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Attack of hunger, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, sweating, aggression, tremors, headache, dizziness, impaired concentration, vision...

All this could be a symptom hypoglycemia – самого страшного слова для каждого пациента с диабетом. Но стоит ли так ее бояться? Нет, нужно знать, как ее купировать и как её предотвратить. А также поделиться своими знаниями с близкими, и тогда они придут к вам на помощь в нужную минуту.

The most common causes of hypoglycemic conditions:

• overdose of glucose-lowering drugs (tablets or insulin);
• skipping the next meal or a long time interval between insulin injection and food intake;
• sports (physical activity accelerates the utilization of glucose both during and for some time after it);
• drinking alcohol (the liver actively helps our body prevent hypoglycemia by sharing its glucose reserves, and alcohol blocks this help);
• incorrect injection technique (insulin injected into the muscle will work much faster than that injected subcutaneously).

If you still feel symptoms of hypoglycemia, do not rush to eat everything you see. Measure your blood glucose. Patients with diabetes may experience symptoms of hypoglycemia when blood glucose levels are normal (patients with poor compensation and persistently elevated blood glucose levels). It is recommended to stop hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus when the blood glucose level is less than 3.9 mmol/l.

Fast carbohydrates are suitable for relieving hypoglycemia:

• 3-5 pieces (teaspoons) of sugar, 5 g each (preferably dissolved in water);
• 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey;
• 150-200 ml of juice or sweet carbonated drink;
• 4-5 dextrose tablets.

Additionally, you need to eat 10-20 g of slowly digestible carbohydrates (1-2 pieces of bread, 3-4 tablespoons of porridge, muesli bar). After 15 minutes, you need to re-measure your blood glucose and, if hypoglycemia persists, repeat taking fast carbohydrates.

Sandwiches with sausage, cheese, butter, chocolate, cakes, and drinks with sweeteners are not suitable for relieving hypoglycemia!

We recommend that a patient with diabetes always have the necessary fast carbohydrates with him. It is also advisable to have a note with you, or better yet a bracelet indicating the diagnosis. Sometimes severe hypoglycemic conditions (coma) occur when the patient cannot help himself. People around you can help you by rubbing honey or thick syrup into your gums. Do not pour liquid or throw candy into your mouth due to the risk of getting into the respiratory tract and subsequent respiratory arrest. Injecting glucagon subcutaneously or intramuscularly is also effective. And, of course, it is necessary to call an ambulance team to administer intravenous glucose.

“Forewarned is forearmed!” Be healthy!

Endocrinologist Minsk city Clinical Endocrinology Center, A. S. Chernyavskaya.