Blood Sugar Testing

low blood sugar Hypoglycemia is a serious condition in which a person has a dangerously low amount of glucose in their bloodstream. Remember glucose is the fuel of the brain cells and the body’s cells.
The real danger is the brain is running out of fuel. It will shut down
if quick action is not taken. Many diabetics are well aware of the
risks of having too much glucose in their blood stream (hyperglycemia),
but some are unaware that having too little glucose is also dangerous.

With too little glucose available, your body does not have enough
energy to function properly. Warning signs of hypoglycemia are
shakiness, sweating, hunger, confusion, light headedness, sleepiness,
weakness, fainting, convulsions, coma, and death. Recently researchers
have claimed that just one episode of hypoglycemia leading to loss of
consciousness increases the risk of developing alzheimer’s dementia by
56% – A serious life-long effect.

Some of the signs of low blood sugar are similar to signs of high blood sugar and some non-diabetes causes. When you feel strange use your glucose meter to test your blood.

What Causes Low Blood Sugar?
People may get low blood sugar levels for many reasons. Sometimes,
medications may cause them to have low blood sugar levels, especially
if they try a new medication or takes too much of their medication. The
Class of Type 2 diabetes oral medications, called Sulfonylureas are notorious for causing low blood sugar. Sulfonylureas tells the pancreas to produce more insulin. If a diabetics fails to eat enough carbs to cover the dose of Glucotrol or the other brands, this medicine will use up glucose that should be used by the brain and other important organs. Here are a few names:

GENERIC BRAND

• Glyburide  –    Diabeta
• Glyburide  –    Micronase
• Glyburide  –    GlynasePres Tab
• Glipsizide   –   Glucotrol
• Glipizide     –  GITS Glucotrol XL
• Glemepiride-  Amaryl
• Sitaglyptin   –  Januvia (increases cell’s sensitivity to insulin like the above drugs)

Diabetics suffer severe low blood sugar events when they take an insulin injection and don’t eat enough carbs. Or exercises too hard with having eaten enough or reduced their insulin dose.

Low blood sugar is also sometimes caused by a diabetic drinking too much
alcohol or when people with diabetes miss meals or do not balance their calorie
intake with output (such as during a work-out).

Remember: When it comes to balanced blood sugar levels, every
person’s body differs, so what might cause hypoglycemia for one person
might not cause it for another person.

How to Overcome Low Blood Sugar
In some cases, when a person with diabetes gets hypoglycemia, it is an
indication that the person should not be on a particular medication. In
other cases, diabetics that regularly get hypoglycemia may need to pay
more attention to their meal planning or to their physical activities;
they may need to eat more carbohydrates or balance their exercise with
an increased amount of carbohydrates.

Many diabetics, including non-diabetics, suffer the symptoms of
occasional low blood sugar levels. However, if a diabetic experiences
recurring low blood sugar levels, abnormal, or extreme side effects of
low blood sugar levels, it is important for them to speak with a physician immediately.

Glucose Tablets
Many Diabetics are also advised to keep glucose tablets on hand to help
them more quickly recover from hypoglycemia. Glucose tablets have a
high concentration of sugar that will provide a boost to the blood
stream once consumed. Www.typefreediabetes.com offers a variety of glucose
tablet options that are easy to carry around in a bag or keep nearby in
a drawer or cupboard for easy and quick access.