Signs of low blood sugar in men. Blood sugar dropped sharply: symptoms, what to do and what is the danger

02.03.2020

Hypoglycemia is a temporary pathological condition characterized by low blood sugar levels. The minimum limit of the normal concentration of glucose in the blood is 3.5 mmol / l, values below this level are considered as 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 can occur in a perfectly healthy person.

Fasting and diets

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

Insufficient water intake

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

stressful situations

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

High intake of refined carbohydrates

An excess of carbohydrates in food leads to an increase in blood sugar levels and to the production of a large number insulin by the pancreas, as a result of which the concentration of glucose in the blood can significantly decrease to dangerous numbers.

Great physical activity

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

period of menstruation

Low blood sugar in women is caused by fluctuations in progesterone and estrogen levels. The first hormone normalizes the concentration of glucose, and the second - increases the level of sugar in the blood.

Hypoglycemia in a newborn on the first day of life

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

Causes of hypoglycemia in diabetics

If low blood sugar is observed in diabetics, then the following factors can affect this:

Untimely food intake. 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 not enough to compensate for the need for glucose.
Overdose of insulin. An imbalance occurs, the liver breaks down glycogen. The synthesized sugar is sent to the blood to neutralize the high concentration of insulin. Such a mechanism can save the body from hypoglycemia, but diabetics also have a small supply of glycogen, so the risk of lowering blood glucose automatically increases.

Pathological causes of hypoglycemia

The causes of the pathology described below can be attributed both to diabetics and to people who do not suffer diabetes. Just for the first category of people, the process will proceed brighter and come faster than in healthy people. To common pathological reasons can include the following:

Dehydration. It leads to a lack of vitamins, trace elements and glucose in the blood. They leave the body with urine and sweat and are not compensated from the outside.
Exhaustion. If depletion occurs, then the glycogen reserve drops to critical values, so sugar is not supplied from the outside and the body is forced to compensate for it with its internal reserves.
Diseases of the liver. This may include necrosis, acute or chronic liver failure, cirrhosis.
Lack of hormones. This situation occurs due to the withdrawal of corticosteroid drugs, chronic insufficiency adrenal cortex.
Absorption of carbohydrates is a disease of the gastrointestinal tract.
Encephalitis, sarcoidosis and meningitis.
Overuse alcoholic beverages. Metabolism ethyl alcohol carried out in the liver by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. The more alcohol enters the body, the lower the blood glucose level becomes.
critical failure internal organs: kidneys, heart, liver, which leads to impaired glucose metabolism in the body.
Sepsis. The tissues of the body begin to consume glucose in increased quantities, the production of insulin increases and the synthesis of sugar in the liver decreases.
Insulinoma of the pancreas - a special benign tumor against the background of which there is an excessive consumption of sugar.
Developmental anomalies of the congenital type.

Types of hypoglycemia

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

Light. The 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 how his fingertips and lips go numb, shortness of breath occurs.
Medium severity. 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. There is also pain in the head and dizziness, there is a violation of coordination of movements, a veil appears before the eyes, “flies flash”.
Heavy. The sugar concentration is below 2.2 mmol/l. This leads to the development of convulsions, fainting, seizures and even coma. The body temperature drops, there are violations of cardiac activity, 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;
frequent pulse;
drowsiness;
sweating;
constant hunger.

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

The following factors influence the development of hypoglycemia in children:

stressful situations;
excessive physical exercise;
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 and uncontrolled movements are disturbed. Chronic hypoglycemia can lead to a delay in mental development, CNS damage.

You can learn more about hypoglycemia, its symptoms and causes, if you watch 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 simply by eating a finale, a cake or drinking sweet tea. If sugar does not enter the body, the effects of hypoglycemia may increase, a hypoglycemic coma will develop.

The 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;
trembling in the muscles;
nervousness;
dizziness;
visual impairment;
drowsiness, indifference to the outside world;
impaired speech or consciousness;
anxiety.

Most diabetics can recognize the first symptoms of hypoglycemia on their own, over time they begin to feel their body better and have time to take action before the condition takes on life-threatening proportions. Patients who have recently been diagnosed with diabetes should observe their feelings during the period of hypoglycemia - so 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, excessive sweating. The danger lies in the fact that the patient does not wake up, but in the morning feels tired, irritable and overwhelmed.

Proper nutrition

Hypeglycemia - Diet

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

The first day - during the day you need to eat sea fish, porridge, scrambled eggs with mushrooms, salad. Freshly squeezed juices are allowed.
Second day - raw vegetables, salad, boiled or stewed meat, fruits. You can drink green tea.
The third day - you can eat a salad of fresh vegetables, cheese, fish, and drink - berry decoctions.

Follow the diet for 3 months and in parallel for 2 weeks to take medicines, the action of which is aimed at normalizing the work of the pancreas.

