Causes of low blood glucose. Low blood sugar - causes and symptoms in women, men or children, treatment and prevention. Treatment for low blood sugar

Low blood sugar is a common problem faced by people of all genders and ages. A short-term drop in glucose levels is considered a completely normal phenomenon associated with the consumption of certain foods or physical activity. But if hypoglycemia is constant, then this is already a cause for concern.

why is this dangerous?

It's no secret that glucose is the main source of energy for the body. In particular, the headache can only work when there is a sufficient amount of sugar in the blood. When its quantity decreases, the normal functioning of the nervous system is disrupted. For example, with a severe lack of glucose, the brain simply shuts down, causing a person to lose consciousness. And long-term sugar deficiency leads to gradual, but, unfortunately, irreversible damage to the nervous system.

Chronic hypoglycemia affects the functioning of the entire body, in particular, serious disturbances in normal metabolism are observed.

As mentioned above, low blood sugar can be the result of physical or nervous stress, when the body uses up what it receives too quickly. Glucose deficiency can also be caused by a lack of this substance in food, which often happens during strict diets or fasting. In addition, there are various herbs and fruits that lower blood sugar. For example, eating large amounts of tangerines, apricots, plums, apples, blueberries, almonds, and cinnamon can lead to the development of hypoglycemia. But what to do if the decrease in glucose levels is not associated with either diet or physical activity?

Low blood sugar: main causes

Yes, hypoglycemia is a serious cause for concern. After all, such a condition may indicate a host of disorders and diseases.

• In some cases, a decrease in glucose levels is associated with taking certain medications, for example, drugs containing amphetamines.
• In addition, hypoglycemia may indicate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which are accompanied by impaired absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine.
• Quite often the cause is a pancreatic tumor, the growth of which is accompanied by an increase in the level of secreted insulin.
• And, of course, in patients with diabetes, glucose deficiency can be caused by an overdose of insulin.

Low blood sugar: main symptoms

In fact, hypoglycemia is accompanied by a number of characteristic symptoms, the intensity of which depends on the level of glucose drop. In particular, symptoms include:

• Constant chronic fatigue.
• A person cannot get enough sleep and suffers from constant bouts of drowsiness throughout the day.
• Symptoms include lethargy, lethargy, and difficulty concentrating.
• Dizziness is a fairly common problem among patients, especially if they do not have the opportunity to eat on time.
• As already mentioned, with a sharp decrease in sugar, loss of consciousness is possible.

In any case, if you have such alarming signs, you should consult a doctor and take a blood test. Only a laboratory test will help determine your glucose level.

In a healthy person, the body itself controls glucose levels - the main source of energy. If there is a sharp decrease in blood sugar, then brain cells begin to experience starvation, as a result of which they die. The symptoms of hypoglycemia (lack of glucose in the blood) are always pronounced and are quite easy to recognize. Why can such a condition occur, and what can be done to avoid it? How to prevent pathology and prevent possible complications?

Why does blood sugar drop in healthy people and diabetics?

For a diabetic, the main task is to maintain normal glucose levels, avoiding a sharp increase. But no less dangerous is a decrease in sugar levels.

This condition can be provoked by:

• eating foods with light carbohydrates;
• incorrect dosage of sugar-lowering medications;
• drinking alcohol without food (alcohol blocks the production of glucose in the liver);
• incorrectly selected diet and non-compliance with portion sizes;
• administering insulin in the wrong dosage;
• physical fatigue of a diabetic.

Hypoglycemia in a healthy person can occur when:

• taking specific medications, for example, sugar-lowering drugs without consulting a specialist;
• diseases of internal organs;
• drinking large amounts of alcohol;
• following a strict diet;
• long intervals between meals/no snacks;
• a diet based on light carbohydrates;
• severe physical fatigue;
• stressful situations, deep anxiety;
• waking up after a night's sleep because there was no food intake for a long time.

