If your blood sugar is low: act quickly!
- if you have hypoglycaemia, there is not enough sugar, i.e. energy, in the body
- a hypo means that the blood or tissue sugar falls below 70 mg/dl (≈ 4 mmol/l).
- the technical term for low blood sugar is “hypoglycemia”
- “Hypo” means too little, “glyk” comes from glucose (i.e. sugar) and “emia” refers to the blood; Hypoglycemia means too little sugar in the blood
- Common causes of low blood sugar are: too much insulin, not enough carbohydrates, heat, alcohol, vomiting, diarrhea, a lot of exercise, sport
- two to three hypoglycaemias per week are not uncommon in people on insulin therapy
- People on insulin therapy should always carry fast carbohydrates