Prevention

For diabetics, the doctor prescribes a diet, exercise and constant monitoring of blood sugar levels. When leaving the house, 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 the beginning of hypoglycemia. If the patient has had attacks of alimentary hypoglycemia, then it is recommended that he eat fractionally, 5-6 times a day in small portions, while the food should be low-carbohydrate, high in fat, protein and fiber. If the manifestations of hypoglycemia are often disturbing, you should immediately seek help from a doctor - it is likely that you need to adjust the diet and insulin administration. This will effectively protect the body from the dangerous consequences of hypoglycemia, including coma.

Glycemia is an indicator of blood glucose in both men and women, and in case of illness, its level can be low (hypoglycemia) or high (hyperglycemia), depending on the causes of the disease. A person immediately feels any deviation from the norm, since sugar is very important for the body, because it provides food for nerve cells and energy for the body.

Hyperglycemia can lead to diabetes mellitus (DM) and vascular damage (veins, arteries, capillaries). Its first symptoms are due to a lack or poor perception of insulin, which is a hormone that transports sugar from the blood into human cells. Treat diabetes mellitus with a lifelong course of pancreatic function compensation and careful glycemic control.

You can understand what such a phenomenon as low blood sugar means, focusing on its causes and symptoms, because in a child they may not be the same as in adult woman or men. For pensioners and all this process is a great danger, because they feel it most of all. Hypoglycemia can harm no less than hyperglycemia, so it is worth remembering its signs and methods of treatment in order to prevent complications.

All neglected diseases have unpleasant consequences, including low blood sugar, and if you do not know how to cure this ailment, then soon the glucose content will fall below a critical level. This process can lead a person to hypoglycemic coma and death. You can prevent the development of such a situation by knowing the signs of the disease in order to notice and stop them in time.

Often, low blood sugar is observed in a child with diabetes, so parents should know what this means, as well as understand what the symptoms and causes of low glucose are. After all, the health of their baby directly depends on their actions. At an older age, diabetics also have this problem, but its symptoms are more pronounced, so it is not so difficult to detect such a pathological process.

If the course of hypoglycemia is mild and occurs 1-2 times a week, then even in children with diabetes there will be no complications. This has been proven in long-term studies in which babies took part. school age. The disease was asymptomatic and did not affect their studies. If the course of the disease was severe, then the children studied worse, got confused in space, and they had a slow reaction.

The main reason for reducing sugar below the permissible norm is the treatment of diabetes, and all diabetics know what this means, because if there is no compensation, then drugs are used to lower blood glucose. These include both insulin injections and sugar-lowering pills, and any deviation from the dose or dietary changes will cause a change in glycemia.

The absence of sugar in the blood manifests itself to varying degrees and mainly depends on such factors:

The age of the patient;
SD currents;
The course of hypoglycemia.

Symptoms of low glycemia

You can recognize low blood sugar by focusing on its signs and early stage they are:

unexplained anxiety;
Headaches and dizziness;
A haunting feeling of hunger;
Cold sweat;
The appearance of the first signs of a cold;
Coldness at the tips of the fingers;
Nausea.

If you do not know what to do when the sugar becomes below normal, then the course of the disease may worsen and the following symptoms will appear:

mood swings;
Orientation in space is disturbed;
Unsteady walking;
Thoughts are confused;
Slow speech.

When the low concentration of sugar in the blood already passes a critical point, the patient will not be able to help himself and relatives, as well as acquaintances, should know what to do in such a situation. If nothing is changed, then a person will experience severe convulsions, loss of consciousness, coma, and then swelling of the brain and, as a result of all this, death.

Symptoms of low glycemia during sleep

If blood sugar is low during sleep, then you need to know what to do to remove such unpleasant symptoms:

excessive sweating;
Sleepwalking and falling out of bed;
A strange noise made by the patient's body during sleep;
Nightmares;
Headache after waking up.

The manifestation of the disease in children and adults

The symptoms of low blood sugar in a man and a woman are identical, but in a child, unlike an adult, they differ slightly depending on the level of glucose and the following nuances can be distinguished:

If blood sugar levels are from 2.5-3.0 to 3.8 mmol / l in a child, little can change, and special symptoms do not occur;
When, due to certain reasons, a decrease in blood glucose occurs below 2.1 mmol / l, then such a deficiency begins to stand out significantly and the first symptoms of the disease appear in the child's body;
In newly born children, hypoglycemia is diagnosed at rates of 1.4-1.8 mmol / l, and in premature infants at 1.0 mmol / l and below.

The child's body is less sensitive to low glycemia and slight disadvantage blood sugar symptoms of the disease do not appear, and adults feel them immediately at the slightest lack of glucose. In older people and in all the heightened perception of this problem, especially if they had serious pathologies in cardiovascular system such as a heart attack or stroke. That is why in diabetes age category from the age of 65, the permissible limits of glycemia are wider, because in a person at this age the brain reacts worse to a lack of glucose.

Separately, it is necessary to single out groups of people in whom low glycemia is strictly contraindicated:

Age people (after 65-70 years);
People suffering from diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
Diabetics with complications, such as retinopathy (damage to blood vessels in the eyeball);
People who do not perceive a decrease in glycemia.

