Hypoglycemia - symptoms, causes, treatment with folk remedies. Hypoglycemia: what is it, causes, symptoms, treatment

Hypoglycemia is a condition of the body, which is characterized by a drop in the glucose level in the blood to such indicators, in which, first of all, the brain cells and the whole body experience energy starvation due to insufficient amount of glucose. This disrupts their functions, which are manifested by various clinical symptoms.

Hypoglycemia can be true and false (no less dangerous). With false hypoglycemia, blood sugar levels can be either normal or elevated. This is usually associated with a rapid drop in blood sugar levels from high enough values to low rates, for example, from 20-25 to 10-15 mmol / L.

True hypoglycemia is characterized by blood sugar levels below 3.3 mmol / l, so it can be argued that hypoglycemia is a kind of reaction of the body to a rapid drop in blood sugar levels below the usual values. When blood sugar is lowered, the production of glucose from glycogen is suppressed as well as the action of insulin. Then, some mechanisms are activated that help the body form additional carbohydrates, so consciousness is gradually restored even without appropriate treatment. However, this does not mean that hypoglycemia does not need to be treated. for all tissues and organs, especially for the brain, starvation occurs, which is characterized by a peculiar symptomatic picture.

Hypoglycemia causes

Hypoglycemia develops for a number of reasons, which include increased production of insulin in the pancreas; enough high rate insulin, as well as other drugs in patients with diabetes mellitus; changes in the work of the pituitary gland and adrenal glands; violation of the metabolism of carbohydrates in the liver.

Also, hypoglycemia can be conditionally divided into a dependent disease from medicines and no. Typically, medication-dependent hypoglycemia occurs among diagnosed patients. The second variant of the pathological condition is observed as fasting hypoglycemia, which occurs after hunger, and in the form of a reactive form of hypoglycemia, which occurs after the intake of carbohydrate food.

Very often, hypoglycemia can be caused by insulin or sulfonylurea drugs, which are prescribed to patients with diabetes to lower blood sugar levels. If the dose of the drug is too high in relation to the food eaten, the drug can reduce sugar to too low values. Patients ill severe form diabetes, in the main, and fall into the risk group for hypoglycemia. As a rule, this is due to insufficient production of islet cells of the pancreas glucagon, and adrenal glands - adrenaline. But it is these hormones that take a direct role in the mechanisms of the first defense against this hypoglycemia. Other drugs can also cause this disease.

Very often hypoglycemia is diagnosed in mentally unstable people who secretly take sugar-lowering drugs or self-administer insulin. This is due to free access to medicines.

Sufficiently severe hypoglycemia, and sometimes stupor can be observed in persons in alcoholic intoxication as well as alcohol abusers and neglected proper nutrition... As a result, the liver runs out of carbohydrates.

Hypoglycemic stupor can occur with even a small amount of alcohol in the blood, but below the level that is allowed for driving by car. Therefore, it is not always possible for a traffic police inspector or a medical worker to determine that a person has a stupor as a result of an illness, and not a symptom of a drunken state.

Sometimes hypoglycemia can occur in a healthy person who has had strenuous physical activity. With prolonged fasting, the symptoms of hypoglycemia can be observed simultaneously with the pathology of the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland, as well as after alcohol abuse. IN this case severe depletion of carbohydrates occurs, which cannot maintain normal blood glucose levels. But in some cases, hypoglycemia appears immediately after fasting. In children with a disorder of any enzyme system of the liver, signs of hypoglycemia occur in the intervals between breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The alimentary form of hypoglycemia occurs in people who have undergone gastric resection. In this case, sugar is absorbed too quickly, which stimulates the production of insulin, which in large quantities causes a decrease in blood sugar. If hypoglycemia of the alimentary type develops without apparent reasons then it is idiopathic alimentary hypoglycemia.

Some foods containing fructose or galactose, which interfere with the release of glucose from the liver, can also be attributed to the reasons that cause the disease. And leucine is involved in stimulating excess insulin in the pancreas. Thus, these foods lower blood sugar after a certain amount of time after a meal.

In addition, insulinomas can trigger hypoglycemia as a result of overproduction of insulin. Very rarely, tumors that are not localized in the pancreas can cause the development of a disease.

A rare cause of a hypoglycemic condition is an autoimmune disorder. In this case, the body tries to develop insulin antibodies, which leads to a sharp fluctuation, since the pancreas produces an excess amount of insulin to neutralize the antibodies. This condition can be found both in patients with diabetes mellitus and in those who do not have this disease.

