Gestational Diabetes: Dealing With Low Blood Sugar
Women who take
Reference insulin Opens New Window shots or take the medicine glyburide are at
risk for low blood sugar levels. Most women with
gestational diabetes do not have problems with low
blood sugar (hypoglycemia). If your blood sugar (glucose) drops
very low, make sure to get treated immediately so that neither you
nor your baby is harmed.
- Low blood sugar occurs when the sugar level
in the blood drops below what the body needs to function normally. Women who
take insulin may get low blood sugar if they don't eat enough food, skip meals,
exercise more than usual, or take too much insulin.
- These steps can
help you avoid a life-threatening emergency from low blood sugar:
- Test your blood sugar often so that you
don't have to guess when your blood sugar is low.
- Know the signs of
low blood sugar, such as sweating, shakiness, hunger, blurred vision, and
dizziness.
- The best treatment for low blood sugar is to eat Reference quick-sugar foods. Liquids will raise your blood sugar faster than solid foods. Keep the list of quick-sugar foods in a convenient place.
Wait 10 to 15 minutes after eating the quick-sugar food, and, if possible, check your blood sugar again.
- Keep some hard candy, raisins, or other sugary foods with
you at all times. Eat some at the first sign of low blood sugar.
- Check your blood sugar before getting in a car. And don't
drive if your blood sugar level is less than 70 mg/dL.
- Teach your friends and coworkers what to do if your blood
sugar is very low.
Low blood sugar means that the level of sugar in your blood has dropped
below what your body needs to function normally.
Most women with
gestational diabetes do not have problems with low blood sugar. But if your
blood sugar does drop, it can do so quickly (within 10 to 15 minutes). This
usually happens 1 to 2 hours after you have had a shot of fast-acting insulin.
Low blood sugar can occur if you:
- Skip or delay a meal or
snack.
- Exercise too much without eating enough
food.
- Drink alcohol, especially on an empty stomach. No amount of
alcohol is safe to drink while you are pregnant.
- Take too much
insulin.
- Take medicines that can affect your blood sugar levels.
Before you take
any new medicines (including aspirin and ibuprofen) or nutritional supplements, talk with your doctor about the medicines you are taking.
Even if your blood sugar level reading is normal, you may
have symptoms of low blood sugar if your level is suddenly lower than usual.
For example, if your blood sugar level has been more than 200 mg/dL for a week
and the level drops suddenly to 70 mg/dL, you may have symptoms of low blood
sugar.
Test Your Knowledge
-
Low blood sugar means that the level of sugar in the
blood has dropped below what the body needs to function
normally.
-
True
This answer is correct.
Low blood sugar means that the level of sugar
in the blood has dropped below what the body needs to function normally.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
Low blood sugar does mean that the level of
sugar in the blood has dropped below what the body needs to function normally.
-
Low blood sugar can develop because I
have:
-
Exercised more than usual, not eaten enough food, or
taken too much insulin.
This answer is correct.
Low blood sugar can develop because you have
exercised more than usual, not eaten enough food, or taken too much insulin. It
can also develop if you skip meals, take certain medicines, or drink too much
alcohol.
-
Not slept enough, eaten too much candy, or watched TV
all day.
This answer is incorrect.
Low blood sugar does not develop from getting
too little sleep, eating too much candy, or watching TV all day. Low blood sugar can develop because you have exercised more than
usual, not eaten enough food, or taken too much insulin. It can also develop if
you skip meals, take certain medicines, or drink too much alcohol.
There are three types of low blood sugar: mild,
moderate, and severe. If your blood sugar level falls below 55 mg/dL, your body
reacts in the same way it does when you feel very afraid, angry, or anxious.
These
Reference symptoms of mild low blood sugar often last for only a
short time if you eat food that contains sugar, which causes the blood sugar
level to rise. An emergency is not likely to develop, and you and your baby
will not have any long-lasting effects.
Do not drive a car or
operate other machinery if you think that your blood sugar is low. You could
harm yourself or someone else. Check your blood sugar before driving. Do not
drive if your blood sugar level is less than 70 mg/dL.
If your
blood sugar continues to drop (below 40 mg/dL), your brain may receive too
little sugar to work well. Problems with judgment and muscle coordination are
Reference symptoms of moderate low blood sugar.
If
your blood sugar drops below 20 mg/dL (Reference severe low blood sugar), you could have a seizure or stop breathing, possibly harming
your baby. You could also fall into a coma, have a stroke, or possibly
die.
Test Your Knowledge
-
If my blood sugar level drops very low (below 20
mg/dL):
-
I can fall into a coma and possibly die.
