Diabetes Program
Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)
For people taking diabetes medicines
Hypoglycemia is a side effect of insulin or other diabetes medicines that can
be easily detected and treated. It can become very serious if not treated
right away, especially if it leads to the inability to think clearly.
Hypoglycemia usually means your blood sugar is less than 70 mg/dL.
Some people may feel symptoms if their blood sugar drops to 90 or 100 mg/dL
(especially if the sugar level has been very high for quite some time).
Causes
● Too little food: skipped or delayed meal
or a new diet
● Too much physical activity: moving
furniture or boxes, painting, gardening,
vacuuming, shopping, or starting a new
exercise program
● Too much diabetes medicine: insulin or
other diabetes medicines
● Insulin taken at the wrong time: too early
(too long before you are ready to eat) or
too late (any time after meals)
Treatment
Eat sugar immediately. The best treatment is
to use simple sugar foods; they work quickly
because they are digested quickly. Always
carry some form of simple sugar food with you.
Examples include:
● 4 ounces of any juice
● 4 ounces regular soda
● 4 – 5 Life Savers®
● 3 teaspoons sugar or honey
● 3 – 4 glucose tablets
● 1 tube glucose gel
Symptoms
You may have any one or several of the
following symptoms:
● Feelings of panic: shakiness, sweating,
nervousness
● Feelings of hunger: weakness, dizziness,
headache, sudden hunger, tingling
in mouth
● Changes in behavior: sudden sleepiness,
9012 05-13
sudden mood change, “fuzziness”
in thinking
With hypoglycemia, these symptoms occur
suddenly and go away quickly (15 to 20
minutes) after you eat.
● 1 bottle liquid glucose
If you don’t feel better after 10 to 15 minutes,
eat another serving of a simple sugar food.
It is best to avoid desserts or regular meal food
to treat low blood sugar, as they have extra
calories which are not needed and may take
too long to work.
Avoiding a second hypoglycemia
(low blood sugar) reaction. If your next meal
will be more than 1 hour later, have a snack
such as cheese and crackers or half a sandwich.
Let your doctor know if you are having
frequent low blood sugar symptoms.
Remember — don’t skip meals!
Diabetes Program
Prevention of Hypoglycemia
If You Take Insulin
● If you miss a meal, eat a snack close to the
time of your usual meal.
● If you wait more than 4 – 5 hours between
meals, eat a snack.
● Take your mealtime insulin 15 – 30 minutes
before your meal (unless your diabetes care
team has given you other instructions).
Take your basal insulin (Lantus®, Levemir®,
or nighttime Humulin N® or Novolin N®)
about the same time each day.
● Don’t change your insulin dose without
● Test your blood sugar — especially before
physical activity or driving. If your blood
sugar is less than 120 – 150, eat a snack
before your activity or before you drive.
● If you have to fast, ask your diabetes care
team how much insulin you should take.
● Carry some form of sugar with you at
all times.
● Never drive a car if you have taken
mealtime insulin and have not eaten.
your diabetes care team’s permission.
If You Take Other Diabetes Medicines
● If you miss a meal, eat a snack close to the
time of your usual meal.
● If you must fast, do not take your diabetes
medicine until you are ready to eat.
● Test your blood sugar — especially when
you feel symptoms of low blood sugar.
● Carry some form of sugar with you at
all times.
● If your blood sugar is lower than 120 – 150,
take a snack before extra physical activity.
Let your doctor know if you are having frequent low blood sugar symptoms.
Remember — don’t skip meals!