The development of hypoglycemia can be affected by cardiac or renal failure, severe infections, malignant pathologies in the form of tumors, irrational and unhealthy nutrition, shock, viral and cirrhosis. All these diseases can cause the appearance of a hypoglycemic state.

Hypoglycemia symptoms

The clinical picture with hypoglycemia consists of symptoms that can be divided into certain categories. They are characterized general violations, vegetative, neurological and metabolic. It is not always possible to differentiate them and to carry out the ratio of blood sugar levels. But there is a certain pattern: with hypoglycemia, the glucose concentration decreases to almost 3 mmol / l. It was then that general symptoms and vegetative, with a small amount neurological manifestations... But with a sugar concentration of 2.3 to 2.7 mmol / l, hypoglycemic coma develops.

The general symptoms of hypoglycemia are characterized by anxiety, pain in the head, irritation, nervousness, constant hunger and burning in the epigastric region. However, all these symptoms cannot confirm hypoglycemia, but with their complex combination, a hypoglycemic state can be diagnosed.

Vegetative disorders are caused by tachycardia and the appearance of tremors in the muscles. Then there is a pulsation in the head and on the periphery of the body, which is associated with the rapid movement of blood.

Among autonomic disorders, adrenergic and parasympathetic symptoms are distinguished. In the first case, the clinic of hypoglycemia consists of the appearance of tachycardia, with a predisposition to it, pallor skin, hand tremors (tremors), arterial hypertension and increased respiratory rate. But the symptoms of the parasympathetic clinic consist of a feeling of hunger, rumbling in the stomach, as a result of increased peristalsis in the stomach and intestines, as well as the appearance of a burning sensation in the epigastric region. This whole clinical picture is characteristic of the very onset of hypoglycemia, therefore it is very important to always differentiate these symptoms from various pathologies metabolism.

With neurological symptoms of hypoglycemia, there is a feeling of a relative energy deficit in the brain, which is characterized by dizziness, pain in the head and pulsation in the vessels. Then the disease turns into severe form, therefore, parts of the cerebral cortex are partially turned off. Focal symptoms are noted in the form of sensory disturbances in some parts of the body, and sometimes motor activity is partially lost.

One of the most severe disorders in hypoglycemia is hypoglycemic coma, which develops as a result of a sharp decrease in glucose. This causes loss of consciousness with a lack of sensitivity on various forms irritation, even pain. After coming out of a coma, patients develop weakness throughout the body, a feeling of fear and disorientation, tremors in the muscles, inadequacy in behavior, appear pathological reflexes... Sometimes, with a deep lesion of the cerebral cortex, patients do not remember everything that was before the onset of hypoglycemic coma.

All these symptoms are observed before loss of consciousness. But the patient does not have time to notice this, since the consciousness turns off quite rapidly. It is this clinical picture that makes it possible to differentiate hypoglycemic coma from hyperglycemic, ketoacidotic and hyperosmolar coma. They are characterized by a gradual shutdown of consciousness with a number of neurological, general and metabolic signs.

Signs of hypoglycemia

In hypoglycemia, a hypoglycemic state and a hypoglycemic coma are distinguished. Symptoms do not always appear gradually. Sometimes, even suddenly, a soporous manifestation of hypoglycemia, convulsions or acute form psychotic syndrome.

Signs of the initial stage of hypoglycemia are severe hunger, hand tremors and autonomic disorders in the form of sweating, pain in the head, a general state of weakness, increased heart rate, causeless irritability, aggressiveness and fear. With the untimely elimination of these signs with the help of food products in which there are easily absorbed carbohydrates, some other symptoms characteristic of this condition intensify or appear. Among them, one can distinguish such as trembling in the body, profuse sweating, double vision, fixed gaze and hemiplegia.

Hypoglycemia is characterized by signs of mental reactions, namely: aggression, agitation, inability to navigate around, and sometimes hallucinations. Very often these signs are mistaken for drunkenness, as a result of alcohol, or hysteria. If the hypoglycemic state is not eliminated at this stage, then convulsive contractions of some muscle groups appear, in particular in the face, and the agitated state also increases, vomiting appears with one or bilateral symptom Babinsky, clonic and tonic convulsions, which provoke epilepsy, also darkening of consciousness occurs and then a coma sets in.