Patients from these groups should know what low blood sugar means and what its first symptoms are in order to understand when to start taking the first steps towards stopping the disease. Doctors advise these people to keep their glucose levels at about 6.3-8 to prevent deterioration. To fulfill this condition, you will need to monitor your glycemia and it is best to do this at home using a glucometer. It is a device for measuring sugar and it is quite easy to use, and the manufacturer gives almost a lifetime warranty.

Features of hypoglycemia in diabetes

Among all the causes of low blood sugar in an adult, the duration of the disease is not in last place, because the longer a diabetic is treated for it, the worse the symptoms appear. Basically, this problem manifests itself after 60, so doctors recommend that older people better monitor the concentration of glucose in the body.

Of the reasons why there are signs of low blood sugar in diabetes, prolonged hyperglycemia can also be noted. Without proper compensation, it can last for years and at the same time the glucose level will be 9-13 mmol / l. If after such a period the diabetic begins to receive proper treatment and the glycemia returns to normal, then he will feel the symptoms of hypoglycemia. This is due to the fact that the body needs time to rebuild in a new way, and after 1-2 months everything should return to normal.

Not everyone understands what low blood sugar means, but if this process begins after taking medication, then hyperglycemia was brought down too sharply. When a diabetic before an insulin injection has glucose equal to 9.5-11 mmol / l, and after the injection, glycemia drops sharply to around 4.6 mol / l, then the person begins to feel a slight dizziness and weakness. This condition is temporary, but in order not to harm the body, doctors advise reducing the concentration of sugar smoothly, and not sharply.

Factors affecting the lowering of glycemia

Low blood sugar in men and women has the same causes, and in order not to think about how dangerous it is, one should not allow the development of the disease. You can cope with this, but for this you need to know the factors that affect the development of the pathological process:

Incorrect dosage of drugs with a sugar-lowering effect, including insulin;
Incorrectly composed diet or skipping meals;
Non-compliance with the diet;
Excessive physical activity without adjusting the dose of medication;
The period of changing drugs or adding another medication to the course of treatment;
Using third-party treatments or changing the dose of the drug without the knowledge of the doctor;
The use of alcoholic beverages, especially during the course of taking sugar-lowering medications.

Treatment of hypoglycemia

Achieving an increase in blood sugar is not the most important thing, because the main thing is to stabilize it at the right level and prevent a decrease. In diabetes, this requires adjusting the doses of medications and carefully monitoring your glycemia. Experts strongly advise diabetics to refrain from self-reviewing the course of therapy, because only a doctor has the right to do so. After all, it is not so easy to say what to do if the patient low concentration blood sugar after a dose violation of a drug prescribed by an endocrinologist.

Intravenous glucose can be corrected for severe hypoglycemia, but not everyone can have time to call an ambulance in this condition. To prevent this, experts advise to acquaint relatives and friends with diabetes and talk about what to do during a sharp decrease or increase in sugar in a patient.

With mild hypoglycemia, when the blood sugar level is not very low, it is important to follow a diet and make a diet correctly, and you can stop the attack with sweet tea. Despite the relief of the condition after the sweet, you should still consult a doctor as soon as possible to find out the cause of what happened.

If a person is prescribed sugar-lowering drugs, carbohydrates should be present in his menu. Be sure to follow and then that the products in the diet have a low glycemic index, because the lower it is, the longer the food is digested. Because of this, a person remains full for a longer period of time, and the sugar level remains normal.

The rules of nutrition with a low concentration of sugar in the blood are no less important than the diet itself, since you need to eat at the same time and preferably at least 4-5 times a day. At the same time, portions should be small, and alcohol should be completely excluded from the diet.

Correct calculation of energy and food intake will help athletes avoid a decrease in glucose, and nutritionists can help them with this. When it comes to women on diets, they should also consult with a specialist so that low blood sugar does not occur with improper nutrition.

Treatment of mild hypoglycemia is not particularly required because it is enough to adjust your diet and eat a sweet candy so that the sugar drop stops. If the matter concerns a more severe form, then it is advisable to consult a specialist until the situation worsens.

Blood sugar is involved in the primary metabolic processes of metabolism in the body. Its main function is to supply energy to the cells of the body and participate in the synthesis of adesinotriphosphate acid, which is subsequently necessary for lipid metabolism.

The human body gets sugar from almost all foods. The level of this substance in the blood is recommended to be monitored, even if there is no predisposing factor to the development of diabetes mellitus or another disease. Even when leading healthy lifestyle life, a change in sugar levels is possible. Its level can fluctuate from physical exertion. The main thing is that in such situations the brain suffers, a person feels fatigue, in advanced cases, fainting and coma can occur.

general information

There are many reasons for lowering blood sugar, but nutrition is in the first place. In medicine, a condition in which the level of sugar decreases is called hypoglycemia.