This answer is correct.
If your blood sugar level drops to 20 mg/dL or
lower, your baby could be harmed if you have a seizure or stop breathing. You
could fall into a coma and possibly die.
-
I will act like I am okay.
This answer is incorrect.
If your blood sugar level drops to 20 mg/dL or
lower, you will not act like you are okay. You will not
be alert enough to eat something that contains sugar to raise your blood sugar
level. If your blood sugar level drops to 20 mg/dL or
lower, your baby could be harmed if you have a seizure or stop breathing. You
could fall into a coma and possibly die.
-
I will be able to eat or drink something to raise
it.
This answer is incorrect.
If your blood sugar level drops to 20 mg/dL or
lower, you will not be able to eat or drink something to raise it. You will not be alert enough to eat or drink something that contains
sugar without help. If your blood sugar level drops to
20 mg/dL or lower, your baby could be harmed if you have a seizure or stop
breathing. You could fall into a coma and possibly die.
Here
are some ways you can prevent and manage low blood sugar emergencies.
Be prepared
Although most women with
gestational diabetes do not have problems with low blood sugar, you should
always be prepared for the possibility.
- Keep some Reference quick-sugar foods with you at all times. If you are at home, you will probably already have something close at hand that contains sugar, such as table sugar or fruit juice. Carry some hard candy or glucose tablets with you when you are away from home.
- Learn the
Reference symptoms of low blood sugar, such as sweating, blurred vision, and confusion. Carry a list of the symptoms with you at
all times, and post the list at home and work.
- Wear
Reference medical identification Opens New Window Reference
Opens New Window in case your blood sugar drops very low and you need
help. Medical identification bracelets and necklaces are sold at many local
drugstores and pharmacies.
- Keep a copy of instructions on how to use
your blood sugar meter with the meter. Tell your family and friends where the instructions are
and how to use your meter to check your blood sugar.
- Post information on
Reference emergency care for low blood sugar in a convenient
place at home and at work for other people to use if you need help during a low
blood sugar episode.
- Do not drive if your blood sugar is less than
70 mg/dL. Your reflexes are slowed, and you could have an accident.
Treat low blood sugar early
Treat low blood sugar levels as soon as the symptoms are noticed, whether
by you or by someone else.
Test Your Knowledge
-
To be prepared for a low blood sugar emergency, I need
to carry:
-
My insulin.
This answer is incorrect.
To be prepared for a low blood sugar emergency,
you don't need to carry your insulin. An insulin shot would cause your blood
sugar level to drop more. To be prepared for a low
blood sugar emergency, always have some quick-sugar foods with
you. Quick-sugar foods put sugar into your bloodstream rapidly and will raise your
blood sugar level about 30 mg/dL within 15 minutes. Review the list of
quick-sugar foods.
-
Some quick-sugar foods.
This answer is correct.
To be prepared for a low blood sugar emergency,
have some quick-sugar foods with you. Quick-sugar foods
put sugar into your bloodstream rapidly and will raise your blood sugar level
about 30 mg/dL within 15 minutes. Review the list of quick-sugar foods.
-
A protein bar.
This answer is incorrect.
To be prepared for a low blood sugar emergency,
you don't need to carry a protein bar. A protein bar will not get sugar into
your bloodstream fast enough. To be prepared for a low
blood sugar emergency, have some quick-sugar foods with you.
Quick-sugar foods put sugar into your bloodstream rapidly and will raise your
blood sugar level about 30 mg/dL within 15 minutes. Review the list of
quick-sugar foods.
-
If my blood sugar level is 50 mg/dL, I need
to:
-
Call my doctor immediately.
This answer is incorrect.
If your blood sugar level is 50 mg/dL, you don't need to call your doctor immediately. But you do need to treat the low
blood sugar level to prevent an emergency. If your
blood sugar level is 50 mg/dL, you need to follow the steps for dealing with
low blood sugar.
-
Go to sleep and rest.
This answer is incorrect.
If your blood sugar level is 50 mg/dL, you
should not go to sleep and rest. You need to treat the low blood sugar to
prevent an emergency. If your blood sugar level is 50
mg/dL, you need to follow the steps for dealing with low blood sugar.
-
Follow the steps for dealing with low blood
sugar.
This answer is correct.
If your blood sugar level is 50 mg/dL, you
need to follow the steps for dealing with low blood sugar.
Now that you have read this
information, you are ready to prevent and treat low blood sugar levels
effectively.
Talk with your doctor
If you
have questions about this information, take it with you when you visit your
doctor.
More information about diabetes can be found in these
topics:
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