A characteristic sign of hypoglycemia is a change in the cardiovascular system, which is expressed in a decrease in blood pressure, the appearance of an increased heart rate, arrhythmias in the form of extraordinary heart contractions, less often low heart rate, sinus arrhythmia. And the ECG shows depression segment S-T, and the amplitude of the T wave decreases. In patients with a sharp decrease in blood sugar levels, angina attacks are noted. In the blood, slight leukocytosis and lymphocytosis, and sometimes leukopenia, are found.

In the compensated form of diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia has negative values of sugar in the urine and a reaction to acetone. But hypoglycemia of decompensated diabetes is characterized by an increase in hormones such as glucocorticoids, STH, catecholamines and ACTH, which help develop ketoacidosis and form acetone in the urine.

Another sign of hypoglycemia is hypoglycemic coma, which is characterized by sweating, moisture of the skin, pallor of the face, increased muscle tone, tremors, increased tendon reflexes and convulsions. Also, in particular, diastolic blood pressure decreases, the pupils dilate, eyeballs in normal tone or slightly reduced, are noted mental signs with delusional hallucinations. The blood sugar values are quite low and there is no acetone in the urine. Sometimes, during studies at the beginning of the disease, an insignificant content of sugar in the urine of about 1% can be found. And repeated laboratory tests 30 minutes later give a negative response with urinary sediment unchanged.

Hypoglycemia in children

This condition in children is not a rare pathology. Very often, the reasons for the development of childhood hypoglycemia can be various diseases nervous and endocrine systems, as well as stress, physical activity and not balanced diet.

Symptoms of a hypoglycemic state in children are manifested in the form of lethargy, drowsiness, irritability, pallor, sweating, hunger and heart rhythm disturbances. Blood sugar values are at numbers less than 2.2 mmol / L.

Hypoglycemia is very dangerous for a child's life, as it disrupts the body's metabolism and coordination of movement, provokes pain in the head, and contributes to the appearance of seizures and fainting. Frequent hypoglycemic attacks negatively affect the mental and physical development children.

As a rule, hypoglycemia in children can proceed like other diseases. Thus, it is necessary to fully examine the child, since the younger his age, the more often dangerous lesions of the nervous system, mental retardation or epileptic seizures can occur as a result of the sensitivity of his nerve cells to blood sugar variability.

Older children experience the same symptoms of hypoglycemia as adults. They manifest this in the form anxiety, pallor of the face, chills throughout the body, blurred vision and poor coordination. In addition, convulsions appear, tachycardia becomes more frequent, they experience strong feeling hunger and lose consciousness.

There are two main reasons for the development of childhood hypoglycemia, such as an increased content of ketone bodies in the blood and leucine intolerance.

With hypoglycemia in children, acetone appears in the blood in the form of ketone bodies, which is characterized by a peculiar acetone odor from the mouth. Since acetone is a toxic substance, the corresponding signs of its action on the nervous system are poisoning with nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fainting. In this situation, the child's stomach is washed soda solution or mineral water, causing vomiting. And to replenish glucose, they give a little honey or sugar, and you can also tableted glutamic acid. After suffering an attack, the child should be monitored by a specialist, he needs to constantly measure blood sugar, as well as make a urine analysis for the existing ketone bodies.

For the treatment of children with hypoglycemia, a balanced diet is used with the exclusion of animal fats and simple carbohydrates. Preference is given to dairy products and seafood, juices, fruits and vegetables. It is important to take food seven times a day and in small quantities.

In rare cases, as a result of metabolic disorders of a congenital nature, incompatibility of the body with the leucine amino acid, which is part of proteins, is noted in children. This phenomenon has received such a name as leucine hypoglycemia, which occurs mainly in young children. A small amount of something sweet may slightly improve the patient's condition. But a balanced diet with this form of hypoglycemia is very difficult to maintain, since the growing body constantly needs protein. Generally, you should exclude eggs and milk, as well as pasta, nuts, and fish. Therefore, in order to compose a diet for sick children with leucine hypoglycemia, the help of a dietitian is needed.

It is important to remember that early detection symptoms of hypoglycemia in a child will allow to detect its causes as early as possible, and this will lead to a successful outcome of treatment. Also, in order to avoid complications in childhood hypoglycemia, it is necessary to monitor the amount of blood sugar and its stable content.

Hypoglycemia treatment

The period of treatment for hypoglycemia in the first stage, before hospitalization of the patient, consists in a sufficient intake of food that contains carbohydrates and is included in the patient's usual diet with the presence of sweet tea and fruit juices.

