Diabetes mellitus low sugar level. Glucose is below normal what does this mean. How does the disease manifest itself?

The main substance that supplies energy to the human body is glucose. It is found in food products in the required quantity. In the absence of dietary intake, glucose is formed from the natural reserves of internal glycogen located in liver cells. This compound is synthesized from excess glucose with the help of insulin. If necessary, the reverse process is activated. Insulin, in turn, is a waste product of the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Therefore, in some diseases associated with this organ (), the metabolism of carbohydrates, in particular sugar, is disrupted.

Causes of low blood sugar

With some human problems and illnesses, the amount of glucose in the blood progressively decreases. This phenomenon is called - hypoglycemia. It can lead to serious health problems.

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The blood of a healthy person contains from 3.5 to 5.5 mmol/l glucose.

The causes of low sugar concentration can be physiological and pathological.

As a result of a number of diseases, constant or periodic hypoglycemia may occur.

The most common pathological causes of low blood sugar:

Levels of blood sugar reduction

Hypoglycemia occurs:

1. Mild degree . With this variant of pathology, the sugar level becomes below 3.8 mmol/l. And although the lower limit of normal is 3.5 mmol/l, doctors still try to carry out preventive therapeutic measures for patients prone to this condition. Particular concern is caused by complaints of weakness, emotional imbalance, chills, numbness of the skin, and slight shortness of breath.
2. Moderate. In this case, glucose decreases to a level of 2.2 mmol/l. The patient develops severe anxiety, fear, and restlessness. These phenomena are also accompanied by problematic visual perception (“dots and spots”), everything is seen “as if in a fog.”
3. Severe degree . Amount of sugar – below 2.2 mmol/l. The body of a person suffering from this disorder may develop convulsions, fainting, and epileptiform seizures. If help is not provided, the patient falls into a coma. The body temperature drops, disturbances in the rhythm of the heart and breathing are recorded. This condition requires urgent attention.

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Particularly dangerous is a sharp decrease in blood sugar at night. The patient may wake up when he becomes very ill and cannot do without medical intervention.

A night attack can be suspected if there have been nightmares. When waking up, the patient notices that his underwear and bed linen are thoroughly soaked with sweat. The general condition is characterized by severe weakness.

Symptoms of a sharp decrease in blood sugar (hypoglycemic coma)

Regardless of the cause that led to hypoglycemia, patients experience:

• Progressive weakness throughout the whole body.
• Pronounced feeling of hunger.
• , accompanied by .
• A sharp increase in heart rate;
• Severe sweating;
• Minor trembling in the body with chills;
• Increased sensitivity to sounds and light;
• "Darkening of the eyes", loss of color vision.
• Confusion;
• Nervousness, anxiety, fears;
• Gradual development of drowsiness.

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Sometimes coma is manifested by paradoxical complaints - agitation, loud laughter, talking, convulsions simulating epilepsy. (hysterical type).

Upon examination, attention is drawn to pronounced pallor, moist skin, and increased tendon reflexes.

People suffering from diabetes mellitus and familiar with the manifestations of hypoglycemic coma themselves quickly recognize this problem. In most cases, they manage to take measures to prevent the further development of this disease.

Features of hypoglycemia in children

Complaints that occur in children and adolescents with disorders associated with changes in blood sugar are similar to those experienced by adult patients. In childhood, this painful process has the same roots as in adults and develops much faster. Therefore, assistance cannot be delayed. A dangerous sign can be considered the appearance of, which is clearly felt in the room where the child is.

A long-term decrease in sugar leads to developmental disorders in children and creates mental and physical retardation.

Features of diagnosing hypoglycemia in newborns:

Features of hypoglycemia in pregnant women

When diagnosing this condition in women preparing for motherhood, it should be noted that complaints and manifestations can develop with higher analysis numbers. This is caused by the body's increased need for carbohydrates.

Emergency care and treatment of low blood sugar

An acute hypoglycemic state develops suddenly and, if help is not provided, can progress to a coma. Therefore, a person who is familiar with this problem tries to take measures at the first sign to stop the process. Patients with diabetes mellitus most often experience hypoglycemia. Therefore, they always have “first aid” with them - candy, a piece of sugar, cookies. When this disease manifests itself, the patient immediately eats them, drinks sweet tea, eats cake, or any carbohydrate product.

