Diabetes episodes can be frightening for individuals who experience the literal highs and lows of blood sugar maintenance. Some people may notice the warning signs early and can take precautions in order to stabilize their blood glucose levels while other people may not experience any symptoms until they are in a dangerous situation.
Diabetes episodes, also referred to as hypoglycemia, consist of times when a person’s blood sugar may become too low, while their insulin is too high. This imbalance may be due to several factors. It can occur because a physician prescribed a new medication to an individual and they are not used to it, or it could simply be that the person skipped a dose of their medicine. An individual could easily forget that they already took their medicine and repeat their dose. This issue can happen more than one might expect due to the secondary problems that diabetics experience with vision loss, concentration, and memory.
These episodes can also occur when a person has gone too long without eating or has been exercising without anything to eat or drink. To combat this problem, diabetics should always carry a fast absorbing sugary food or candy with them at all times. A food that will not perish, and is low in fat is the best alternative since high fat foods lower the absorption rate of sugar.
Diabetes Episodes – Symptoms
Diabetes episodes will usually present themselves with a variety of symptoms that come on suddenly. An individual may start shaking uncontrollably throughout the entire body or just in their extremities. They may also experience profuse sweating, pale and clammy skin combined with heart palpitations. They may have a headache and feel lightheaded or dizzy and may become confused or disoriented. Some people may experience sever mood swings. Other symptoms may include extreme thirst, hunger, and feeling very hot or cold.
As the brain needs glucose to function, any abnormal symptoms could signal low blood sugar and should be attended to promptly. It is important to note, however, that some people, especially those with Type 1 diabetes, or individuals taking certain medications, may have no symptoms at all when they are experiencing low blood sugar. These people need to be especially careful in monitoring their glucose levels to prevent an episode from occurring.
Diabetes Episodes – What to Do
When an individual notices any of the symptoms of diabetes episodes, they should quickly ingest fifteen grams of a carbohydrate, wait fifteen minutes, and then test their blood sugar levels. If their levels re still too low, they should repeat the process until their levels are normal again. An example of a good carbohydrate is four ounces of orange, apple, or grape juice, glucose tablets, or low-fat candy. If these are unavailable four small crackers or a slice of bread will work, but starchy foods do not absorb as fast and may take the person a little longer to recover from the episode.
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