In the second stage of hypoglycemia, it is necessary to immediately consume foods with easily digestible carbohydrates, such as jam, compote with sugar, sweet tea, sweets, fruit syrup. As a rule, such food containing fructose and sucrose prevents the progression of the hypoglycemic state and normalizes the glycemic level and the patient's condition. Patients are not hospitalized without specific indications.

In the third stage of hypoglycemia, in order to provide effective emergency care, it is necessary to immediately inject intravenously a 40% glucose solution up to 100 ml in order to avoid the occurrence of cerebral edema. The patient, as a rule, is hospitalized in this condition in order to prevent early consequences hypoglycemia and adjust sugar-lowering therapy.

Hypoglycemic coma or fourth and fifth stages of hypoglycemia are treated either in the intensive care unit or in the ward intensive care... In this form of hypoglycemia, first, intravenous jet injection of 80-100 ml of 40% glucose solution is prescribed and intramuscular - 1 ml of Glucagon, and then intravenous drip from 200 to 400 ml of 5% glucose solution. Be sure to maintain the blood sugar level in the range from 6 to 9 mmol / l. If it is not possible to achieve effectiveness in treatment, adrenaline is injected subcutaneously. Basically, all these manipulations restore the patient's consciousness. It is only important to remember that the hormones administered are closely related to the action of endogenous glucose, as well as glycogen from the liver. Therefore, frequent use of these drugs is not recommended, as it can lead to a deterioration in the patient's condition.

If the measures taken do not restore the patient's consciousness, then hydrocortisone is administered intramuscularly or intravenously. As a rule, after this, the patient's condition stabilizes, but consciousness does not return immediately. In this case, the administration of Glucose and Insulin continues, and Potassium preparations are taken. To improve the processes of glucose utilization, ascorbic acid is introduced.

For the prophylactic purpose of cerebral edema, intravenous slow administration of magnesium sulfate or intravenous drip administration of Mannitol from 200 to 250 ml is used. Oxygen therapy is also given to patients. Fresh donated blood is sometimes given.

As soon as the patient is taken out of the coma, he is prescribed funds that improve the processes of microcirculation and stimulation of proteins and carbohydrates in the cells of the central nervous system. These include Glutamic acid, Cerebrolysin, Aminalon, Cavinton for three to six weeks, if indicated.

For the prevention of hypoglycemia, it is necessary to prescribe adequate antihyperglycemic therapy with the use of Insulin, therefore, overdose of the drug should be avoided. And the second component of prevention is the correct distribution of carbohydrates in the diet, as well as moderate regulation physical activity throughout the day and additional consumption of carbohydrates.

Diet for hypoglycemia

It is believed that hypoglycemia after a meal is beneficially affected limited use carbohydrates in the diet. Although the methods of such control in dietary treatment have never been held. However, if you look from the point of view of physiology, then this approach can have positive results, because hypoglycemic attacks develop, as a rule, after eating glucose-containing foods.

Dietary measures can help most patients, especially in the early stages of the disease, in which medications are indicated in rare cases.

There is some controversy on the issue of the degree of carbohydrate restriction. One category of authors adheres to a diet with a fairly low amount of carbohydrates, about one hundred grams. But they cause ketosis, impair glucose tolerance, and reduce amino acid storage after eating protein. Incredibly, even healthy people who adhere to such a diet, with a high glucose load, can become hostages of hypoglycemia. It is for this reason that the intake of carbohydrates cannot be absolutely ruled out, since this can provoke the appearance of characteristic clinical symptoms if you do not follow a diet. Therefore, treatment begins with a slight restriction of carbohydrates from 120 to 150 g.

It is very important to limit not only the amount of carbohydrates, but also the type of foods in which they are contained. Simple sugars must be absolutely eliminated. Carbohydrates should be consumed as starch in foods such as pasta, bread, potatoes, rice, which should be eaten up to three times a day in small portions with the same amount of snacks. If you cannot succeed using this diet food, then resort to greater restriction of carbohydrates.

In some cases, the diet does not work at all. positive results, and sometimes even worsens the symptoms of hypoglycemia, which should cause the doctor's alertness about fasting hypoglycemia or, in general, talk about the absence this disease with the corresponding complaints of the patient. If dietary nutrition is ineffective in limiting carbohydrates and in the absence of hypoglycemic genesis, drug therapy is prescribed.

As a rule, it is prescribed for hypoglycemia. In this case, conditions are created that normalize the metabolism of carbohydrates in the body. Dishes are prepared from certain food products, which contain insignificant amounts of both carbohydrates and fats. It is strictly forbidden to use sugar, honey and jam, as well as various sweets and confectionery. These products are used to relieve hypoglycemic episodes, or as a snack before significant physical exertion.