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With this type of self-medication, reasonable precautions should be taken so as not to cause additional harm to yourself. Doses of carbohydrates should not exceed the required dose.

• sugar – 5-10 g (1-2 teaspoons);
• candies (1-2) preferably caramel, chocolate is also allowed;
• honey – 1 tablespoon;
• sweet compote, jelly, lemonade, lemonade, juice – 200 ml.

If these measures do not give the desired effect, and hypoglycemic syndrome develops, then it is necessary to call an ambulance.

You can alleviate the condition by taking the following measures:

The ambulance prescribes a concentrated glucose solution intravenously to the injured person and transports him to the hospital. If the treatment does not make the patient feel better, then an adrenaline solution is injected under the skin. For severe coma, corticosteroids are prescribed.

Diet for hypoglycemia

Compliance with nutritional rules in patients who are prone to developing this condition is very important.

In case of a hypoglycemic episode, the patient is advised to:

• During the acute period– porridges, omelettes, vegetable salads, juices from fresh fruits and vegetables, boiled sea fish, green tea.
• With gradual normalization condition, river fish, boiled and stewed meat, and berries can be included in the diet.
• During remission You should add cheeses and chicken eggs to your food (up to 2 pieces per week). The amount of necessary carbohydrates, sugars, and flour should be discussed with your doctor.

Preventive actions

All patients with a tendency to hypoglycemia are recommended to follow a diet consisting of a list of necessary products that should be taken in fractional amounts as directed by a nutritionist. Physical activity in terms of energy consumption must necessarily correspond to the amount of carbohydrates consumed.

You should measure your blood sugar as often as possible. You must have first aid supplies with you in case of hypoglycemia.

If attacks of high blood sugar become more frequent, you should undergo additional examination and adjust your diet and treatment. Additional use of insulin is possible.

Lotin Alexander, doctor, medical columnist

Hypoglycemia is a temporary pathological condition characterized by low blood sugar concentrations. The minimum normal limit for blood glucose concentration is 3.5 mmol/l; values ​​below this level are considered hypoglycemia. This condition often occurs with diabetes mellitus and is dangerous because it can cause the development of hypoglycemic coma.

Physiological factors of healthy people with low sugar

Physiological causes of low blood glucose levels can occur in a completely healthy person.

Fasting and diets

This reason is the most common. If you abstain from proper nutrition for a long time, go on a diet, and then consume carbohydrate foods, then the glucose level will begin to rise quickly, but at the same time it is quickly consumed to a level below the norm.

Not drinking enough water

Low blood sugar levels may indicate a lack of fluid in the body. This leads to compensatory consumption of blood glucose to support the normal functioning of the body.

Stressful situations

Stress negatively affects the body by activating the endocrine system. This leads to rapid consumption of glucose in the blood in a short period of time.

Eating large quantities of refined carbohydrates

Excess carbohydrates in food leads to an increase in blood sugar levels and the pancreas produces a large amount of insulin in response, as a result of which the concentration of glucose in the blood can significantly decrease to dangerous levels.

Great physical activity

When performing physical exercise, the body requires more glycogen, and sugar is consumed in greater quantities. This leads to a physiological decrease in blood glucose.

Menstruation period

Low blood sugar in women occurs due to sharp fluctuations in progesterone and estrogen levels. The first hormone normalizes glucose concentration, and the second one increases blood sugar levels.

Hypoglycemia in a newborn on the first day of life

Immediately after birth, the baby's energy needs are met by maternal glucose, which is stored in small quantities in the umbilical vein. But its rapid consumption leads to a decrease in glucose concentration. This process is observed in the first hours of the baby’s life. Gradually, glucose levels are restored.

Causes of hypoglycemia in diabetics

If low blood sugar occurs in diabetics, the following factors may affect this:

1. Untimely eating. The body requires energy, so it begins to consume sugar from the depot - glycogen or starch, the smell of which in diabetics is small and is not enough to compensate for the need for glucose.
2. Insulin overdose. An imbalance occurs and the liver breaks down glycogen. The synthesized sugar is sent into the blood to neutralize the high concentration of insulin. This mechanism can save the body from hypoglycemia, but diabetics also have a small glycogen reserve, so the risk of low blood glucose automatically increases.

