by Charles Roring
People with diabetes may experience acute complications whether at home or at work. Generally they are caused by levels of blood glucose that are too low (hypoglycemia) or too high (hyperglycemia). These are often found in people who do not regularly control their blood glucose.
People who frequently suffer from hypoglycemia should avoid driving car or riding motorcycle. Hypoglycemia can be identified by such symptoms as sweating, shaking, tingling around the mouth, hazy eyesight or blurred vision, and slow thinking.
Hypoglycemia is caused by late meal, too little carbohydrate, extra exercise or too much insulin injection. In severe cases, diabetics may become unconscious. When this severe hypoglycemia happens, the diabetics must receive urgent treatment to minimize the risk of brain damage and death. It is still not clear whether frequent hypoglycemia can cause long-term intellectual decline.
Hypoglycemia is likely to occur before lunch or during the night. So, it is recommended for people with diabetes bring 10 to 20 grams of glucose or some sweets, or snacks in order to reduce the risk of experiencing hypoglycemia.
What to do when experiencing hypoglycemia
When you realize that your blood sugar level is low, you have to drink or eat something sweet such as candy or soft-drink, fruit juice, glucose tablets and biscuits. After fifteen minutes your blood sugar should be higher. If your condition does not change, you need to eat or drink again. Glucose injection will be needed if the one who suffers hypoglycemia is unconscious. Your doctor might give glucagon injection. Unlike insulin, it is a hormone that raises the blood glucose by mobilizing glycogen stores in the liver. Glucagon is effective in five to ten minutes after injection. It is a valuable hormone. It can relieve stress in a home when the diabetics often suffer from hypoglycemia attacks.
