Problem number 1 : hypos

Hypoglycaemia means a low blood glucose level.

This occurs when the blood glucose level is less than 3.5 mmols. Hypos should not occur more than 1-2/week.

The most common causes are:

• Eating less carbohydrate than normal
• Increased activity
• Taking too much insulin/sulphonylurea by mistake
• Alcohol

It's important to think about what the cause was and how you could prevent it occurring again.

Hypos can be divided into 2 groups:
Mild - the person can treat themselves
Severe - the person needs help from another person

Signs and symptoms can vary but include:

• Blood glucose level 3.5-2.8
• Autonomic signs - the brain is telling your body it needs more glucose
  • sweating
  • tremor
  • pounding heart
  • anxiety
  • hunger
  • pallor

• blood glucose level < 2.8
• Neuroglycopenic signs - your brain is being starved of oxygen
  • confusion
  • odd behaviour
  • lack of concentration
  • drowsiness
  • visual disturbance
  • tingling around the mouth
  • convulsions

It is important to monitor your blood glucose level and treat the hypo as soon as you feel a symptom Ãâ the longer you take to treat it the more likely your blood glucose level is to fall below 2.8 mmols when you will start to be unable to treat your hypo yourself.

Hypo treatment:
This should be some quick acting glucose such as: 5 dextrose tablets
100-150 ml lucozade
150-200 mls cola/pure fruit juice
4-5 jelly babies