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When your blood sugar drops, chemical changes occur in the body. Your perspective narrows, and you focus on surviving. Your body secretes more adrenalin, which causes a "fight or flight" response. Your even temper and good manners may disappear rapidly. You need to test as soon as you can, and to eat, and then test again, while trying not to eat everything in sight!
The Joslin (www.joslin.org/beginners_guide_656.asp) site says that people "progress from mild or moderate hypoglycemia to severe hypoglycemia because they:
1. recognize symptoms and wait to treat
2. rationalize symptoms away or
3. have not considered subtle, personal, or idiosyncratic symptoms as an indicator of hypoglycemia."
It's a good idea to tell your friends, coworkers and loved ones how you usually act when your blood sugar gets low. Once you start teaching them about hypoglycemia, your friends may even notice symptoms that you weren't aware of! Tell them what to do if you should get low. Teach them enough so that they will know when you need help and when you don't. They need to know enough so that they don't call the paramedics when you don't need the paramedics!!!
"If I act weird, my blood sugar is probably low and I need to eat."
You can also tell your friends that if they see you acting a little weird, that they might gently suggest that you test your blood sugar. Explain to them that part of being in really good control of your diabetes means that you will "overshoot" (oh, such a bad pun!) sometimes, and that your blood sugar will get too low. Let them know that you may become verbally abusive, appear drunk, be sarcastic, or act in ways that puzzle them. If you do have a severe reaction, wait until you are feeling clear-headed, and give them an opportunity to talk about it. They may have questions, and they may need to tell you that they were frightened. It is better for them to get any feelings of fear off their chest. You can reassure them with proper information, so that they feel even better equipped if it happens again. Remember, people want to feel that they were helpful to someone else and that they did the right thing.
Pointers
Stress causes changes in blood sugars
Do you know all the possible symptoms of hypoglycemia? Some people can train themselves to recognize them more effectively. (Cox )
Talk to your diabetes educator about what does and does not work for you when your blood sugar is low. He/she may have some good ideas on how to handle it.
Getting low is not fun, but it may well be an indication that you are trying to keep your blood sugars in a good range. It also means that Life is Happening. People who do nothing but sit on their couches rarely get low! You used up more calories than you thought you would, your body is acting more efficiently than usual because the sun, moon and stars are in the right place (No – I don't believe in astrology but all people who work with diabetics know that many illogical things do occur), you got off work late or there was a traffic accident on the freeway...
No one wants their diabetes interfering with their day to day life. It's unpleasant – it's that knock on the door that says "I'm here." "And you'd better feed me or I will turn into a monster." The more you are prepared, with food in every setting, with your meter, and with an alertness to your symptoms, the easier it is to treat and be done with.
Hypoglycemia Unawareness
Some people with diabetes may not be able to feel when their blood sugars are too low. [Learn More].
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