In rare cases, a sudden drop in sugar may be caused by the development of tumor processes in the pancreas. As a result of this, the number of insulin-producing cells and the amount of insulin increases uncontrollably. Also, a decrease in sugar can be triggered by other neoplasms (often malignant) that contribute to an increase in insulin.

Low glucose levels are extremely rare during the development of autoimmune diseases. In this case, the body begins to produce antibodies to insulin, causing either a sharp drop or a sharp increase in the amount of this hormone. Low sugar also occurs in patients with kidney or heart failure (liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, viral infections are a common cause of low blood sugar).

Symptoms of a sharp decrease in sugar

To avoid dangerous complications of hypoglycemia, it is important to know what symptoms accompany a sharp drop in sugar.

Experts divide the course of pathology into:

1. Lung, in which sugar levels drop below 3.5 mmol/l.
2. Average, when the indicators drop to 3 or below units.
3. Severe, characterized by a drop in sugar below 1.9 mmol/l.

With mild hypoglycemia, the victim experiences:

• irresistible lethargy;
• increased sweating;
• slight dizziness;
• hunger;
• sensation preceding vomiting;
• gagging;
• anxiety;
• depression;
• heartbeat;
• numbness of the limbs;
• blurred vision;
• tingling in lips.

In such situations, it is enough for a healthy person to eat or drink something sweet. In diabetes, a patient with similar symptoms needs to immediately measure their blood sugar. If a moderate course of hypoglycemia is observed, then the following signs appear:

• nervousness;
• irritability;
• poor concentration;
• body cramps;
• disturbance of consciousness;
• slurred speech;
• change in gait;
• general malaise;
• severe weakness;
• uncontrollable emotions.

In this condition, the use of glucose-lowering drugs is immediately stopped and glucose levels are carefully monitored.

In case of severe hypoglycemia, the victim experiences:

• seizures;
• confluence with ;
• stroke;
• drop in body temperature - .

If such a phenomenon persists for a long time, the consequences can be dire, even fatal. Brain cells and the cardiovascular system are affected, and the functioning of internal organs is disrupted. But sometimes the signs of a sharp drop in sugar remain invisible. This occurs when taking beta blockers at the same time.

The cause of low sugar after meals in diabetics with types 1 and 2 may be the use of medications that work to lower sugar. When diabetes lasts more than 15 years, the signs of hypoglycemia become less pronounced. Here it is important to measure the indicators daily and be observed by an endocrinologist in order to promptly adjust the insulin dosage.

If a child’s sugar has dropped, he will react worse to pathology, and the first symptoms of malaise will appear if the levels drop to 3.3 mmol/l. In adults, the problem is acute when glucose drops to 3.7 mmol/l.

What are the dangers of a hypoglycemic state?

Blood glucose levels must be within normal limits, otherwise serious health problems cannot be avoided. Hypoglycemia is dangerous for the brain. This is the main organ of the nervous system, which is very complex. At the slightest malfunction in its work, many problems arise with other organs and systems.

Blood supplies nutrients and oxygen to neurons. Glucose can be delivered to brain cells without insulin. Therefore, it does not matter how much of this hormone is present in the body - the blood will still deliver all the necessary elements to the neurons. When hypoglycemia occurs, a sufficient amount of sugar does not reach the brain, and the cells begin to starve. After just a few minutes of the pathological condition, a person feels its signs: blurred vision, tingling lips, sweating, rapid heartbeat.

The most dangerous consequence of a lack of glucose in the bloodstream is hypoglycemic coma. It can develop when levels drop below 2.2 mmol/l. Also, in a patient, the pathological condition may be accompanied by swelling of the brain, death of its parts, and impaired blood circulation in tissues and structures.

Experts distinguish two possible groups of complications of hypoglycemia:

1. The immediate ones, developing in the first hours of a hypoglycemic state: myocardial infarction, stroke, paralysis of the limbs, strabismus, speech impairment, hemiparesis, increased muscle tone in the limbs.
2. Distant, developing some time after severe hypoglycemia. These include seizures of epilepsy, encephalopathy, and parkinsonism.

