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Sweet Relief for Hypoglycemic Episodes
Glucose tabs and gels are designed to provide diabetics with fast-acting, standardized doses of sugar in order to help manage hypoglycemia. The decision to use them is entirely personal; some people prefer to figure out the right amount of orange juice or jelly beans they need according to their blood sugar level. However, one advantage of glucose tabs and gels is that they can never be mistaken for food -- some people find it difficult to limit themselves to half a glass of juice or just six jelly beans. Not only do tabs and gels offer standardized amounts, they're convenient, portable, and faster-acting than many candies.
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Hypoglycemia Happens
Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, may occur if you have diabetes. Don't immediately blame yourself for episodes of hypoglycemia; in managing your diabetes, you are attempting to control a very complex, intricate, and inconsistent system. Hypoglycemic episodes can be avoided. If you are experiencing hypoglycemic episodes, contact your healthcare provider to see how you can prevent hypoglycemia.
Generally, if your blood sugar drops below 50 to 55 mg/dl, you are considered hypoglycemic. Before you decide to treat your hypoglycemia with glucose tabs, gels, or other sugars, take (if possible) a blood glucose test to determine how much sugar you need. Symptoms will vary from person to person, but here are some hypoglycemia warning signs to watch out for:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Excessive sweating
- Muscle tremors (shakiness)
- Anxiety
- Hunger that can be extreme
- Irritability
- Vertigo
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Confusion
- Convulsions in extreme cases.
- Unconsciousness in extreme cases
- Lethargy
- Fatigue
Hypoglycemia Unawareness
It is possible to have hypoglycemia and not experience any of the early warning symptoms. You may experience only the mental symptoms, and none of the physical symptoms. - Hypoglycemia unawareness was originally thought to be caused by nerve damage from living with diabetes for many years. This causes an absence of epinephrine release in response to low glucose levels.
- It is now thought that hypoglycemia unawareness may be caused by frequent episodes of low blood glucose, without pre-existing nerve damage. Episodes of hypoglycemia seem to lower the glucose levels at which epinephrine release, causing hypoglycemia without any of the physical symptoms.
- Hypoglycemia unawareness tends to affect people who control their glucose levels stringently. It also tends to affect pregnant women.
- An interesting comparison occurs in people who do control their blood sugars poorly. These people experience physical symptoms of hypoglycemia at much higher blood glucose levels than the average diabetic person.
If you have hypoglycemia unawareness, you need to consult your healthcare provider. Together you can develop a treatment regimen to ensure that you have adequate blood glucose levels and avoid situations where you might have low blood glucose. Keeping blood sugars at adequate levels to avoid hypoglycemia for days to weeks has been shown to restore sensitivity to hypoglycemia.Why Purchase Glucose Tabs or Gels?
The sugar you ingest when you are having a hypoglycemic episode is not to be considered nutrition or food -- it is just like medicine. This is the principle behind glucose tabs and gels -- some people prefer to consider their food as food only, rather than a kind of medicine. Again, though, many individuals find that eating raisins or drinking orange juice is just as effective and cheaper than glucose tablets.
- Glucose tabs and gels offer standardized amounts of glucose and they are extremely convenient and portable.
- The sugars that glucose tabs and gels consist of are faster acting than many candies. Candies and table sugar contain both glucose and sucrose, while glucose tabs and gels contain only glucose and thus work faster.
- Sugary foods with fat may slow down glucose uptake, so if you are using candy, stay away from those that contain fat, such as chocolate.
- Keep glucose tabs, gels, and fast-acting sugary foods with you at all times -- at work, at home, by your bedside, in your car, when jogging, etc.
- If you are prone to experiencing hypoglycemia that impairs even your ability to swallow, you might want to choose a gel which someone can help you squeeze into your mouth.
In This Case, Taste is Everything
- Glucose tabs and gels are available at most pharmacies though the selection may be limited.
- Try a bunch and see which one tastes the best .
- Glucose tabs and gels are relatively inexpensive.
- Buying in bulk is a cost-effective option, but be sure you can use them all before the expiration date.
Testing the Effects of Glucose Products
- You can test the effects of glucose products on your blood glucose levels.
- Some time when you are testing your blood glucose, if it is below 100 mg/dl, try this test.
- Take enough of your preferred sugar product to give a 15 mg serving of sugar.
- Wait 15 minutes.
- Test your blood sugar level again.
- Now you know approximately by how much 15 grams of sugar from your favorite sugar product will raise your blood glucose.
- You should ask your health professional to what level you should raise your blood glucose if you are feeling the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
- So, if you know the level of your blood glucose, you can consume the appropriate amount of glucose product to raise your blood glucose to approximately the desired level.
- This reduces the likelihood that you will take too much glucose and become hyperglycemic.
Avoiding Nighttime Hypoglycemia
Nighttime hypoglycemia can be a nocturnal menace or worse. This can be extremely dangerous because you are not conscious, and cannot adequately treat the symptoms. Worse still, many times nighttime hypoglycemia produces no symptoms. Though it can produce the following symptoms:- Night sweats (you may notice your sheets are damp in the morning)
- Nightmares
- Headache when you wake up
- You wake up feeling excessively fatigued and unrested
You can try to reduce the chance of experiencing or avoid hypoglycemia by trying some of the following:- Measure your blood glucose level before you go to bed. If it is below 120 mg/dl have a small snack.
- Occasionally, monitor your blood glucose levels in the middle of the night. If they are low, have a snack. Think back over your actions during the day. Is there anything that you did that could have caused your blood glucose level to lower?
- Inform your health care provider if you are experiencing hypoglycemia at night.