An increase in sugar always occurs after a meal, at which time the pancreas works intensively, and insulin is actively produced. As soon as the hormone is converted into energy, the sugar level immediately decreases. If the sugar is below the “normal” mark, then this does not happen. The result is fatigue and lethargy. As a result, diabetes can develop.

Normal 3.3-5.5 mmol / l.

Possible reasons

First of all, malnutrition leads to a decrease in blood sugar levels. This refers not only to fast food, but also to an excessive passion for flour and sweet foods. Large breaks between meals also lead to deterioration. Passion for alcohol and smoking. Neoplasms in the pancreas.

In addition, there are other provoking factors:

receiving a number medicines;
obesity;
kidney failure;
idiopathic diseases;
disorders in the hormonal system and liver;
early pregnancy;
the heaviest physical activity.

How is it manifested?

The main symptom of low blood sugar is hunger. This is the first bell that there is a lack of glucose in the body. And the easiest way to eliminate this condition in the presence of stage 1 hypoglycemia is to eat a high-carbohydrate food. Accordingly, it is not recommended to starve, but to eat in small portions after a certain amount of time, and then there will be no sharp fluctuations in glucose levels.

Quite often, the symptoms are very mild and a person attributes his fatigue and aggressive state to the rhythm of life. However, if symptoms appear on rest days, then an examination should be carried out.

Dizziness

The next symptom of low blood sugar, which is quite common, is dizziness. This is due to the fact that against the background of a lack of glucose in the vessels of the brain, the normal process of blood circulation is disrupted. Oxygen starvation sets in, and the body itself is not able to produce the required amount of energy.

Along with dizziness, a person can observe disorientation in space and trembling in the body. Appears and it seems that the person is about to fall.

Weakness and lethargy

Symptoms of low blood sugar can be lethargy and weakness. The mood can constantly change, from tearfulness to aggression, which has no reason. In very severe cases, a person may stop paying attention to the world and even fall into a coma.

Therefore, it is very important to control the level of sugar in the blood when nervous, perhaps it is the lack of glucose that affects the psycho-emotional state.

Problems with heart

Hypoglycemia can cause tachycardia, increased heart rate. If you do not increase the level of glucose, then pain in the heart may join, gradually decreases arterial pressure. In such situations, if nothing is done, then a heart attack or heart failure may develop.

Thirst and sweating

Another symptom of low blood sugar is thirst in the background. excessive sweating. A person can drink a lot of fluids, sweat a lot, and at the same time constantly feel thirsty. It seems that everything is dry in the mouth, it is difficult to swallow. However, after the attack is relieved, the symptoms usually go away completely.

Night attacks

The most dangerous situation is if hypoglycemia occurs at night. Indeed, during sleep, it is quite difficult to adjust the level of sugar in the blood, only if the symptoms do not make you wake up. This condition manifests itself in sweat and restless sleep. A person may have nightmares, make strange noises, and even sleepwalk.

Of particular danger is the situation when a person has consumed alcohol the day before. Alcohol poisoning and hypoglycemia have fairly similar symptoms.

vision problems

According to some reviews, a decrease in blood sugar in people is accompanied by eye disorders. A person sees surrounding objects as blurry, eyeballs they hurt, it seems that the shell is very dry. At such a moment, visual acuity is sharply reduced and even photophobia may occur.

If there is a history of retinopathy, then a decrease in glucose levels can lead to a deterioration in the condition of the fundus or retina.

Features of the condition in women and the elderly

Symptoms of low blood sugar levels in these categories of people are more pronounced. An older generation of symptoms is attributed to chronic diseases, and this is a huge risk of not providing timely assistance and, as a result, a heart attack or stroke, coma.

In women, a drop in sugar levels may occur due to menstrual cycle or during menopause, due to hormonal changes in the body. But in order to determine whether the condition is related to the level of sugar or not, you should pay attention not only to mood, but also to other symptoms:

sensation of heat in the whole body;
flushes of blood;
pallor of the skin, followed by redness;
increased blood loss during the menstrual cycle.

These symptoms may indicate that the body does not have enough glucose.

What is hypoglycemic syndrome?

With a sharp decrease in glucose levels, and if help is not provided in a timely manner, then loss of consciousness occurs.

Symptoms of a sharp drop in blood sugar can be divided into 4 phases:

Pronounced feeling of hunger in the background general weakness, low blood pressure and a radical change in mood.
In the second phase, an unbearable feeling of hunger sets in, cold sweat skin becomes pale. Tremor and tachycardia may begin.
At such moments, a person enters a state of euphoria, he is uncontrollable, very excited, loses his sense of fear and refuses help.
The last phase is characterized by trembling in the body, convulsions, loss of visual acuity. As a result, fainting and further coma occurs.

In the first phase, the symptoms of a sharp decrease in blood sugar are practically not dangerous and are quickly eliminated. But at other stages of the hypoglycemic syndrome, the brain and other organs suffer, they lack oxygen, hence fainting and coma.