What to do if your blood sugar drops

If you experience low blood sugar of mild to moderate severity, then 1-2 pieces of sugar or 2-3 tablespoons of honey will help cope with the problem. For drinks, you can drink sweet tea or juice with pulp. In addition, experts advise using:

• 1-2 caramels;
• a couple of squares of chocolate;
• banana;
• dried apricots;
• figs;
• prunes

But there is no need to eat foods with high glucose concentrations indiscriminately. For example, if there is a lot of fat in food, it will prevent glucose from being absorbed, as a result of which the problem will not be solved quickly. At the first signs of a hypoglycemic attack that is not accompanied by loss of consciousness, you need to know how to properly help the victim.

You need to do this:

• sit or lay the patient down so that he is comfortable;
• give a sugar drink or a piece of refined sugar;
• Leave the victim alone until the condition improves.

When diabetics' blood sugar drops and the condition is assessed as serious, it is necessary to call an ambulance. Specialists should administer a glucose injection to improve blood counts. If half an hour after measuring the glucose level the patient’s well-being does not improve, he will be taken to the hospital. There, glucose will be administered by drip until your health is completely normalized.

If your sugar suddenly drops, most medical professionals advise taking glucose tablets. Their components are quickly absorbed into the blood and begin to act immediately. As a result, the body does not need to spend time digesting food to obtain a source of energy. If sugar drops sharply, 1 g of the drug can increase the levels by 0.28 mmol/l. During a hypoglycemic crisis, this is the best solution to the problem.

Traditional treatment

During therapy, experts advise using traditional methods of treatment using medicinal plants. They help restore metabolic processes and normalize sugar levels in diabetics and healthy people. Effective plants are considered to be lingonberries, St. John's wort, rose hips, plantain, garlic (it is recommended to eat it fresh).

Useful decoctions and tinctures are made from plants that allow the body to recover as soon as possible. You can use this recipe: 1 large spoon of rose hips is infused in 2 cups of boiling water, filtered and drunk half a glass twice a day.

In addition, diet has a good effect on the patient’s condition. A diabetic patient needs to know which foods should be included in the diet and which should be avoided:

• Healthy foods. A diabetic's diet should include: cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, zucchini, seafood, whole grain bread, lean meat, fermented milk drinks, nuts, and legumes.
• Forbidden food. Sweets, bananas, grapes, caffeine-containing drinks, and alcohol are excluded from the diabetic menu.

Preventing a drop in blood glucose

To prevent a sharp drop in blood sugar, diabetics are advised to:

• adjust your diet and add food that will take longer to digest;
• eat small portions, at least 5 times a day;
• if signs of hypoglycemia appear at night, then at night it is recommended to eat food that takes longer to digest;
• during insulin therapy, it is necessary to adjust the dosage to prevent a sharp decrease in glucose.

If hypoglycemia occurs in a healthy person, it is necessary to find the cause of its occurrence. You may need to reconsider your diet and lifestyle, exclude them, and enrich your menu with plant foods. If you cannot find the provoking factor on your own, it is better to consult a doctor.

If a pregnant woman has a low glucose level, she should definitely adhere to a certain diet in order to avoid unpleasant complications. Meals should be fractional and as healthy as possible.

• regularly consume protected carbohydrates: cereals, vegetables;
• include fruits, including citrus fruits, in your daily diet;
• take protein from lean red meat;
• consume dairy products (cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk).

In case of hypoglycemia, the patient should not ignore the symptoms of the pathological condition. It is better to temporarily protect yourself from heavy physical work and switch to training with moderate loads (swimming, light jogging, race walking). There are many reasons for a drop in sugar, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle and following a proper diet will solve many problems and prevent serious complications. The main thing is to consult a doctor promptly if the condition worsens. If you have diabetes, this problem needs to be solved together with a specialist.