The peculiarity of the diet for hypoglycemia is that it is necessary to keep a daily diary with the calculation of the amount of fats, carbohydrates and proteins in food. It is also important to maintain control over chemical composition dishes.

Patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, in general, have a significantly increased appetite, and they are in a state of constant hunger. Thus, patients with such a diagnosis need to eat foods that saturate the stomach, contain a large amount of fiber, but with a low calorie content, that is, vegetables.

The daily diet for the treatment of hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus should include foods such as black (240g) or White bread(180g), butter (15g), vegetable oil(10g), carrots (200g) or apples, potatoes (200g), pasta (20g), cereals (60g), cheese (20g), egg (1 pc.), Fish, boiled or baked meat. Sugar is replaced with sweeteners.

Foods are usually cooked, but it is advisable to limit the use of fried foods and not oversalt food. In addition, the body must receive sufficient amounts of vitamins, especially from group B and ascorbic acid... Meals should be fractional and frequent. Almost half of the diet should include carbohydrates, and these are legumes, cereals, fruits, grains, pasta. Of course, it is better to opt for foods that are rich in fiber, as they gradually increase the amount of glucose in the blood.

One of the most important substances in the human body is glucose. It is the main source of energy for the work of the brain and all organs; it is involved in the production of certain amino acids and vitamins. If there is not enough glucose in the blood, hypoglycemia develops. This is pathological condition, in which there is an energy starvation of the body. It can lead to serious consequences for good health. The state of hypoglycemia most often occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus due to the fact that they have a disturbed process of assimilation of glucose. But it can also occur in healthy people under the influence of various reasons.

Blood sugar

The vital activity of the body is supported by metabolic processes. This is a metabolism that ensures the supply of all the necessary trace elements and energy to the cells, as well as the excretion of waste products of cells. For the brain and all organs to function, glucose is needed first of all. It is supplied to the body only with food. But sugars aren't the only source of glucose. It is also produced from any carbohydrates. They are all processed at different rates.

For the assimilation of glucose by cells, insulin is necessary - a special hormone. As soon as sugar enters the bloodstream from the gastrointestinal tract, this substance begins to be intensively produced by the pancreas. Insulin helps cells use the sugar that has been added, converting it into energy. In healthy people, it is produced exactly as much as is needed to assimilate glucose from food. In addition, there are stores of glucose in the body in the form of glycogen, which is found in the liver. And excess carbohydrates are also stored in fat.

Therefore, it is very important to maintain a consistently normal blood glucose level. An increase in it can lead to obesity or diabetes mellitus, and hypoglycemia develops with low sugar levels. Insulin processes glucose from the blood, so this condition often occurs when diabetics are not properly dosing the drug. But it can also develop in healthy people with an unbalanced diet.

What is hypoglycemia

Normal blood glucose levels in a healthy person range from 3.8 to 6.5 mmol / L. If this figure falls to 3.3 or even lower, hypoglycemia develops. This is a pathological condition that can threaten the patient's life if not stopped. Most often, a sharp drop in glucose levels occurs in diabetic patients who inject themselves too large doses insulin or do not follow your doctor's recommended dietary regimen. But hypoglycemia is a condition that can occur in perfectly healthy people. Insufficient intake of glucose from food, high energy expenditure, stress or intake of some drugs can cause this pathology.

Development stages

Signs of hypoglycemia vary depending on the severity of the disease. There are three stages: light, medium and severe. At mild hypoglycemia, the sugar level drops below 3.8 mmol / l. A person may feel hunger or, conversely, nausea, he becomes cold, his heart rate may increase. There is an inexplicable anxiety, irritability. Healthy people rarely associate these early signs of hypoglycemia with a drop in blood sugar. This attitude leads to a worsening of the condition and a further decrease in the amount of glucose in the blood.

If its level reaches 2.8 mmol / l, hypoglycemia of moderate severity develops. In this case, all the symptoms intensify: irritability, anxiety, impaired consciousness and memory. The patient's eyesight deteriorates, his head hurts and is dizzy. Is developing severe weakness, coordination of movements may be impaired. If you do not provide help in time for moderate hypoglycemia, it goes into the last stage. Moreover, the deterioration of the condition can develop very quickly. In just 20-30 minutes, hypoglycemia turns into the most severe stage.

