What Would Be Considered Low Blood Sugar?

Although high blood sugar defines diabetes, the disease affects many with low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) as well. Low blood sugar needs to be treated immediately before it becomes a medical emergency.

Cause

• If diabetes medication is taken without food, or if too much insulin is injected, the body can have too much insulin, which causes hypoglycemia.

Symptoms

• Common symptoms of hypoglycemia include hunger, dizziness, shakiness, confusion and headache. Although blood sugar levels below 70 mg/dl are low for non-diabetics, some diabetics experience hypoglycemic symptoms with blood sugar levels above 70 mg/dl.

Treatment

• If the symptoms of low blood sugar appear, consume some form of sugar such as candy, fruit juice or glucose tablets. Check blood glucose again after 20 minutes and consume more sugar if symptoms persist or if blood sugar is still low.

Warning

• If hypoglycemia remains untreated, you may pass out. If that happens, it is considered a medical emergency and you need to be transported to a hospital.

Solution

• Preventing low blood sugar requires treating the underlying diabetes. Exercise, weight loss and eating fewer carbohydrates all help to normalize blood sugar levels.