Pathological causes of hypoglycemia

The causes of pathology described below can be attributed to both diabetics and people who do not suffer from diabetes. It’s just that for the first category of people the process will proceed more clearly and will occur faster than for healthy people. Common pathological causes include the following:

1. Dehydration. It leads to a lack of vitamins, microelements and glucose in the blood. They leave the body with urine and sweat and are not compensated for externally.
2. Exhaustion. If depletion occurs, the glycogen reserve drops to critical levels, thus, sugar does not come from outside and the body is forced to compensate for it with its internal reserves.
3. Liver diseases. This may include necrosis, acute or chronic liver failure, and cirrhosis.
4. Lack of hormones. This situation arises due to the withdrawal of corticosteroid drugs, chronic adrenal insufficiency.
5. Impaired absorption of carbohydrates - gastrointestinal diseases.
6. Encephalitis, sarcoidosis and meningitis.
7. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The metabolism of ethyl alcohol occurs in the liver thanks to the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. The more alcohol you take into your body, the lower your blood glucose levels become.
8. Critical failure of internal organs: kidneys, heart, liver, which leads to impaired glucose metabolism in the body.
9. Sepsis. Body tissues begin to consume glucose in increased quantities, insulin production increases and sugar synthesis in the liver decreases.
10. Pancreatic insulinoma is a special benign tumor that causes excessive sugar consumption.
11. Congenital developmental anomalies.

Types of hypoglycemia

Depending on the level of glucose in the blood, hypoglycemia is divided into three degrees of severity:

1. Easy. Blood sugar level is 3.8 mmol/l. Symptoms of low blood sugar in an adult are characterized by anxiety and irritability, mild nausea, and chills. A person feels his fingertips and lips go numb, and shortness of breath occurs.
2. Moderate weight. The glucose level is 2.2 mmol/l. The patient is haunted by a feeling of anxiety, irritability, he cannot think about something for a long time and concentrate. Pain in the head and dizziness also occur, loss of coordination of movements occurs, a veil appears before the eyes, and “spots flash.”
3. Heavy. The sugar concentration is below 2.2 mmol/l. This leads to the development of convulsions, fainting, seizures and even coma. Body temperature drops, cardiac dysfunction appears, and brain function is disrupted.

Hypoglycemia can be diagnosed in both adults and children. The symptoms are very similar to those that occur in adult patients:

• irritability;
• rapid pulse;
• drowsiness;
• sweating;
• constant hunger.

Another striking symptom of hypoglycemia in children is the smell of acetone from the mouth. Little children become capricious, lethargic, and may suddenly fall asleep. They may either feel hungry or refuse to eat.

The development of hypoglycemia in children is influenced by the following factors:

• stressful situations;
• excessive physical activity;
• poor or unbalanced diet;
• diseases of the endocrine and nervous system.

The results of the disease are very similar to the consequences of adult pathology - brain activity is disrupted and movements are uncontrollable. Chronic hypoglycemia can lead to mental retardation and damage to the central nervous system.

You can learn more about hypoglycemia, its symptoms and causes by watching the following video:

Symptoms in adults

The development of hypoglycemia occurs unexpectedly, but in the first 5-10 minutes the decrease in blood sugar is still small, and it can be eliminated by simply eating conceta, cake or drinking sweet tea. If sugar does not enter the body, hypoglycemia may increase and a hypoglycemic coma will develop.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia vary, and each patient may experience the condition differently. The following main signs of pathology are distinguished:

• general weakness;
• hunger;
• nausea, vomiting;
• arrhythmia;
• sweating;
• muscle tremors;
• nervousness;
• dizziness;
• visual impairment;
• drowsiness, indifference to the outside world;
• disturbances of speech or consciousness;
• anxiety.

Most diabetics can independently recognize the first symptoms of hypoglycemia; over time, they begin to feel their body better and have time to take action before the condition becomes life-threatening. Patients who have recently been diagnosed with diabetes should observe their feelings during the period of hypoglycemia so that they can learn to identify such a condition by its first manifestations.

The development of hypoglycemia during sleep is very dangerous. It may be characterized by symptoms such as nightmares and excessive sweating. The danger is that the patient does not wake up, and the next morning he feels tired, irritable and overwhelmed.