Treatment

You can get rid of the problem only after the cause of the decrease in glucose levels is identified. If diabetes mellitus is diagnosed, then insulin should be monitored, if there are problems with the pancreas, then they must be eliminated, and so on. But the cause can be identified only after complete examination. However, it is better to know how to help yourself at home in order to prevent fainting.

Help at home

When blood sugar drops folk remedies can help you fix things quickly.

The easiest way is to eat 2-3 sugar cubes or 2 teaspoons, or you can eat a couple of spoons of honey or sweets. Lemonade or another sweet drink will quickly increase blood sugar levels, 200 milliliters will be enough. Fruit juice has the same properties.

After removing the symptoms, if the cause is unknown, then you should consult a doctor. If the reason is to follow a strict diet, then you will have to abandon it. In cases where sugar is reduced due to exhausting physical labor, it is better to change your lifestyle or work. That is, there is no general rule how to get rid of hypoglycemia, each case, like the body, is individual.

What to do if an attack occurs?

The symptoms of the syndrome are gaining momentum very quickly, so it is very important to provide assistance in time to prevent hypoglycemic coma.

First of all, a person must be put to bed and slightly raise his legs. Then immediately call an ambulance. If the patient has tight clothing, it must be removed or unbuttoned. If this happened indoors, it is better to open the windows so that there is air access.

If you don’t know what diseases a person has, then you don’t need to give him any; in extreme cases, you can give sweets or a sweet drink.

In cases where a person has lost consciousness, it must be turned to one side so that the tongue does not sunk or there is no asphyxia with vomiting. Sugar can be put on the cheek. When fainting, you can enter 1 milliliter of glucagon.

Nutrition

With a problem such as hypoglycemia, nutrition involves increased consumption of complex carbohydrates. Foods to lower blood sugar:

vegetables (potatoes, corn, peas);
pasta from durum wheat;
whole wheat bread.

You will have to give up alcohol, animal fats, muffins and semolina. It can be consumed in limited quantities, but it is better to completely abandon smoked meats, spices and spicy foods. The same rule must be followed when using sweets, honey, cookies, sugary drinks and juices. Be sure to avoid sugary drinks with gas. Caffeine is also not a recommended drink, as it is one of the factors in the development of hypoglycemia.

It is necessary to introduce foods high in fiber into the diet, as it prevents the body from quickly absorbing glucose.

Meat and fish should be of low-fat varieties, and dishes from them are best done by steaming or baking. It is recommended to eat fresh and dried fruits, but with a small amount of sugar.

A diet to lower blood sugar is made in such a way that there are five meals throughout the day.

Traditional Therapy

The doctor may recommend the use of the monosaccharide dextrose. In a hospital, as a rule, glucose-containing drugs are administered intravenously. In extreme cases, when they do not bring the glucose level to normal, then A is injected intramuscularly. In the most extreme cases, when it is not possible to increase sugar in any way, Hydrocartisone or adrenaline is administered.

What does traditional medicine offer?

Naturally, even herbal treatment is better to coordinate with the attending physician so as not to aggravate the state of health.

The easiest and most affordable effective method- the use of a decoction of wild rose. The fruits of the plant are placed in a thermos and poured with boiling water, infused for 1.5-2 hours. Drink tea to lower blood sugar for 3-4 months. In tea, you can add honey or sugar, in a small amount.

You can make a more complex decoction. It will require:

chamomile;
rosehip flowers;
St. John's wort.

All ingredients are mixed in equal parts. Two tablespoons are placed in a thermos and filled with half a liter of boiling water. It is necessary to insist this mixture for 2 hours. Consume ¼ before each meal.

You can use leuzea tincture, which is easy to purchase at any pharmacy. With a regular drop in sugar after eating, you should use the tincture regularly. 10-20 drops are diluted in a glass of water.

Remember that hypoglycemia can be treated quickly enough if you consult a doctor in time. However, ignoring the problem will inevitably lead to the development of other pathologies, people with low blood sugar levels often get into accidents, since orientation in space is significantly reduced during an attack.

Carbohydrate metabolism is a biochemical process of splitting "complex" carbohydrates into monosaccharides. It is he who suffers primarily from such an endocrine disease as diabetes mellitus (it is characterized by a significant increase in the concentration of glucose in the blood).

Why does hypoglycemia develop? This condition can develop both in a diabetic and in a completely healthy person. What causes low blood sugar: causes, symptoms and dangerous consequences pathologies we will consider in our review.

One of the key laboratory indicators of carbohydrate metabolism is blood sugar - its low level is not considered the norm and is called hypoglycemia in medicine.

Important! In a healthy person, the physiological values of sugar are 3.3-5.5 mmol / l on an empty stomach and do not exceed 7.8 mmol / l after a meal.

What does low blood sugar mean?

Hypoglycemia is no less dangerous than its opposite, hyperglycemia. Insufficient concentration nutrient and the main source of ATP in the blood leads to disruption of the internal organs. First of all, the heart and brain suffer, which need a constant and uninterrupted supply of energy.

