eat a carbohydrate meal as soon as possible so as to maintain your blood sugar while preventing repeated episode of low blood sugar.
• Visit the nearest health facility as soon as you can.