EXPLAINER: Low blood sugar – what are its symptoms, and how do you prevent it?
In the midst of covering the United Nations-led COP27 2022 climate talks, CNA presenter Julie Yoo fainted live on air on the news channel's Asia Tonight programme on Wednesday (9 November).
CNA's parent company Mediacorp said in a statement that Yoo had felt “unwell due to dehydration and low blood sugar” following the incident.
What exactly is low blood sugar and how do we watch out for its symptoms?
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Low blood sugar level, or hypoglycemia, occurs when the level of sugar (glucose) in a person’s blood drops too low. It can be caused by medications, delayed meals, too much exercise, alcohol on an empty stomach, or declining kidney function, among others.
Hypoglycemia can happen to anyone but is more common with diabetics, according to Dr Amanda Lam, a Consultant Endocrinologist at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
"Symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) are unpleasant and may interfere with your daily activities. Serious hypoglycaemia may cause accidents, seizures, coma and death. Fortunately, there are ways to recognise, treat, and prevent hypoglycemia," shared Dr Lam in a piece on HealthXchange.sg.
Signs and symptoms
If you think you’re at risk, here are the early signs of hypoglycemia you should watch out for:
Shakiness
Sweating
Fast heartbeat
Headaches
Dizziness
Tingling sensation in your fingers, lips or tongue
Feeling hungry or nauseous
Feeling nervous or anxious
Feeling irritable
Hypoglycemia can also cause severe symptoms such as:
Weakness and difficulty walking
Blurred vision
Confusion and abnormal behaviour
Slurred speech
Loss of consciousness
Seizures
If you have severe symptoms, you should call an ambulance immediately or ask the people around you to help.
How to treat low blood sugar
According to Dr Lam, if you experience early signs of hypoglycemia, you can mitigate it by eating or drinking 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates immediately.
Even if you cannot check your blood sugar immediately, you can eat or drink the following, just to be safe:
4-5 glucose tablets
Half a can of soft drink (150ml-200ml)
Half a glass of fruit juice (150ml)
3 teaspoons of sugar with half a cup of water
Avoid the following types of food:
Any food or drink containing fat or protein
Any food that requires a lot of prolonged chewing/sucking
What to do next?
Using the 15/15 rule, after eating 15g of fast-acting carbohydrates, test or re-test your blood glucose with a glucometer after 15 minutes.
If your blood glucose is still less than 4.0 mmol/L, consume another 15g of fast-acting carbohydrates, re-test blood glucose, and repeat as long as your blood glucose does not rise more than 4.0 mmol/L.
If your blood glucose is more than 4.0 mmol/L, look out for your blood glucose level as it may fall again after 1 hour.
You may eat an additional food containing 15g of long-acting carbohydrates such as biscuits (3 pieces) or bread (1 slice).
How to prevent hypoglycemia
To avoid low blood sugar and the inconvenience and danger it poses, here are some tips from Dr Lam:
Take your diabetes medication regularly as recommended by your doctor.
Eat nutritious meals and time them to balance your diabetes medication.
Monitor your blood sugar level regularly based on your doctor’s recommendation.
Adjust your food intake and medication according to your exercise routine.
You may also ask your friends or family to look out for you if you’re prone to hypoglycemia so they know what to do, just in case. Stay safe!
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