A state of constant fatigue, nausea and headaches occur in many people. And sometimes when you go to the doctor with these symptoms, the patient hears a diagnosis: "hypoglycemia." This disease is mainly found in diabetics, but in healthy people it can lead to unpleasant consequences. This is due to the fact that the level of glucose in the blood is very important for the normal functioning of all organs and systems of the body, and especially for the brain. And hypoglycemia is a decrease in this level below normal. In recent years, due to malnutrition, a passion for various diets and alcoholic beverages, this condition is becoming more common.
Why is hypoglycemia dangerous?
All organs need energy to work, which they can get when they break down sugar. And most of all the brain needs it. An increased need for glucose is also observed with great physical and mental stress, stress. With a lack of sugar in the blood, there is a deterioration in memory, vision, slowing down the reaction and loss of coordination. In severe cases, irreversible death of brain cells occurs, leading to human death. And the body can get glucose only from food during the breakdown of sugars and carbohydrates. Therefore, very often the state of hypoglycemia occurs with improper nutrition. The metabolism in the body is designed so that unspent glucose is deposited in the liver and muscles and is used as needed. Such a mechanism is evidence of how important it is for normal life.
Causes of hypoglycemia
All metabolic processes in humans occur with the participation of hormones. And for the normal absorption of carbohydrates and turning them into glucose, insulin is very important. Hypoglycemia occurs most often in cases where this substance is produced too much. Most often this happens with diabetes mellitus due to the use of special drugs. But hypoglycemia can occur in other cases:
- with improper metabolism and adrenal gland pathologies;
- with impaired liver function, cirrhosis or improper production of enzymes;
- after prolonged fasting;
- with heart and kidney failure;
- during severe infectious diseases;
- with improper nutrition with excessive consumption of carbohydrate food, because of which the body gets used to produce a lot of insulin;
- after strong physical exertion, for example, when playing sports;
- with the abuse of alcoholic beverages, which also require a lot of insulin for their assimilation;
- after taking some medications. In addition to special means for treating diabetes, salicylates, quinine and sulfur preparations can cause hypoglycemia syndrome;
- with the development of a tumor or other abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract.
Hypoglycemia in diabetes
If people who do not need to control their blood sugar rarely associate their ailments with its low content, then patients with diabetes should know what hypoglycemia is. This condition they can develop in a short time and quickly lead to loss of consciousness and even death. Therefore, it is very important for them to follow all the doctor's recommendations and the exact dosage of taking the medicine. Indeed, a sharp decrease in sugar levels most often occurs in those who are diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Hypoglycemia in this case is the result of improper dosage of drugs or non-compliance with the diet. If this happens often, then you need to consult a doctor about changing the treatment regimen. But it happens that hypoglycemia develops in type 2 diabetes. This can happen with an overdose of sugar-lowering drugs, with a poor diet or increased physical exertion. In patients with impaired renal function, a sharp decrease in sugar levels is also possible.
What drugs can cause hypoglycemia
Sometimes this condition is a consequence of not only malnutrition, but also the use of certain drugs in large doses. What means can lead to a drop in sugar levels?
- insulin injections;
- sulfonamide sugar-lowering drugs ;
- high doses of salicylates, for example, Aspirin;
- sometimes hypoglycemia can be a side effect after taking drugs such as Diabines, Amaryl, Glucotro, Pranin, Yanuvia and others.
What you need to know for patients with diabetes
Diabetics must clearly follow all the doctor's recommendations. You need to know that hypoglycemia develops very quickly, and sometimes its first symptoms can not be noticed. A sharp decrease in blood sugar is very dangerous for the body and can lead to loss of consciousness and coma. This condition is especially common in people who exceed doses of insulin preparations. Patients should also remember that you can not skip meals, eat very little and expose yourself to intense physical exertion on an empty stomach. Diabetics should always carry foods that can quickly increase their sugar levels, or glucose in tablets. And when the first symptoms of hypoglycemia appear, you need to eat a couple of caramels, 2-3 pieces of sugar, a spoonful of honey, drink half a glass of fruit juice or any sweet drink. It is necessary to regularly measure blood sugar and when leaving home, take a bracelet or card with medical information about your illness and the necessary medicines with you. After all, the symptoms of hypoglycemic coma are not known to everyone, and help in this case must be provided immediately.
How does the disease manifest
Each person's symptoms of the disease may be different. It depends on the state of health, the reasons for the decrease in sugar and the degree of development of hypoglycemia. Usually, with a mild form of the disease, a person experiences the following symptoms:
- profuse sweating;
- a strong feeling of hunger;
- tingling or numbness of the lips and fingertips;
- heart palpitations;
- muscle weakness or trembling of the limbs;
- pallor of the face.
In the chronic form of the disease, depression, irritability, anxiety and sleep disturbances can develop. A person experiences constant fatigue, a sense of fear, often yawns. He may have high blood pressure, headaches and angina attacks. In severe cases of hypoglycemia, the patient's behavior changes, speech confusion, impaired coordination of movements and visual impairment can be observed.
Symptoms of hypoglycemic coma
With a sharp decrease in sugar, as well as in cases where a person does not take any measures when the first symptoms of the disease appear, severe brain damage may occur. Convulsions appear, the patient may lose consciousness or fall into a coma. His friends and relatives should know the signs of this condition so that emergency care is provided on time. How to understand that a person who has lost consciousness has fallen into a hypoglycemic coma?
- he has excessive sweating;
- heart palpitations and tachycardia;
- body temperature and pressure decrease;
- the patient loses sensitivity to external stimuli, even to pain;
- he is very pale;
- convulsions may also occur.
Urgent Care
In case of loss of consciousness, others should immediately call an ambulance.
If possible, it is advisable to inject glucose or glycogen, a hormone that quickly raises sugar levels. You can turn the patient to one side and carefully place a little honey or glucose gel over the cheek. Even with an inaccurate diagnosis, this does not harm as much as low blood glucose. If the patient is conscious, then the help with hypoglycemia is to give him something sweet to eat along with complex carbohydrates that will not allow sugar to decrease further. With a light form, a couple of sweets or a little fruit juice are enough. It is undesirable for these purposes to use sweet carbonated drinks, as they contain sweeteners. Diabetic patients usually carry a few slices of sugar or glucose in tablets.
Hypoglycemia Prevention
To prevent the onset of this condition, it is necessary to observe the correct diet, not to get involved in low-calorie diets and avoid over-exertion and stress. And patients with diabetes should know that hypoglycemia is a dangerous condition caused by lowering blood sugar, and constantly use a glucometer.
They need to follow a special diet, for example, "table 9". With diabetes, it is very important not to skip a meal and be sure to eat something after exercise and taking insulin. Those people who are at risk for hypoglycemia should always carry glucose tablets or a few sugar cubes with them. Complex carbohydrates, for example, cereals, fruits or grain bread, must be present in the diet. Only they can provide regular, normal blood sugar levels.
Hypoglycemia in children
Most often, this condition is associated with congenital insufficiency of liver enzymes or endocrine disorders. Low sugar is very dangerous for the health of the child, as it slows down mental and physical development and can lead to death. It is especially difficult to diagnose the disease in infants.
Hypoglycemia in a newborn can occur for many reasons. Most often, these are congenital abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract, tumors, or hormonal imbalances. If the mother has diabetes and has taken insulin during pregnancy, it can also cause hypoglycemia in the baby after birth. Often this condition occurs in premature babies. It is very important to provide the child with medical care on time. And parents of older children with hypoglycemia should carefully monitor their diet: animal proteins and starch should be excluded, there should be more fruits and whole grains in the diet, and the baby should take food as often as possible in small portions.