Causes

So why low blood sugar? Most often, any disorders of carbohydrate metabolism are usually associated with diabetes, and this is partly true: hypoglycemia is one of the complications of the disease.

Hypoglycemia as a complication of diabetes

Provoke this laboratory pathology can:

Overdose of insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs.
Starvation.
Long time interval between meals.
Chronic somatic diseases in the stage of decompensation.
Acute infections, intoxication.
Heavy physical activity, intensive mental work.
Drinking alcohol in large doses.

Another common mistake that patients make, leading to a sharp decrease in glucose concentration, is the consumption of large amounts of medicinal plants and products with hypoglycemic properties against the background of insulin treatment.

Table 1: Plants that enhance the effect of hypoglycemic agents:

	chicory (herb); hawthorn fruits; rose hip; linden (flowers); burdock grass; cranberries (leaves); dandelion grass; bean sashes; Bay leaf; Clover.
	Jerusalem artichoke; radish; zucchini; asparagus; bell pepper; garlic; eggplant; spinach; parsley; horseradish.
	black currant; chokeberry; blackberry; raspberries; pineapples; cowberry; sour apples; citrus.

Important! The selection of the dosage of drugs against diabetes is carried out by the attending physician strictly individually. In addition, it is important for the patient to regularly monitor his condition at home - with the help of an individual device-glucometer. Without treatment, low blood sugar - hypoglycemia - can cause life-threatening complications.

Other factors in the development of pathology

What other conditions provoke low blood sugar: the cause may be related to:

insulinoma - a hormone-producing tumor of the pancreas;
severe liver disease;
the condition of the patient after resection (partial removal) of the stomach or intestines;
congenital deficiency of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism;
pathologies of the hypothalamic-pituitary system;
diseases of the adrenal glands.

At healthy people pathology occurs when:

prolonged and intense physical activity;
following a strict diet, fasting;
irregular eating;
during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Clinical manifestations

The first signs of a decrease in glucose levels begin to appear when its value reaches 3.3 mmol / l.

Note! In diabetics, pathological symptoms can develop much earlier, since the body is already accustomed to existing in conditions high content Sahara. Sometimes hypoglycemia also manifests itself with a sharp decrease in glucose levels (for example, in cases where it was 20, and it became 10 mmol / l).

The severity of signs of pathology can be conditionally divided into three degrees.

Table 2: Hypoglycemia severity levels:

Degree	Light	Medium	heavy
Approximate blood sugar level	3.3 mmol/l	2.2 mmol/l	1.1 mmol/l and below
Symptoms	headache; dizziness; weakness; increased anxiety; trembling in the body; increased sweating; mild nausea; hunger; "shroud" before the eyes.	nervousness, irritability; inability to concentrate; feeling unsteady, staggering while standing or sitting; lethargy, slowing down of speech; involuntary muscle contractions; emotional lability, unmotivated manifestations of aggression.	oppression of consciousness; convulsions.

Important! The development of hypoglycemia in a child is especially dangerous, since small patients do not feel it approaching or cannot talk about their complaints. Diagnosis of low blood sugar in a newborn or infant is possible only with the help of a glucometer.

Possible consequences

What is dangerous pathological syndrome?

A one-time slight decrease in the concentration of sugar in the blood does not pose a threat to health and disappears immediately after eating. Prolonged and severe hypoglycemia can cause coma, stroke, and in some cases (if the pathology is not diagnosed on time) the death of the patient.

Normalization methods

What to do if the sugar level drops sharply? Methods emergency care and prevention of hypoglycemia should be familiar to everyone, and especially to patients with diabetes mellitus.

What can be done immediately?

Eliminate the first signs of pathology is quite simple. It is enough to eat one of the following products within 5-10 minutes:

sugar or honey - 1-2 tsp;
caramel or chocolate candy - 1-2 pcs;
fruit juice - 100-150 ml.

The intake of rapidly digestible carbohydrates will normalize the physiological values of glucose in the shortest possible time and prevent the progression of the pathology. If time is lost, and the victim has already developed signs of hypoglycemic syndrome, emergency care should be immediately provided to him.

Its algorithm includes:

Giving the patient a horizontal position with raised legs.
Call to an ambulance brief description situations.
Liberation respiratory tract(if the patient is unconscious, you need to gently turn him on his side to avoid aspiration of the bronchial tree with vomit).
Ensuring fresh air supply.

After the arrival of the ambulance team, the medical assessment of the condition of the victim and the establishment of a preliminary diagnosis, the patient is intravenously injected with a 40% glucose solution and an intravenous drip infusion of a 5% solution of the drug is established. After that, he was urgently hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the nearest hospital.

How to avoid the development of the condition in the future?

Even a single drop in blood sugar should not be ignored. It is important to find out the causes of the pathology and timely address them. Only complex treatment the underlying disease will avoid the development of the problem in the future.

If episodes of hypoglycemia are associated with diabetes, it is important to consult an endocrinologist, choose the optimal dosage of insulin and hypoglycemic drugs, and follow the doctor's recommendations. Equally important is a balanced regular diet.

