Diabetes: Dealing with low blood sugar from medicines
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Diabetes: Dealing with low blood sugar from medicines
Why do I need to deal with low blood sugar emergencies?
If your blood sugar drops below 40 mg/dL, your brain may receive too little sugar to work properly and your judgment and muscle coordination will be affected. These are symptoms of moderate low blood sugar. You may not realize that your blood sugar is too low, and you may not be aware that you need to eat food to raise the level. Someone else may have to help you eat or drink something to raise your blood sugar level. If you do not get help, your brain may not work properly. This can cause an accident if you are driving a car or operating other machinery.
If your blood sugar level drops below 20 mg/dL, which is considered severe low blood sugar, you can lose consciousness. If you do not receive prompt emergency care, you may go into a coma, have a seizure, heart attack, or stroke, and possibly die.
Test Your Knowledge
If my blood sugar level drops very low (below 20 mg/dL):
- This answer is Correct
If your blood sugar level drops to 20 mg/dL or lower, you can fall into a coma and possibly die.
- This answer Incorrect
If your blood sugar level drops to 20 mg/dL or lower, you can fall into a coma and possibly die. The correct answer is a.
- This answer Incorrect
If your blood sugar level drops to 20 mg/dL or lower, someone else will need to help you eat or drink something to increase your blood sugar level, or you may need emergency medical help. The correct answer is a. You may fall into a coma and possibly die.
- This answer Incorrect
If your blood sugar level drops to 20 mg/dL or lower, you will not be able to function. The correct answer is a. You may fall into a coma and possibly die.
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How to deal with low blood sugar emergencies
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Diabetes: Dealing with low blood sugar from medicines
Last Updated:
August 14, 2007- Author:
- Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
- Medical Review:
- Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism
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