Proper nutrition

What to do if hypoglycemia has been diagnosed? The doctor prescribes treatment and recommends adjusting your diet. The essence of the diet is as follows:

1. The first day - throughout the day you need to eat sea fish, porridge, omelet with mushrooms, salad. Freshly squeezed juices are allowed.
2. Second day - raw vegetables, salad, boiled or stewed meat, fruits. You can drink green tea.
3. Third day - you can eat fresh vegetable salad, cheese, fish, and drink berry infusions.

Follow the diet for 3 months and at the same time take medications for 2 weeks, the action of which is aimed at normalizing the functioning of the pancreas.

Prevention

For diabetics, the doctor prescribes a diet, exercise and constant monitoring of blood sugar levels. When leaving home, patients should always take with them any quickly digestible carbohydrate - candy, a piece of chocolate. This will immediately neutralize the first symptoms of hypoglycemia.

Diabetics should not drive vehicles, or travel by plane, car or train, without having sweets with them, in order to promptly stop incipient hypoglycemia. If the patient has had attacks of nutritional hypoglycemia, then it is recommended that he eat fractionally, 5-6 times a day in small portions, the food should be low-carbohydrate, high in fat, protein and fiber. If manifestations of hypoglycemia frequently bother you, you should immediately seek help from a doctor - you may need to adjust your diet and insulin administration. This will effectively protect the body from the dangerous consequences of hypoglycemia, including coma.

Glucose in the body must be maintained within acceptable concentrations, otherwise health problems may occur. It is worth noting that blood sugar levels drop (hypoglycemia) in a healthy person and in a type 1-2 diabetic for various reasons, and you need to understand why it dropped so sharply and what the symptoms of this process are. It is necessary to do this in order to start the course of treatment on time and avoid irreversible consequences.

In addition, hypoglycemia can cause severe complications, including deep coma and death. This problem arises due to a lack of glucose in the body, which feeds nerve cells, as a result of which unwanted pathological processes are triggered.

Diabetics are often tormented by the question of why blood sugar does not drop, because this is the main cause of the disease, but when it drops, the most important thing is to find out why it happens, especially in a healthy person. Factors influencing this process in diabetes mellitus (DM) may be:

• When eating food with fast (simple) carbohydrates;
• If the dosage of sugar-lowering drugs is not selected correctly;
• After drinking alcohol without eating. This reason can lead to hypoglycemia, since alcoholic drinks block the synthesis of glucose in the liver;
• If you use special medications for the treatment of diabetes along with alcohol;
• If portions are incorrectly selected or if food is not consumed at the same time;
• If you inject the wrong dose of insulin;
• If a diabetic is exposed to constant physical activity. Indeed, in this case, you need to consult with your doctor about changing the dosage of the drugs.

The reasons for the sharp drop in blood sugar in diabetics are understandable, but in healthy people other culprits are behind this and the decrease in glucose occurs due to such factors:

• If specific medications were used without the doctor’s knowledge, for example, sugar-lowering drugs;
• For diseases of internal organs;
• After drinking alcoholic beverages in excessive quantities;
• When a person is haunted by constant stress and heavy physical activity;
• Subject to strict diets that contain a low concentration of carbohydrates;
• When there are long intervals between meals (more than 8-9 hours);
• After waking up, since there was no food for a long time;
• If your diet contains a huge amount of food with fast carbohydrates.

Based on this list, it is easy to understand why blood sugar can drop sharply, but it is important to know the symptoms of hypoglycemia, which are divided into 3 types according to the course of the disease.

Mild hypoglycemia

When blood sugar drops below 3.5-3.8 mmol/l, then you need to start doing something to normalize it, because if you do nothing, the problem may worsen, but hypoglycemia is easily recognized by the following symptoms:

• General weakness, feeling of cold (chills);
• Sweating, especially in the head and neck area;
• My head is spinning;
• Persuading feeling of hunger;
• Nausea, even vomiting;
• Irritability or depression;
• Irregularities in heart rhythm;
• Numbness and tingling in the tips of the fingers and toes, as well as in the lips;
• Loss of visual acuity. In addition, there may be a feeling of fog before the eyes.

In such a situation, it is enough to eat something with a high concentration of sucrose or make sweet tea. After this it becomes easier, but if in type 1-2 diabetes the sugar drops to 3.5 mmol/l or lower, the patient usually does not immediately know about it and the problem can be prevented by monitoring blood glucose, for example, using a glucometer.