The diet for low blood sugar is:

Regular meals 5-6 times a day in small portions. Patients with diabetes, especially those receiving insulin therapy, are advised to eat according to the regimen every 2.5-3 hours. Skipping meals, including snacks, is strictly prohibited.
A sharp restriction in the diet of easily digestible carbohydrates. Now in departments healthy eating there are many products for diabetics, they will help maintain normal sugar levels throughout the day.
Refusal of coffee and alcoholic beverages.
The presence in the daily menu of products that normalize carbohydrate metabolism - vegetables, nuts, cheese, fish, flax seed.

Compliance with all these points will avoid the development of hypoglycemia. If the syndrome nevertheless developed, it is important to stop it in a timely manner and prevent the development of complications.

Prevention of hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is not as harmless as it might seem. A drop in the concentration of glucose in the blood reduces efficiency, worsens the quality of life, and provokes the development of chronic diseases.

To prevent the effects of hypoglycemia, you must follow simple but effective rules:

for diabetics, it is important to follow the rules for taking insulin, its dosage;
monitoring the concentration of glucose in the blood with a glucometer device;
in no case allow long breaks between meals;
it is desirable to exclude the use of alcohol;
when planning physical activity, it is necessary to provide for mandatory additional nutrition in the form of chocolate, sweets, sugar-containing products;
be sure to drink warm tea with sugar or honey after intense physical exertion;
Always carry d-glucose or glucagon tablets with you.

A low concentration of glucose in the blood, if it is constant or frequent, indicates an insufficient energy metabolism in the body. It is commonly believed that only diabetics should measure blood sugar levels, but this is not true. The advent of portable glucometers allows anyone to monitor this indicator.

A modern person who follows the rules of a healthy lifestyle is obliged to monitor his energy, for which it is necessary to have a glucometer at home or always with him. Glucose control is important for the prevention of many metabolic pathologies. Glucose is not sugar, it is life itself.

Questions to the doctor

Consequences of hypoglycemia

Hello! I am 32 years old, since childhood I have been ill with type 1 diabetes. Now I often hype, several times until I lose consciousness. At the hospital, the doctor said that low sugar is even worse than high. Why are we lowering it then?

Hello! Hypoglycemia is dangerous, first of all, due to its sudden development and extremely negative effect on nervous system. That is why, with the development of its symptoms (anxiety, weakness, a strong feeling of hunger), you should first eat candy or drink sweet tea, and only then take out the glucometer for analysis.

Constantly high glucose levels, although more easily tolerated, also have an extremely negative impact on health. Therefore, you should always try to maintain a normal level of sugar.

Study interpretation

Hello! I have a strange situation with tests: in the morning on an empty stomach, sugar is high (ranges from 6.1 to 7.3), and in the afternoon and in the evening it is low - 4.2-5.3. With what it can be connected?

Hello! High fasting glucose numbers are an indication for a more in-depth study of carbohydrate metabolism. I recommend that you contact an endocrinologist and take tests (glucose tolerance test, gli-hemoglobin, etc.).

Blood is the main fluid for the body, so its condition must be carefully monitored. After all, even an insignificant change in its composition can lead to serious consequences.

The level of sugar is an important indicator of the normal functioning of all organs and systems in the human body. The concentration of glucose reflects how carbohydrate metabolism occurs, and this substance is also considered the main source of energy for the body.

Sugar enters the bloodstream after eating carbohydrate foods. Its content can be low, normal and high.

Everyone knows that when the glucose level is too high, it affects the systems and organs very badly. Moreover, this condition is typical for people with diabetes. But if blood sugar is below normal, what does it mean?

What is hypoglycemia and why does it develop?

Blood sugar levels are related to what a person regularly eats. So, when eating sweet and carbohydrate foods, the indicators increase sharply. At the same time, the pancreas begins to intensively produce insulin, a hormone that converts glucose into energy.

When insulin ceases to be produced, the glucose content should return to normal, but this does not happen with various disorders. For example, in diabetes, hypoglycemia very often occurs when, after eating, the pancreas does not produce the required amount of the hormone.

But sometimes low sugar is noted in a healthy person. Often this happens during a load of varying intensity.

The normal fasting glucose level in the morning ranges from 3.3 to 5.5 mmol / l. With insignificant deviations of 5.6-6.6 mmol / l, one can speak of impaired glucose tolerance. This condition is borderline between the norm and deviations, and if the sugar is above 6.7 mmol / l, then this is considered a clear sign of diabetes.

Hypoglycemia can be present not only in diabetics, but even in healthy people and children. Leading causes of low sugar:

Regular eating junk food(fast food, sweets, flour).

Taking certain medications.

Early pregnancy.

Dehydration.

The use of beta-blockers during sports.

Menstruation in women.

Reaction child's body to receive acetylsalicylic acid.

The causes of hypoglycemia in young girls are non-compliance with the diet. After all, women very often sit on low-calorie diets.