Hypoglycemia - low blood sugar. It occurs in healthy people who undertake various diets to lose weight, as well as in people suffering from an incorrectly selected dose of glucose-lowering drugs.

Here is an example of a menu for two days:

The first day

Persons prone to hypoglycemia and those on any diet, it is especially important:

Monitor the intensity of physical activity. During exercise, energy is actively spent, metabolic rate increases and carbohydrates are intensively consumed. A lack of sugar does not reveal itself immediately, but after an hour the first signs appear.

Do not perform heavy physical activity, but before training (forty minutes before) eat a dish with complex carbohydrates - fruit, rye bread with peanut or chickpea paste. After classes you also need to replenish your supply. glucose .

Make the right diet. Even if the dietary regimen you choose does not include glucose (or a small amount), you must include it. This will not significantly affect the weight loss process, but health problems will be excluded. Regular lack of sugar can lead to diabetes.

Quit smoking as it interferes with normal regulation metabolism .

Carbohydrate metabolism is the biochemical process of breaking down “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 in both a diabetic and an absolutely healthy person. What is associated with low blood sugar: we will look at the causes, symptoms and dangerous consequences of the pathology in our review.

One of the key laboratory indicators of carbohydrate metabolism is blood sugar - its low level is not considered normal 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 meals.

What does low blood sugar mean?

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

Causes

So, why is blood sugar low? Most often, any disturbances in 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 mellitus

This laboratory pathology can be provoked by:

1. Overdose of insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs.
2. Starvation.
3. Long time interval between meals.
4. Chronic somatic diseases in the stage of decompensation.
5. Acute infections, intoxication.
6. Heavy physical activity, intense mental work.
7. Drinking alcohol in large doses.

Another common mistake patients make that leads to a sharp decrease in glucose concentration is the use of a large number of medicinal plants and products with glucose-lowering properties during insulin treatment.

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

	chicory (herb); hawthorn fruits; rose hip; linden (flowers); burdock grass; lingonberry (leaves); dandelion grass; bean shells; 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 anti-diabetic drugs is carried out by the attending physician strictly individually. In addition, it is important for the patient to regularly monitor his condition at home using an individual 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 diseases;
• the patient’s condition 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.

In healthy people, pathology occurs when:

• prolonged and intense physical activity;
• following a strict diet, fasting;
• irregular food intake;
• 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 may develop much earlier, since the body is already accustomed to living in conditions of high sugar content. Sometimes hypoglycemia manifests itself with a sharp decrease in glucose levels (for example, in cases where it was 20 and became 10 mmol/l).

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

Table 2: Severities of hypoglycemia:

Important! The development of hypoglycemia in a child is especially dangerous, since young patients do not feel it approaching or cannot talk about their complaints. Low blood sugar can only be diagnosed in a newborn or infant using a glucometer.

Possible consequences

How dangerous is the pathological syndrome?

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

Normalization methods

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

What can be done immediately?

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

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

Taking rapidly digestible carbohydrates will normalize physiological glucose values ​​in the shortest possible time and prevent the progression of pathology. If time is lost, and the victim has already developed signs of hypoglycemic syndrome, he should be immediately provided with emergency assistance.

Its algorithm includes:

1. Place the patient in a horizontal position with raised legs.
2. Call an ambulance with a brief description of the situation.
3. Clearing the airways (if the patient is unconscious, you need to carefully turn him on his side to avoid aspiration of the bronchial tree with vomit).
4. Ensuring a flow of fresh air.

After the ambulance team arrives, doctors assess the victim’s condition and establish a preliminary diagnosis, the patient is injected intravenously with a 40% glucose solution and an intravenous drip infusion of a 5% solution of the drug is established. After this, he is urgently hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the nearest hospital.

How can I avoid developing the condition in the future?

Even a one-time decrease in blood sugar levels cannot be ignored. It is important to find out the causes of the pathology and promptly address them. Only comprehensive treatment of 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 with an endocrinologist, select the optimal dosage of insulin and glucose-lowering drugs, and follow the doctor’s recommendations. A balanced, regular diet is also important.