Moderate hypoglycemia

If there is a sharp decrease in blood sugar levels to 3 or below mmol/l, then this process may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Anger over any trifle;
• Loss of concentration;
• Impaired consciousness. In this case, the person partially ceases to orient himself in space;
• Cramps all over the body;
• Speech with such pathology becomes incomprehensible and slow;
• Problems with walking due to poor coordination of movements;
• General weakness;
• Uncontrollable emotions, including crying.

If your blood sugar has dropped so low, then in this situation you need to stop taking sugar-lowering medications and make an appointment with a doctor so that he can tell you what to do if such symptoms appear.

As for such signs in diabetics, they need to temporarily stop taking insulin or other medications (before visiting an endocrinologist) and carefully monitor glucose concentrations.

Severe hypoglycemia

In the severe stage of the disease, a sharp drop in blood sugar levels to 1.9 mmol/l or lower has the following symptoms:

• Severe cramps;
• Falling into a coma and death;
• Major stroke;
• Body temperature drops below normal.

It is worth noting that a sharp drop in blood sugar levels has dire consequences, but if this phenomenon remains for a long period of time, the brain and cardiovascular system are damaged. In addition, sometimes signs of pathology are not felt if a person takes beta blockers.

Reduced glucose concentration during sleep

This pathological process can occur even during sleep and the patient experiences a headache the next morning. In such a situation, hypoglycemia manifests itself as follows:

• Increased sweating;
• Nightmarish dreams;
• Anxiety;
• Strange sounds made during sleep;
• Sleepwalking (walking in your sleep), including falling out of bed.

Such symptoms require immediate intervention, because if nothing is done, the disease may worsen and it will show signs of a severe course. An endocrinologist can help with this problem, who will perform an examination and prescribe an examination.

The described symptoms are typical for healthy and sick people with type 1-2 diabetes, but they differ in their manifestation and there are the following reasons for this:

• With both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, patients often experience symptoms of hypoglycemia after meals, as blood sugar levels are reduced due to special medications or insulin. In this case, the glucose concentration may not be lower than normal, but even at the level of 5-7 mmol/l;
• If diabetes has been around for more than 10-15 years, then the signs of low glucose concentrations become less noticeable;
• Babies react worse to low glucose concentrations and show no signs up to 3.3-3.5 mmol/l. In this case, the first manifestations begin closer to 2.4-2.7 mmol/l. In turn, in adults the problem becomes tangible already at 3.7 mmol/l.

Course of therapy

If hypoglycemia is at a mild to moderate stage, then a piece of sugar, 1-2 tablespoons of honey, or eating a caramel-type candy is often enough. Drinks include sweet tea or juice. It is worth noting that you do not need to eat everything with a large concentrate of sucrose, for example, if the product contains fat, it will not allow glucose to be quickly absorbed, as a result of which the problem will not be solved.

In addition, when the course of the disease is severe, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance. The arriving doctors will immediately give an injection of glucose to improve the condition and after 20-30 minutes they will check its concentration in the blood.

If the patient’s condition does not improve, the patient will be taken to the emergency hospital. In general, treatment will depend on the cause of such low glucose levels, because you need to know what put the person in such a state in order to subsequently prevent the situation from reoccurring. In addition, the duration of the patient’s stay under a glucose drip will depend on the factor that caused hypoglycemia.

Methods for treating hypoglycemia in diabetes

Diabetics can prevent or correct the situation using the following tips:

• If glucose levels decrease after eating a large amount of simple carbohydrates, you should adjust your diet and add food that takes a long time to digest;
• Portions should be small;
• There should be at least 5-6 meals per day;
• If there are signs of hypoglycemia during sleep, it will not hurt to eat food at night that consists of complex carbohydrates and takes a long time to digest;
• With insulin therapy, the drop in sugar can be stopped by reducing the dose of the drug.

Methods of treatment in a healthy person

People without pathologies need to think about what could have caused the disease in their case. Maybe there were some changes in diet or lifestyle, because every detail is important. If it is not possible to determine the cause on your own, then you need to consult a doctor who will interview the patient and then send him for tests. At the same time, if the factor that caused hypoglycemia has been determined, then it is enough to eat candy or cookies and everything will go away and avoid making mistakes in the future that led to this problem.

There are many reasons for a drop in sugar, but with a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition they can be avoided. In addition, this problem occurs even in diabetes mellitus if the diet has been chosen incorrectly or the incorrect dose of the drug is used.

