Diabetes : Hypoglycaemia (BD Medical - Diabetes Care)

• Paleness
• Sudden tiredness
• Blurred vision
• Pounding of heart
• Tingling lips and irritability.

• Eat some sugar immediately (3 sugar cubes, some jam or fruit juice), have a rest and then eat some biscuits, a sandwich or some fruit. You should feel better within 15 minutes.

• Monitor your blood sugar level to ensure that it has returned to normal. Write down this incident in your diary.
  If these "hypos" occur often, talk to your doctor or diabetes specialist nurse about it.

If you fall unconscious:

• Your friends and relatives should be able to recognise the symptoms of a hypoglycaemia and how to treat it in case of emergency. They also should know how to give an injection of glucagon if necessary.
• You should carry an ID card stating that you have diabetes.
  These cards are available on request and should explain what to do in case of unconsciousness.

• Did you inject too much insulin?
• Did you eat enough food?
• Did you skip or delay a meal?
• Did you do some unplanned exercise?
• Did you inject in the right place with the correct injection technique?
• Did you take any substance that could have lead to hypoglycaemia, such as alcohol on an empty stomach or medication?
• Did you experience any kind of stress?

If you feel you can identify the cause of your "hypo", write it down in your diary.