At the same time, the glucose level reaches 2.2 mmol / l and drops below. The patient is overexcited, aggressiveness is possible. Body temperature drops significantly, sweating increases. Tonic cramps often occur, in which the muscles long time cannot relax, hand tremors. The patient may lose consciousness. In this state, he is no longer able to help himself, so he must be taken to a medical facility. If the sugar level is below 2 mmol / L, hypoglycemic coma occurs, which can result in death.

Hypoglycemia: causes of

In patients with diabetes mellitus, this pathology may occur due to wrong treatment or non-compliance with the diet. Why does hypoglycemia develop in healthy people? It can be caused by various factors:

Diseases causing hypoglycemia

Often, a decrease in blood sugar levels develops due to various health conditions. What diseases cause hypoglycemia?

Diabetes.
Hypothyroidism, adrenal dysfunction.
Insulinoma is a tumor on the pancreas.
Liver diseases, especially cirrhosis and viral hepatitis.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to impaired absorption of carbohydrates.
Meningitis, encephalitis.
Heart failure.
Kidney disease.
Sepsis.
Congenital abnormalities of insulin secretion and glucose uptake.

Hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus

Most often, this condition occurs if a person has insulin-dependent diabetes. Hypoglycemia develops when a patient injects himself with more insulin than is required to process the glucose present in the blood. After all, diabetics do not have large reserves of glycogen, they are forced to control the level of carbohydrates entering the body. With this disease, you must observe strict diet, calculating how much glucose you need to consume (it is counted in XE - bread units), depending on physical activity. But mistakes are possible at the initial stages of the disease, as well as in violation of the daily regimen or nutrition. In diabetes, an attack of hypoglycemia is caused by the following reasons:

incorrect dosage of insulin;
drinking alcoholic beverages;
prolonged fasting, often even skipping one meal, leads to a decrease in glucose levels;
low level of carbohydrates in food;
the use of drugs that enhance the effect of insulin, such as "Aspirin", "Warfarin", "Glinaza" and others.

In addition to a pathological decrease in glucose levels, symptomatic hypoglycemia occurs in diabetes mellitus. The patient feels all the signs of pathology in the case when sugar drops sharply from high to normal performance... To avoid problems, diabetics need to follow a strict diet, follow all the doctor's recommendations and check their blood for sugar several times a day.

Hypoglycemia syndrome

Blood sugar levels can gradually decrease, or can drop sharply to critical readings. In the second case, they talk about an attack of hypoglycemia, in which the patient may fall into a coma. But the gradual decrease in glucose and its constantly low level is also dangerous. At the same time, a special symptom complex develops, which characterizes the hypoglycemic syndrome. In patients with this pathology, memory and intellectual functions deteriorate, concentration of attention is impaired, and often the head hurts and is dizzy. Paresthesias or numbness of the extremities are possible. The patient's skin is pale, he experiences chills, increased sweating.

But the main symptom of hypoglycemia syndrome is chronic fatigue and severe weakness. After all, due to low glucose levels, energy is constantly not enough. The patient feels irritability, anxiety, drowsiness. He feels tired in the morning, just getting out of bed. In addition, the patient is constantly hungry. He notices that eating something sweet, such as fruit juice, soda, or candy, makes him feel better. But the relief does not last long. Sharp rise the level of glucose caused by fast carbohydrates leads to increased production of insulin, which is quickly processed. Therefore, the patient's condition gradually deteriorates without treatment.

Signs of an attack of hypoglycemia

Symptoms of low blood sugar do not always appear gradually. Sometimes there can be a sharp drop when a coma occurs within half an hour. Therefore, it is very important to know how an attack of hypoglycemia develops in order to be in time to provide assistance. It is necessary to take action when the following symptoms appear:

sudden weakness, drowsiness;
severe hunger;
nausea;
sweating, chills;
shaking hands;
tachycardia;
a feeling of fear;
double vision, circles before the eyes;
confusion of speech and consciousness.

If the blood sugar level is not raised, this is followed by loss of consciousness, coma and death. Therefore, the patient, while he is still able, needs to eat something sweet or drink fruit juice.

Why hypoglycemia is dangerous

A strong sharp drop in blood sugar without timely assistance leads to the death of the patient, as cell death begins. The brain is especially affected because of this, therefore, with a glucose level below 2 mmol / l, a hypoglycemic coma occurs. But its constantly low level can also be dangerous. First of all, because the death of small capillaries begins, due to which blindness or angiopathy of the vessels of the legs develops.

Serious health consequences only appear if hypoglycemia is moderate to severe or if low blood sugar persists for a long time. This leads to irreversible changes in nervous system the patient. Not only vision is impaired, changes affect speech, coordination of movements and all major senses.

