Low Blood Glucose Reaction
(Hypoglycemia)
If you are on insulin or are on glimepiride (Amaryl),
glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase) or a
glinide (Prandin, Starlix), your blood glucose can drop
quickly by missing meals or snacks, eating less food or
being more active. If you should feel any of the
following:
Shaky
Sudden hunger
Sweaty
Headache
Blurry vision
Dizzy
Racing heart
Confused
1.
Check your blood glucose.
2. If your blood glucose is less than 80 eat one of the
following:
1 cup skim milk
3-4 glucose tablets
½ cup 100% fruit juice (or 4 ounce small juice pack)
1 glucose gel
4 teaspoon sugar
2 tbsp raisins
1 serving fruit snacks
3. Recheck your blood glucose in 15 minutes. If it is:
- Still less than 80, repeat step numbers 2 & 3.
- Above 80 and you are not eating a meal or snack within the
next hour, eat a small snack (e.g. glass of milk or 1 ounce
of cheese and 6 crackers or high protein bar with 8-10
grams of protein + 15 grams of carbohydrates)
4. Call your healthcare provider if you do not feel better or if
your blood glucose stays low or if you have more than 3 lows in
one week.
NOTE: You will need help in two situations: when you cannot
swallow or if you pass out. Family or friends need to call 911
immediately and use a glucagon kit if available.