Emmitsburg Osteopathic Primary Care Center
121-123 West Main Street, Rear Entrance
P.O. Box 1219
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
301-447-3310

Low Blood Sugar: A Medical Emergency

Recently our notes on the Diabetic Diary were published. Since that time, some of my clients presented with what they thought were unusual problems. Indeed, they were medical emergencies.

Many afflicted with diabetes know that it is important to carry a snack with them, or have a snack close at hand when symptoms of low blood sugar attack. The problem is that when a person with diabetes has a low blood sugar attack the very low blood sugar causes that same person to suffer confusion and not remember what to do. The snack could be as close as a purse or a pocket and not be used on time.

Low blood sugar might present as simply as contrariness. Low blood sugar could look like walking or driving as if under the influence of alcohol. An affected person could complain of sweating, hot flashes, heart palpitations, or chest pain. There could be paralysis of one side of the body, sleepiness, lethargy or even loss of consciousness and coma. Low blood sugar could feel the same as high blood sugar.

These low blood sugar states may be brought on by delaying a meal, exercising, losing weight without adjusting the sugar lowering regimen, or other forms of extra stress to the body, or by accidentally taking a repeat dose of diabetic medicine.

If you are friend or family of a diabetic, it is important for you to understand that the affected person may not be able to tell you where their glucose monitoring machine is, how to use the testing kit or where their snack is located. Like doing a check for camping, when you are out with a person who is suffering from diabetes, go through this list.

There is a very important rescue kit called a Glucagon Emergency Kit. This includes an injectable medicine of glucagon which makes the liver dump sugar into the blood stream and within five minutes can relieve low blood sugar. The directions are in the kit, but a going through the motions ahead of time is a good idea. Practice is good.

Whether you are the one suffering from the diabetes, or your companion, it is important at the signs of discomfort to take a blood sugar reading. It is important to have a glucose monitor machine that is easy to use and easy to keep handy. If related supplies are low, then stop and get the lancets and chemstrips before they run out.

Living with Diabetes requires a great deal of attentiveness, planning and action. But a healthier life makes it more than worth the trouble. Live long and prosper.