{"id":2406,"date":"2022-03-30T17:25:33","date_gmt":"2022-03-30T11:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/?p=2406"},"modified":"2024-06-11T18:45:03","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T13:15:03","slug":"hypoglycaemia-in-type-2-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/hypoglycaemia-in-type-2-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"Hypoglycaemia in Type 2 Diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar, is a condition in which the blood sugar levels drop below 70mg\/dl. In people with type 2 diabetes, it occurs when there is not enough glucose (sugar) in their blood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Why it happens<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some of the reasons why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/diabetes-treatment-insulin-oral-meds-diet-exercise\/\">hypoglycaemia<\/a> may occur in people who have type 2 diabetes:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"class-h3\">1. Due to insulin:<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In people with type 2 diabetes, hypoglycaemia may occur as a result of taking insulin, or as a result of certain medications that you are taking for treating type 2 diabetes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having too much insulin can surely <a title=\"deal with your lower bloos sugar level\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/diabefly\/diabetes-tips-to-prevent-and-deal-with-hypoglycemia-or-low-blood-sugar\">lower your blood sugar levels<\/a>. With the newer forms of insulin, these instances can be reduced, especially cases of overnight dips in blood sugar levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using an insulin pump may also, to some extent, reduce the risk of low blood sugar levels.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some cases, accidentally taking too much insulin, injecting the wrong type of insulin or injecting it directly into the muscle may also lower blood sugar levels to a drastic level.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"class-h3\">2. Due to food:<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your eating habit can also have a direct impact on your blood sugar levels.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not taking enough carbohydrates as part of your regular diet may be responsible for a significant &amp; sudden dip in your blood sugar levels.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is important to get a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/diabefly\/how-to-get-a-diabetic-diet-chart-that-works-for-you\">personalised diabetic diet chart<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are taking the prescribed amount of insulin, but not eating enough carbohydrates, this can result in an imbalance and cause the blood sugar levels to drop.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a balanced diet is important. A meal that contains a balanced amount of fats, proteins and fibres will help in the proper absorption of carbohydrates, thus creating a balance.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you take carbohydrates in the form of liquids, these get absorbed in your body much faster than when you intake carbohydrates in the form of solid foods. As a result, timing your insulin to match the absorption of carbohydrates is crucial.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improper food combinations can also result in blood sugar spikes, which can later lead to a sudden dip in blood sugar levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Signs and symptoms<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"class-h3\">Common symptoms:<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some of the earliest signs and symptoms of hypoglycaemia in type 2 diabetes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling dizzy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tremors or shaking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than regular hunger pangs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sweating<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mood swings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headaches\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling irritable<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Faster heart rate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling nervous or anxious\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heavy night sweating<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling tired or irritable when you wake up<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular episodes of nightmare\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"class-h3\">Severe symptoms:<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In case the condition is not treated in time, it can lead to a severe hypoglycaemia. This can further cause severe symptoms such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Problems in speaking or slurred speech<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weakness in the muscles and\/or difficulty in movement<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Problems in eating and drinking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Confusion and incoherency\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seizures or convulsions\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jerkiness or clumsiness in movement\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blurry vision<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drowsiness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Becoming unconscious\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can be fatal in severe cases\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What to do<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In cases of hypoglycaemia in type 2 diabetes, the 15-15 rule can often act as a stabilizer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 15-15 rule means that to raise your blood sugar to the required levels, you take 15 grams of carbohydrates or simple sugar, and monitor your blood glucose after 15 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the levels of glucose are still lower than required, repeat the process and check after 15 minutes of consuming another 15 grams of carbohydrate.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The idea is to keep repeating the process till your blood sugar levels reach at least 70mg\/dl.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once your blood sugar levels reach the required level, have a regular meal or snack to ensure that the levels do not dip again.