Your low blood sugar number is not the same as anyone else's

Blood glucose is the main sugar in your blood and your body's primary source
of energy. It comes from food: your body breaks most of what you eat into
glucose and releases it into the bloodstream. Rising glucose signals the
pancreas to release insulin, the hormone that gets glucose into your cells
to be used.

In diabetes the body does not make enough insulin, cannot use it well, or
both, so too much glucose stays in the blood.

What counts as too low

Hypoglycaemia means low glucose — below what is healthy for you:

Your number might be different. Ask your health care team what level is too
low for you — a threshold borrowed from a chart is the wrong one to act on.

What causes it

Hypoglycaemia is common in people with type 1 diabetes, and in people with
type 2 who take insulin or other diabetes medicines. It can happen:

• As a side effect of insulin or other medicines that make the pancreas
  release insulin
• If you do not eat or drink enough carbohydrates, the main source of
  glucose
• If you get much more physical activity than usual
• If you drink too much alcohol without enough food
• When you are ill and cannot eat or keep food down

It is rare, but possible without diabetes — from liver disease, kidney
disease, hormone deficiencies, certain kinds of weight loss surgery, or some
medicines including certain heart medicines and antibiotics. See a provider to
find the cause.

Symptoms

They tend to come on quickly, and differ between people: shaking,
sweating, nervousness or anxiety, irritability or confusion, dizziness,
hunger.

Treatment

Mild or moderate: eating or drinking something with carbohydrates.

Severe hypoglycaemia can cause passing out, coma, or death. It is treated
with glucagon, a hormone that raises blood glucose, given as a nasal spray
or an injection. **If you have diabetes, your provider can prescribe a
glucagon kit** to keep for emergencies — which is a thing to arrange before it
is needed, not during.

Frequent mild or moderate lows are a signal to change the diabetes meal plan,
the physical activity plan, or the medicines. Without diabetes, treatment
depends on the cause.

Preventing it

If you take insulin or other glucose-lowering medicines:

• Follow your meal plan, eating and drinking enough carbs to stay in your
  target range
• Carry a fast-acting carbohydrate — glucose tablets, a juice box
• Be safe during physical activity: check your glucose before and
  afterwards, and you may need a snack beforehand
• Take your medicines correctly

Monitoring is a blood glucose meter or a continuous glucose monitoring system,
usually daily if you have diabetes. Providers also have blood tests for it.

Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.