First aid for hypoglycemia

It is especially important to know how to help with hypoglycemia, people who are near a patient with diabetes mellitus. With this disease, it is very important to stop the attack in a timely manner so that it does not go into a coma. For the same reason, the patient is advised to always carry a card with information about his illness. After all, hypoglycemia is a condition that can catch a person at any time. When the first symptoms appear, you need to eat or drink something containing fast carbohydrates. Therefore, a diabetic patient should always have such products at hand:

fruit juice;
candy or chocolate;
a lump of sugar;
biscuit;
banana or dried apricots;
cheese or milk;
corn syrup;
glucose tablet.

After 15 minutes, it is advisable to measure the sugar level, if it has not risen above 3.8 mmol / l, you need to eat some of these products again, but a little, since an increased glucose level is no less dangerous. In severe cases, when the patient loses consciousness and cannot swallow, it is important to provide first aid on time. There is a glucose preparation in the form of a gel. They can lubricate the mouth, where sugar will begin to be absorbed into the blood. As first aid you can give an intramuscular injection of 1 ml of "Glucagon".

Hypoglycemia treatment

Patients with diabetes mellitus must inform their doctor if symptoms of hypoglycemia occur more often than twice a week. This means that you need to adjust the diet and dosage of insulin. People without diabetes also need to see a doctor in time. In any case, after providing first aid to the patient, treatment consists in eliminating the cause of the decrease in sugar. Therefore it is necessary full examination... It will help determine the presence of endocrine diseases, hormonal imbalances and other diseases.

If the examination did not reveal any pathologies, the development of hypoglycemia may be associated with other reasons. In this case, your doctor may recommend changing your diet. The patient must definitely consume carbohydrates. Special attention need to be given to sweets. Sugar, candy, honey - these foods can help increase sugar levels during hypoglycemia. But in the daily diet, the so-called slow carbohydrates must be present: cereals, whole grain bread, fruits, vegetables. They will help not only replenish energy reserves, but also create glycogen stores. This will prevent your sugar levels from dropping later.

In a severe attack, only a medical facility can treat hypoglycemia. Preparations containing glucose can quickly raise blood sugar levels. Shown intravenous injection glucose, intramuscular - "Glucagon". In case of loss of consciousness, 1-2 ml of "Adrenaline" is injected subcutaneously.

Prevention of low sugar

In healthy people, the state of hypoglycemia develops only in extreme conditions... To avoid this, it is necessary to dose physical activity, avoid long periods of fasting, and eat right. It is very important that the diet contains as few fast carbohydrates as possible, but be sure to eat cereals, whole grain breads, legumes, vegetables and fruits every day. With frequent attacks of hypoglycemia, you should always have a chocolate bar, juice or cookies with you. But you cannot get carried away with this, it is better to undergo an examination and find out the reasons for this condition.

do not exceed the dosage of insulin;
measure sugar levels several times a day;
avoid periods of prolonged fasting;
do not drink alcohol;
observe the diet;
take any medication only after consulting a doctor.

Hypoglycemia is a condition that is often ignored by healthy people. But it is necessary to know about its signs and possible consequences not only for patients with diabetes mellitus, but also for every person.

A sharp decrease in plasma glucose levels provokes a hypoglycemic state. In a healthy person, the glucose level is always within the normal range, but if the body has dangerous pathologies, an attack of hypoglycemia may occur, which is dangerous for a person, because with it the cells of the brain and internal organs are starving, which leads to disruption of their work.

What are the reasons?

The etiology of such a disorder is an increase in the hormone insulin in the blood, which eliminates glucose at an accelerated rate, and sugar levels drop sharply. Such a pathology often develops in patients with diabetes mellitus, but in healthy people, symptoms of hypoglycemia can sometimes be observed. In type 1 diabetes, as well as type 2, the causes of hypoglycemia are as follows:

non-compliance with the dosage prescribed by the doctor, when the hormone insulin was injected more than prescribed;
if a person, at his own discretion, uses medications that affect the reduction of sugar;
when a person takes long breaks between meals.