The diet for low blood sugar is:

1. Regular meals 5-6 times a day in small portions. Patients with diabetes, especially those receiving insulin therapy, are recommended to eat according to the schedule every 2.5-3 hours. Skipping meals, including snacks, is strictly prohibited.
2. A sharp restriction in the diet of easily digestible carbohydrates. There are now many products for diabetics in health food departments that will help maintain normal sugar levels throughout the day.
3. Avoiding coffee and alcoholic beverages.
4. The presence in the daily menu of products that normalize carbohydrate metabolism - vegetables, nuts, cheese, fish, flax seeds.

Compliance with all these points will help avoid the development of hypoglycemia. If the syndrome does develop, 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 may seem. A drop in blood glucose concentration reduces performance, impairs quality of life, and provokes the development of chronic diseases.

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

• for diabetics it is important to follow the rules for taking insulin and its dosage;
• monitoring the concentration of glucose in the blood with a glucometer;
• In no case should you allow long breaks between meals;
• It is advisable to avoid alcohol consumption;
• when planning physical activity, it is necessary to provide for mandatory additional nutrition in the form of chocolate, sweets, and sugar-containing products;
• be sure to drink warm tea with sugar or honey after intense physical activity;
• You should always have d-glucose or glucagon tablets with you.

A low concentration of glucose in the blood, if it is constant or frequent, indicates insufficient energy metabolism in the body. It is commonly believed that only diabetics should measure their 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 he must have a glucometer at home or always with him. Controlling glucose levels is important for the prevention of many metabolic pathologies. Glucose is not sugar, it is life itself.

Questions for the doctor

Consequences of hypoglycemia

Hello! I am 32 years old, I have had diabetes mellitus 1 since childhood. Now I often go into hypothermia, several times until I lose consciousness. At the hospital, the doctor said that low sugar is even worse than high sugar. Why are we reducing it then?

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

Constantly high glucose levels, although easier to tolerate, also have an extremely negative impact on health. Therefore, you should always try to maintain normal sugar levels.

Interpretation of the study

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

Hello! High fasting glucose levels are an indication for a more in-depth study of carbohydrate metabolism. I recommend that you contact an endocrinologist and get tested (glucose tolerance test, glyhemoglobin test, etc.).

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 process of synthesis of adenosine triphosphate acid, which is subsequently necessary for lipid metabolism.

The human body receives sugar from almost all foods. It is recommended to monitor the level of this substance in the blood, even if there is no predisposing factor to the development of diabetes mellitus or another disease. Even with a healthy lifestyle, changes in sugar levels are possible. Its level can fluctuate due to physical activity. The main thing is that in such situations the brain suffers, the person feels rapid fatigue, and in advanced cases, fainting and coma may occur.

general information

There are many reasons for low blood sugar, but nutrition comes first. In medicine, a condition in which sugar levels decrease is called hypoglycemia.

An increase in sugar always occurs after eating, at this 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 sugar is below the “norm” mark, then this does not happen. The result is fatigue and lethargy. Against this background, diabetes may develop.

Normal 3.3-5.5 mmol/l.

Possible reasons

First of all, poor nutrition leads to low blood sugar levels. This means not only fast food, but also an excessive passion for flour and sweet products. Long breaks between meals also lead to worsening of the condition. Passion for alcohol and smoking. Neoplasms on the pancreas.

In addition, other provoking factors can be identified:

• taking a number of medications;
• obesity;
• renal failure;
• idiopathic diseases;
• disturbances in the functioning of the hormonal system and liver;
• early pregnancy;
• severe physical activity.

How does it manifest?

The main symptom of low blood sugar is hunger. This is the first signal 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 product high in carbohydrates. Accordingly, it is not recommended to starve, but to eat 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 weakly expressed and the person attributes his fatigue and aggressive state to the rhythm of life. However, if symptoms appear on rest days, you should get tested.

