Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is generally defined as a glucose concentration of less than 70 milligrams of sugar per deciliter of blood (mg/dl). This measurement should be taken just before a meal, when the blood sugar is at its lowest level. A blood sugar level taken at this time should be between 90 and 130 mg/dl. Mild hypoglycemia can be corrected with simple measures at home, but severe hypoglycemia may require emergency measures in a hospital setting.
Instructions
1. Eat something containing a simple sugar. This is usually the easiest and quickest way to correct mild hypoglycemia. Simple sugars are easy to break down into glucose and should be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Convenient forms of this sugar include hard candy and fruit juice. Glucose tablets don't need to be broken down at all and will raise the blood sugar level very quickly.
2. Take smaller meals more frequently. Blood sugar will normally drop between meals, so eating more often can prevent rapid decreases in blood sugar. Be sure to reduce the size of each meal so your daily caloric intake doesn't change.
3. Consume more complex carbohydrates (starches) at each meal. Complex carbohydrates will eventually be broken down into glucose and should form the basis of each meal. This is generally true for everyone but is especially important if you have a tendency toward hypoglycemia.
4. Administer glucagon. A person with severe hypoglycemia may need to have glucagon injected directly into a vein. This procedure will quickly raise the blood sugar level and should only be performed as an emergency measure.
5. Provide intravenous dextrose. A doctor may administer dextrose to treat extreme cases of hypoglycemia where the patient is already having a seizure or is in a coma.
Tags: blood sugar, blood sugar level, each meal, sugar level, blood sugar, broken down, down into