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Preventing low blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes:<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the best ways to ensure that your blood sugar levels do not dip is to follow your medical team\u2019s advice on <a title=\"diabetes management without drugs and medication\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/diabefly\/\">managing your diabetes<\/a>. It is also important to know how to detect hypoglycaemia so that you can start treating it at the earliest.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regularly monitor your blood sugar levels. You can either use a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) machine or a meter. These are known to give the most accurate and closest readings of blood sugar levels in real-time and can help you prevent a dip in the levels.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/diabefly\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabefly Pro<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> includes a CGM sensor application for 2 weeks, to collect over 1300+ data points to create a highly personalised type 2 diabetes management plan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular monitoring will also help you get an idea of the times of day or night when your blood sugar levels are at risk of falling below the required levels. This means that you can be prepared for it when it happens.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a reading of your blood sugar levels before and after your meals. Also, known as pair readings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are exercising, make sure to take the reading before and after each exercise session. If you are exercising for a long period of time, take a blood sugar reading in between the session.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a reading before you go to bed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have an intensive workout session planned during late evenings or at night, take a reading of your blood sugar levels in the middle of the night.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there is any change in your routine, such as if you have just started a new insulin routine, have a new work schedule, are travelling (especially in different time zones), or have a new food or exercise routine, monitor your blood sugar levels and keep track.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can use the Fitterfly app to keep track of your blood sugar readings.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"class-h3\">Make a note<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Track episodes you have of low blood sugar levels. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can use the <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/34IBjTI\">Fitterfly App<\/a> to track your blood sugar levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep a note of all your symptoms, as this will help your medical team assess your health better. You can use the fitterfly app to log your systems.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speak to your doctor and get a list of snack items you can keep handy to help in case of a sudden blood sugar drop.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"class-h3\">Immediately consult a doctor if:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The patient suffers a seizure or becomes unconscious.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are experiencing low levels of blood sugar more than once a week, update your doctor.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"class-h3\">Do not:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DO NOT give insulin in case of low blood sugar levels or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/diabetes-tips-to-prevent-and-deal-with-hypoglycemia-or-low-blood-sugar\/\">hypogycaemia<\/a>. This can make the blood sugar levels drop even further.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DO NOT give fluids or foods as it may lead to choking, especially if the person is having difficulty in drinking or eating.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Always keep your medical info handy and on your person. Make sure you list all your health conditions, medications, allergies and important contacts in a health card and carry it on you at all times. This will help in emergencies and will enable others to get you the right treatment at the right time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Fittertake:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypoglycemia is a risk for all members with type 2 diabetes, especially those on insulin. Therefore, it is important to understand what it is, learn to recognise its signs and symptoms, and how to manage it if and when it happens. However, instances of these events can be reduced by being aware of the condition and by having a comprehensive diabetes management plan that is designed by doctors and experts. Who can not only foresee this and put preventive measures in place but are also qualified to help you in case of an emergency. With Fitterfly\u2019s diabetes management programs &#8211; Diabefly, Diabefly SMBG, and Diabefly Pro you not only get a highly personalised plan but also expert consults from qualified coaches and specialist doctors who are only a chat away!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"class-h3\">References:<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/diabetic-hypoglycemia\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20371525\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/diabetic-hypoglycemia\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20371525<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2327221\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2327221\/<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/diabetesjournals.org\/care\/article\/32\/1\/193\/28968\/Medical-Management-of-Hyperglycemia-in-Type-2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/diabetesjournals.org\/care\/article\/32\/1\/193\/28968\/Medical-Management-of-Hyperglycemia-in-Type-2<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.diabetes.org\/healthy-living\/medication-treatments\/blood-glucose-testing-and-control\/hypoglycemia\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.diabetes.org\/healthy-living\/medication-treatments\/blood-glucose-testing-and-control\/hypoglycemia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar, is a condition in which the blood sugar levels drop below 70mg\/dl. In people with type 2 diabetes, it occurs when there is not enough [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":2509,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":{"reviewed_by":false,"references":null,"author":"","table_content":null,"medically_reviewed":null,"show_updated_date_in_post":"No","faq_list":null,"custom_schema":"","media_url":"","reviewer":null},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2406"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2406\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fitterfly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}