Bad habits (smoking, alcohol) can also lower the concentration of glucose. Moreover, until a person completely refuses alcohol and cigarettes, it is not always possible to normalize the level of sugar even with the help of medications.

Often the causes of hypoglycemia lie in the presence malignant tumors. After all, neoplasms in the pancreas often lead to the growth of tissues, including beta cells responsible for the production of insulin.

In diabetics, low sugar is found due to an overdose of insulin or other drugs and against the background of constant problems with the kidneys. Changing drugs also provokes jumps in glucose levels.

The following causes of hypoglycemia in DM are starvation, excessive exercise, drugs, alcohol, and the introduction of a new sugar-lowering agent into therapy.

Moreover, low blood glucose can develop if a diabetic additionally lowers the concentration of sugar without adjusting the dose of the main drugs.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Sugar level

A small indicator of glucose often appears in the morning, immediately after prompting. In this case, to normalize it, it is enough to have a hearty breakfast.

But sometimes after breakfast or lunch there is a response hypoglycemia. This symptom often indicates the development of DM.

The main symptoms of low blood sugar include:

hyperhidrosis;
nausea;
frequent pulse and tachycardia;
hot flashes and tremors in the hands;
intense thirst and hunger;
irritability;
polyuria.

Other symptoms of low sugar are drowsiness, blanching of the skin of the face, legs and arms, lethargy and dizziness. Often there are visual disturbances (flies, double vision or a veil in the eyes), heaviness, weakness or numbness of the legs. Also, with hyperglycemia, palms sweat, which occurs even in the cold.

Manifestations of low sugar at night are talking during sleep, strong sweating. And after waking up, a person feels weak and is constantly irritated over trifles.

Similar symptoms occur due to starvation of the brain. Therefore, if blood sugar is below normal (less than 3.3 mmol / l), then you should quickly eat carbohydrates.

In the absence of any action, a number of complications may develop. At the initial stage, convulsions, distracted attention, a shaky gait and incoherent speech appear.

After a loss of consciousness occurs and there is a possibility of development convulsive syndrome. Diabetics in this state often fall into a coma. Often, hypoglycemia leads to the development of a stroke.

It is worth noting that children are less sensitive to hypoglycemia. But if it is pronounced, then such patients also develop a number of symptoms, which include:

strong appetite;
pain in the legs and abdomen;
weakness;
desire to rest;
silence and atypical calmness;
poor intelligence;
sweating of the head.

The diagnosis of hypoglycemia is based on three factors. These are laboratory tests, history taking and patient complaints.

To find out the level of sugar in the laboratory, a glucose tolerance test is performed. Its essence lies in the fact that on an empty stomach the patient's indicators are recorded, and then they give him a sweet solution. After 2 hours, the sugar level is measured again.

You can also find out about the presence of hypo- or hyperglycemia at home. For this purpose, a glucometer is used.

Emergency methods to increase the concentration of glucose

Before the arrival of the ambulance, it is advisable to lay the victim on his side, bending his upper leg at the knee. This will keep the pit from choking on its own tongue.

In the presence of experience at home, the patient is administered 20 ml of glucose solution, glucagon or adrenaline (0.5 ml).

diet therapy

Nutrition plays a significant role in fluctuations in blood glucose levels. Therefore, patients with an increased risk of developing hyperglycemia should contact an endocrinologist who will prescribe a special diet for them.

Ration is selected based on various factors(severity of the condition, age, presence of concomitant diseases). However, there are general principles, which should be observed by everyone who does not want to have health problems, including low sugar.

The first rule is to increase the amount of slow-digesting carbohydrates. These foods include whole grain pastries, vegetables, and various cereals.

Juice, sweets, honey, and cookies should be consumed in moderation. And from alcohol, muffins, rich broths, semolina, pasta from soft types of wheat, animal fats, spices and smoked meats must be abandoned.

It is important to eat fractionally, taking food in small portions. Preference should be given to foods rich in fiber (potatoes, peas, corn). Such food slows down the process of assimilation of sugar obtained from complex carbohydrates.

An obligatory component of the daily menu should be fruits. But it is better to refuse too sweet fruits (banana, melon, strawberries, grapes).

Of no small importance in the diet is given to proteins, the amount of which should prevail over carbohydrates. Preference is given to dietary types of meat and fish, namely, rabbit, chicken, turkey, beef, hake and mentha. You can also eat nuts and low-fat dairy products.

Here is an approximate daily diet, adhering to which you can prevent the development of hyperglycemia:

Breakfast - soft-boiled eggs, unsweetened tea, a piece of whole grain flour bread.
The first snack is milk (1 stack) or unsweetened fruit.
Lunch - vegetable salad and soup in low-fat broth or steamed fish with vegetables and tea.
Second snack - herbal decoction and 2 unsweetened fruits or walnuts(up to 50 g).
Dinner - boiled rabbit or chicken with vegetables, tea or chicory.
2 hours before bedtime, you can drink 200 ml of kefir (1%).

The video in this article reveals the essence of gmpoglycemia in diabetes.