Feeling dizzy, feeling weak and having a headache? Are you looking paler and your heart rate is racing? It may be due to hypoglycemia - a sharp drop in blood sugar levels. This condition is often considered a consequence of diabetes mellitus, but it can also occur independently. AiF.ru spoke about why a complication occurs and how to recognize it Head of the Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery of the Moscow Scientific Research Center, Ph.D. Sergey Mosin.

Below normal

After eating, glucose enters the blood, which is the main source of energy for all cells of the body. So that they can take advantage of this energy, the pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that allows glucose to enter the cells. The sugar level should always be within acceptable limits. Accordingly, vital organs suffer from a lack of glucose, primarily the brain, which needs the most energy.

It is not difficult to understand the causes of hypoglycemia: either too little glucose enters the blood, or it “leaves” too quickly from there into the cells. In the first case, the problem occurs when a person regularly skips meals, such as breakfast. Your stomach is empty, your energy has been spent on the journey to work, and here you can feel dizzy. Also, those who are on a diet or eat a very “reduced” menu, especially with a “skew” towards certain foods, often suffer from hypoglycemia. There are not enough nutrients, the body has nowhere to get energy. The second option can be observed in patients with diabetes mellitus receiving insulin. After the injection, they must eat something - at least a bun. But if it so happens that insulin is administered, but food does not arrive, then the acting hormone lowers the glucose level.

It also happens that a lack of sugar in the blood occurs due to a tumor of the pancreas - insulinoma. Most often, this is a benign formation that constantly and uncontrollably produces increased amounts of insulin. Such a problem can only be discovered after a series of studies and analyses. Therefore, if attacks of low blood sugar recur regularly for no apparent reason, you should consult an endocrinologist.

Chocolate as medicine

The most striking symptoms, which immediately and almost unmistakably indicate to the doctor this pathology, are sudden dizziness, chills and confusion. Nervousness may appear, which is accompanied by headache, rapid pulse, cold sweat and pale skin. In addition, a patient with hypoglycemia has problems with coordination of movements and can easily faint.

Hypoglycemia is said to occur when the following blood sugar levels are observed: for men - 2.5-2.8 mmol/l, for women - 1.9 - 2.2 mmol/l. You can determine hypoglycemia yourself - today there are many different means in pharmacies for measuring blood sugar.

First aid is aimed at correcting sugar levels. If a person is simply dizzy and his mind is a little clouded, it is enough to have a snack. Alternatively, you can use traditional “fast” carbohydrates - chocolate, pastries, etc.

If a person has lost consciousness, he should be laid on a flat surface, the collar should be unfastened and fresh air should be provided. We need to try to gently bring him to his senses. After he comes to his senses, he should be given tea with sugar or a couple of pieces of sugar to suck. This measure allows you to quickly increase your blood sugar levels and correct the situation.

A single attack usually does not pose any danger. But if hypoglycemia develops, even to the point of regular fainting, especially if its causes are not clear, you should definitely consult an endocrinologist. The treatment plan is drawn up based on the results of blood tests for glucose, insulin, some other hormones, and other types of studies.

Defining the problem

Hypoglycemia, which is what low blood sugar is called, is an extremely dangerous condition, because the glucose level in this disease is critically low. Hypoglycemia is no less dangerous than hyperglycemia - high sugar content. During hypoglycemia, organs do not receive sufficient nutrition from blood depleted of glucose, because its content decreases. First of all, the brain suffers from this, which, if it does not receive glucose in time, can simply turn off, and its owner may fall into a coma.

Causes of low blood sugar

For some reason, it is generally accepted that the patient alone bears responsibility for normal sugar levels. Perhaps this judgment is true. In the body of a diabetic patient, the sugar level is constantly changing, but sometimes it reaches critical levels.

Diabetics know this and always keep candy or a piece of sugar on hand. But sometimes there is a significant decrease in sugar levels in the body of healthy people. Why does this happen?

The main reason for low blood sugar is a very poor diet. Fasting depletes the body's internal reserves. First, carbohydrates run out, and they, as you know, are the main source of energy.

You cannot take long gaps between meals. The metabolic process very quickly breaks down carbohydrates that enter the body with food. Some of these carbohydrates are converted into energy, and the rest are utilized. If more than 8 hours have passed since your last meal, your blood sugar will most likely be low, which will be indicated by certain symptoms. Since a person does not eat at night, he has low sugar levels in the morning.