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 unable to produce the required amount of energy.

Along with dizziness, a person may experience disorientation in space and trembling in the body. A man appears and appears to be about to fall.

Weakness and lethargy

Symptoms of low blood sugar may include 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 around him and even fall into a coma.

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

Heart problems

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

Thirst and sweating

Another symptom of low blood sugar is thirst accompanied by excessive sweating. A person may drink a lot of liquid, sweat a lot, and at the same time constantly feel thirsty. It feels like everything in your mouth is dry and it’s hard to swallow. However, after stopping the attack, as a rule, the symptoms completely go away.

Night attacks

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

Particularly dangerous is the situation when a person drank 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 blurry, the eyeballs hurt, and it seems that the membrane is very dry. At such moments, visual acuity sharply decreases and even photophobia may occur.

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

Features of the condition in women and the elderly

Symptoms of low blood sugar in people in these categories are more pronounced. The older generation attributes symptoms 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 can occur during the menstrual cycle or during menopause, due to hormonal changes in the body. But in order to determine whether the condition is related to sugar levels or not, you should pay attention not only to your mood, but also to other symptoms:

• feeling of heat throughout the body;
• flushes of blood;
• pale 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, loss of consciousness occurs.

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

1. A pronounced feeling of hunger against the background of general weakness, low blood pressure and a dramatic change in mood.
2. In the second phase, an unbearable feeling of hunger sets in, cold sweat appears, and the skin becomes pale. Tremors and tachycardia may begin.
3. At such moments, a person enters a state of euphoria, he is uncontrollable, very excited, loses his sense of fear and refuses help.
4. The last phase is characterized by trembling in the body, convulsions, and loss of visual acuity. As a result, fainting and then 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 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 low glucose level is identified. If diabetes mellitus is diagnosed, then insulin should be monitored, if there are problems with the pancreas, then they need to be eliminated, and so on. But the cause can only be identified after a full examination. However, it is better to know how to help yourself at home to prevent fainting.

Help at home

When blood sugar drops, folk remedies can help correct the situation fairly 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 your blood sugar levels; 200 milliliters will be enough. Fruit juice has the same properties.

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

What to do if an attack occurs?

Symptoms of the syndrome very quickly gain momentum, so it is very important to provide timely assistance to prevent hypoglycemic coma.

First of all, the person needs to be put into bed and his legs raised slightly. Then immediately call an ambulance. If the patient is wearing 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 candy or a sweet drink.

In cases where a person has lost consciousness, he must be turned on his side to prevent the tongue from sticking or asphyxiation by vomiting. Sugar can be placed in the cheek. If you faint, you can administer 1 milliliter of glucagon.

Nutrition

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

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

You will have to give up alcohol, animal fats, baked goods and semolina. It can be consumed in limited quantities, but it is better to completely avoid smoked meats, spices and spicy foods. The same rule must be followed when consuming sweets, honey, cookies, sweet drinks and juices. Be sure to avoid sugary drinks with carbonated water. 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 your diet, as it prevents the body from quickly absorbing glucose.

Meat and fish should be low-fat varieties, and dishes made from them are best prepared by steaming or baking. It is recommended to consume fresh and dried fruits, but with little sugar content.

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

Traditional therapy

Your doctor may recommend taking the monosaccharide dextrose. In a hospital setting, as a rule, glucose-containing drugs are administered intravenously. In extreme cases, when they do not bring the glucose level to normal, then “Hydrocartisone” or adrenaline is injected intramuscularly.

What does traditional medicine offer?

Naturally, it is better to coordinate even herbal treatment with your doctor so as not to worsen your health condition.

The simplest, most affordable, effective way is to use rosehip decoction. 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. You can add honey or sugar to tea in small quantities.

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. This mixture must be left to steep for 2 hours. Take ¼ before each meal.

You can use Leuzea tincture, which is easy to purchase at any pharmacy. If there is 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 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 often get into accidents, since during an attack, orientation in space is significantly reduced.