What can you do to prevent a blood sugar drop?

First of all, it is important to know that there are many factors that have a direct influence on our glucose levels. In addition, many of them may be out of our control.

However, there are other things we can do to help prevent hypoglycemia.

If you have or live with a disease that causes blood sugar drops, you can take into account a series of recommendations … Maybe you can prevent some troubles?

This is even more advisable if the person suffering from hypoglycemia is a young child who is not sufficiently able to manage his or her condition.

Each person is completely different, as well as their hypoglycemia. However, the symptoms of low blood sugars are often repeated…

NEVER IGNORE THEIR SYMPTOMS!

It is preferable to take another glycemic control than later have regret. For example: you can be hungry because it is only hunger, but it can also be a warning signal.

Always be vigilant

Anyone at risk of hypoglycemia should have to hand at all times: SUPPLIES TO MEASURE (glucometer, strips and lancing device) and food TO TREAT IN CASE LOWS OCCUR. It does not matter if you only leave home for just a short while!!

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Each person reacts differently to exercise, viruses, environmental temperature and other factors that can alter glucose levels; of course it also depends a lot on the basic pathology. This can cause us to be more aware of blood glucose levels when we are in those situations; even if it is for several days.

With time you will know which situations are more likely to end in a low blood sugar level. Those are the ones that should activate your sixth sense!

ABOVE ALL: FOLLOW THE FOOD AND MEDICATION GUIDANCE THAT YOU WERE GIVEN IN THE HOSPITAL.

Information is power

People who spend the most time with your 'sugarbaby' should know about their condition, learn to recognize symptoms and know how to act in case of urgency or emergency.

If you have hypoglycemia or live with someone who does, you will surely have discovered the importance of following a diet adapted to their condition.

It would be advisable to learn which foods raise blood glucose quickly and which ones do it more slowly. The first ones can be useful in case of hypoglycemia and the second ones to maintain more stable blood glucose levels.

Also, some kind of foods should not be frequently used, such as chocolates, candy, sugary soft drinks, etc, in conditions causing recurrent hypoglycemia. These types of sweet food items can cause more rapid swings up and down in blood sugar levels.

Remember

A BLOOD SUGAR DROP SHOULD BE TREATED WHILE THE PATIENT IS AT REST TO AVOID THE SITUATION GETTING WORSE WHILE ADMINISTERED TREATMENT STARTS TO WORK (E.G. JUICE, SUGAR, GLUCOSE PACKETS, GLUCAGON INJECTION ...).

Since they're young

It is imperative that our children learn to identify and express that something is not working well in their body.

Many of them have hypoglycemia without external symptoms (*), but that does not mean that the brain is free from damage. Therefore, the sooner we are alerted, the less serious the situation will be.

There are many ways to work things with children, but from our point of view, the best learning is that which is done through experimentation, play and reading.

(*) People who have a condition that causes hypoglycemia can develop something called “hypoglycemia unawareness”.  This means the body’s usual reaction to a low blood sugar that causes the symptoms of a hypo are dulled. The more a person has repeated hypos the greater the risk that hypo symptoms go away completely.

If this happens, there are no signs that a severe low is about to happen (like dizziness, irritability, sweating, shakiness, etc.). In this case, seizures or loss of consciousness may occur suddenly and without warning.  Hypoglycemia unawareness can be very dangerous and is one of the reasons experts recommend maintaining blood sugar levels above 70mg/dL (3.9mmol/L).

Preventing hypoglycemia can help the body reset its ability to react and appropriately warn about low blood sugars again.

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