Excessive physical activity, even with a dense diet, can cause a drop in sugar levels. Such cases are often found among athletes. As a result of the fact that the amount of carbohydrates consumed significantly exceeds the number of carbohydrates absorbed, an energy deficiency occurs in the body.

Excess sugary foods, oddly enough, can also cause low blood sugar levels. This happens because with excessive consumption of sweets, chocolate, and sweet pastries, the sugar level rapidly rises, but then it decreases very quickly. Carbonated drinks and alcohol have the same effect.

Symptoms of low sugar

Hypoglycemia is very diverse in nature, as are its symptoms. Some people experience low sugar only in the morning. Such people are irritable, they feel weak throughout the body and drowsiness, and all these conditions are real symptoms.

When measuring sugar levels with a glucometer, the device gives readings below 3.3 mmol/l. To normalize sugar, a person just needs to have breakfast. All unpleasant symptoms will disappear immediately.

Hypoglycemia may be a response. This means that sugar levels drop immediately after eating, and the drop rate is directly proportional to the time of fasting. Such hypoglycemia is a harbinger of diabetes, the symptoms of which need to be known. It is reassuring that blood sugar does not drop very sharply and the patient has time to notice alarming signs:

• severe fatigue, weakness, irritability;
• chills, hand tremors, sometimes hot flashes;
• dizziness, headache;
• increased sweating;
• numbness of the limbs, heaviness in the leg, muscle weakness;
• darkening of the eyes, spots, white veil, decreased vision;
• strong feeling of hunger;
• nausea.

Such body symptoms are associated with the fact that the brain experiences starvation and lack of energy. If, after measuring your sugar level, the glucometer gives a result below 3 mmol/l, you need to eat something immediately, your blood sugar has dropped too sharply. It is advisable that the food contain quickly digestible carbohydrates. If in such a situation you do not eat on time, the condition will most likely worsen. Possible unpleasant symptoms of the body:

1. absent-minded attention;
2. convulsions;
3. incoherent speech;
4. unsteady gait.

At this stage, the patient may lose consciousness or have a convulsive attack similar to an epileptic seizure. In some cases, a stroke develops and brain damage occurs. In this condition, a diabetic may fall into a coma. This should not be allowed, because diabetic coma often leads to death.

The need for drug treatment

There are many ways to neutralize hypoglycemia. To decide whether one of them is appropriate, it is necessary to find out the cause of hypoglycemia. Symptoms and low blood sugar levels are the main links in the process of assessing the clinical picture, so it is important to be aware that this must be maintained constantly.

To control sugar levels, you must first organize the right diet. Products that can lower blood sugar should not be classified as medicinal products. Their use is only a good way to prevent sharp fluctuations in glucose levels if a person already has metabolic disorders.

The basis for methods that lower blood sugar levels are recommendations for eating foods with a low glycemic index. Due to the fact that the list of these products is very large, it is possible to develop a diet individually, taking into account a person’s taste preferences.

Considering the season, it is imperative to eat fruits that lower blood glucose levels. These include:

• plums;
• apples;
• apricots;
• peaches;
• tangerines.

Substances that can lower blood sugar and are of plant origin, due to their low glycemic index, have a positive effect on carbohydrate metabolism; the patient should carefully study what is offered.

In nature, there are a huge number of various plants that are indicated for use by patients with problems with the endocrine system. Such plants are used to make flour, and subsequently flour products. Today, baking bread from sprouted wheat is very popular.

Herbs that work to lower blood sugar levels also have no less medicinal properties. They are suggested to be used by patients who prefer traditional methods of treatment. These herbs include:

1. bearberry leaves;
2. leaves and roots of felt burdock;
3. seed oats;
4. Rhodiola rosea.

From raw materials collected or purchased at a pharmacy, you can prepare tinctures and decoctions. The resulting medications must be taken with constant monitoring of sugar levels and supervision of an endocrinologist.

In addition to natural herbal remedies, medications are used to treat glycemic disorders. These are tablet medications that can only be used by patients with type 2 diabetes.

Without prior examination by an endocrinologist, medications that lower blood sugar levels are strictly prohibited. This disease is so serious that self-medication is unacceptable. Any such medications can only be prescribed by a specialist who will take into account the diabetic type, glycemic indicators and concomitant pathologies.