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How Glucose Tabs Work
- Glucose is the fastest-acting sugar. Sucrose (table sugar) and fructose take longer to absorb into the bloodstream and are therefore not used in glucose tabs and gels.
- Drops in blood glucose levels can occur as a result of taking too much insulin, not eating enough, exercising more than usual, or sometimes for no reason at all.
- Glucose tabs and gels work by delivering exactly 15 grams (though you can adjust the amount easily) of glucose to treat a reaction.
- In order to accommodate for differences in individual needs, glucose tabs and gels come in smaller dosages, so that to get 15 grams you may be required to take three 5-gram pills.
Watch Out for Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
- Not everyone exhibits the same symptoms, and there are certainly many other reasons why you might feel some of these symptoms. However, don't be too quick to decide on external factors. Check your blood sugar immediately to confirm your suspicions, whatever they are.
- The lack of adequate amounts of sugar in your body affects the functioning of your body and brain. Your brain needs sugar too!
- It is unfortunate, but one of the symptoms of hypoglycemia is confusion, which results in an inability to determine your present state.
- For this reason, educate your relatives, friends, and co-workers about the symptoms of hypoglycemia. If your ability to identify the problem is compromised, they can aid you.
What Might Have Caused Your Hypoglycemia?
- In addition to consulting the previously listed symptoms of hypoglycemia (see Advice), ask yourself the following questions. These questions are meant to help you interpret your blood glucose meter reading; they are not meant to replace a blood glucose meter reading.
- Have you exercised more than usual?
- Did you eat enough food to cover your last insulin or oral medication dose?
- Did you forget to eat a meal?
- Is it possible that you injected too much insulin by accident or used the wrong preparation?
- Are you nervous about a job interview or a test?
- Did you just have sex? It can bring blood sugar down.
- Did you drink alcohol? It can bring blood sugar down.
How To Treat Hypoglycemia
- Get carbohydrates, "quick sugar", immediately. Carbohydrates can come from glucose tablets, non-diet soda, hard candy -- anything rich in sugar.
- Do not use carbohydrate sources that are also high in fat such as ice cream, chocolate, or cake. The excess fat can inhibit the absorption of carbohydrates.
- Keep your convenient glucose sources in your purse, pocket, car, or any other place that is quick and easy to access.
- Treat hypoglycemia correctly. Do not overeat carbohydrate sources or eat too little carbohydates.
- You should consume about 10 to 15 grams of carbohydates. Look at the nutritional labeling of the products you buy to determine how much you should consume to get 10 to 15 grams of carbohydrates. Do this ahead of time, not when you are experiencing hypoglycemia, because you might be tired and not thinking clearly.
- Below are some food equivalents for 10 to 15 grams of sugar:
6 large jellybeans (not the tiny gourmet kind)
4 to 7 LifeSavers
2 tablespoons of raisins
2 teaspoons of table sugar or honey
6 to 8 ounces of skim milk
Half a can of soda (not diet)
Note: "Quick sugar" only provides temporary relief of hypoglycemia. After eating "quick sugar," you should have a small snack such as crackers or 1/2 a sandwich to help maintain blood sugar levels. - Remember that it can take up to 20 minutes before carbohydates are efficiently absorbed into your bloodstream. If after 30 minutes you still feel symptoms of hypoglycemia, take another 10 to 15 grams of carbohydrate. Repeat this process until your symptoms are gone.
- If after two attempts of consuming sugar your symptoms have not disappeared, seek medical attention.
- It may be difficult but you must resist the temptation to eat more carbohydrates. Overeating can lead to hyperglycemia.
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Educate Others
- Please educate your friends, family, and co-workers about what to do if you become unconscious.
- If you do become unconscious or so debilitated that you cannot ingest glucose tabs or food, you need glucagon, an injected drug that counteracts hypoglycemia.
- Instruct friends, family, and co-workers to take you to the hospital and/or call for an ambulance. Remind them that these are life-and-death situations.
- If you cannot receive medical attention immediately (in the case of a long ride to the hospital or a wait for an ambulance), instruct friends, family, and co-workers to place some glucose gel or cake frosting between your cheek and gums and to massage the outside of the cheek to help the gel or frosting dissolve.
- Make sure friends, family, and co-workers do not attempt to force sugar or food down your throat! You can choke!
- ALWAYS, no matter how well you manage your diabetes, carry glucose tabs, gels, or their food equivalent with you at all times and let those who are around you know exactly where they can find them.
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Websites, Organizations & Manufacturers
Sources & Further Reading
Books
- 1. American Diabetes Assocation.American Diabetes Association: Complete Guide to Diabetes. New York: Bantam Books 1996.
- 2. American Pharmaceutical Association. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 11th ed. Washington., D.C.: American Pharmaceutical Assocation 1996.
- 3. Fauci, Anthony S. et al. Eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed. New York: MacGraw Hill 1998.
- 4. Saudek, Christopher D. et al. (Baltimore: JHU Press, 1997.The Johns Hopkins Guide to Diabetes for Today and Tomorrow. Baltimore: JHU Press 1997.
Find more books on health and wellness at  barnesandnoble.com.
Articles
- 1. American Diabetes Association.Products for treating reactions. American Diabetes Association's '95 Buyer's guide to Diabetes Supplies, Diabetes Forecast; Vol. 47 10/1/1994.
- 2. Hutchinson, Cindy."Hypoglycemia: making a case for glucose gels and tablets". Nursing; Vol. 28 8/1/1998.
- 3. Heckman, Michele S. "A Review of the Basics: How to diagnose low blood sugar reactions". Diabetes Forecast; Vol. 48 8/1/1995.
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