Causes of the disease in a healthy person

Hypoglycemia is not limited to diabetic patients. This condition occurs in perfectly healthy people, but it is no less dangerous, since unpredictable consequences can develop. In adults who have not had health problems, blood sugar levels can drop for the following reasons:

Endocrine pathologies. If the thyroid gland malfunctions, hypoglycemia may appear.
Chronic pathology of the digestive system. Low sugar in plasma may be the result of a violation of the normal process of assimilation of food, then the patient develops severe hypoglycemia, the symptoms of which should not be ignored.
Frequent deliberate hunger strikes. Such situations are mainly observed in women with eating disorders.
Violation of the functioning of vital internal organs:
- liver;
- hearts;
- kidneys.
Pancreatic tumors. Neoplasms lead to hyperfunction of the gland, which will immediately affect the sugar level and lead to its decrease.
Physiological hypoglycemia. More often it is congenital pathology, which is characterized by insufficient production of glucose.
Dehydration. Hypoglycemic disease can develop due to non-compliance with the water-salt balance in the body. As a result, vital glucose, micro- and macroelements leave the body along with sweat, while their balance is not replenished.

What are the symptoms?

Dehydration of the body can trigger the development of hypoglycemia.

The main symptoms of hypoglycemia appear quickly. To prevent possible complications when a person gets worse, it is important to identify the violation in time and treat it correctly. The developing signs of hypoglycemia are as follows:

night sweating;
weakness before and feeling better after eating;
frequent fainting and deterioration in general health;
increased appetite;
irritation;
violation of the heart rate;
muscle spasms.

If it was not possible to find out the mechanism of the development of hypoglycemia, diabetics and people who periodically suffer from an illness may develop irreversible processes in which the work of not only internal organs is disrupted. With frequent attacks, brain cells starve, and this leads to disorders in the central nervous system, the patient may become disabled.

Features during pregnancy

It is important for pregnant women to follow the doctor's recommendations in order to avoid a pathological condition.

Hypoglycemic syndrome can occur in pregnant women, and they do not need to have a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. This condition can negatively affect the condition of the unborn child. With hyperfunction of the pancreas in a pregnant woman, the growth and development of the fetus stops, its internal organs do not receive the necessary nutrients, which is why they are lagging behind in development. With type 2 diabetes, it is important for a pregnant woman to strictly control her condition, and do everything that the doctor advised. Adhering to strict recommendations, you will be able to avoid serious consequences for yourself and the unborn child.

Degrees and danger

The degrees of hypoglycemia are presented in the table:

First aid for hypoglycemia

The blood pressure drops sharply during hypoglycemia, so it is also important to monitor its behavior.

Glucose tablets should always be with a diabetic.

First aid during the relief of hypoglycemia is to normalize the condition and eliminate dangerous consequences... Every patient with diabetes should have glucose tablets with them, which should be taken as soon as they feel worse. It is important to take the remedy, according to a certain dosage, otherwise, due to a sharp increase in plasma sugar, hypoglycemia will change to something else, no less dangerous condition called hyperglycemia. After taking a glucose-containing product, it is important to measure the sugar level, if a person is very ill, it is worth calling " ambulance».

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that requires knowledge and high level discipline. If it is not treated, sooner or later there will be consequences in the form of damage to nerve tissues and blood vessels, if treated too hard, overstating the dose of drugs, hypoglycemia will develop.

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Excessively low blood sugar is even more dangerous than high blood sugar, since changes in the body occur much faster, and medical assistance might just be late. To protect themselves from the effects of hypoglycemia, each patient with diabetes should clearly understand the mechanism of development of this complication, be able to determine the decrease in sugar by the first signs, and know how to stop hypoglycemia of varying severity.

Due to the fact that this condition quickly leads to clouding of consciousness and fainting, it will not be superfluous to learn the rules of emergency care for your family and colleagues.

Hypoglycemia - what is it

Hypoglycemia is considered any decrease in blood sugar to 3.3 mmol / L or less when measured with a portable glucometer, regardless of the cause of its occurrence and the presence or absence of symptoms. For venous blood a decrease to 3.5 is considered dangerous.

Healthy people do not even think about which complex processes occur in their body after the usual breakfast. The digestive organs process the incoming carbohydrates, saturate the blood with sugar. The pancreas in response to an increase in glucose levels produces the required amount of insulin. The latter, in turn, signals the tissues that it is time to recharge, and helps the sugar get into the cell. Several chemical reactions take place in the cell, as a result of which glucose breaks down into carbon dioxide and water, and the body receives the energy it needs. If a person goes to workout, the muscles will need more sugar, the missing one will lend the liver. With the next meal, the stores of glucose in the liver and muscles will be restored.

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With diabetes, patients are forced to manually regulate the process of glucose uptake by controlling its intake with food and stimulating its absorption by cells with the help of hypoglycemic drugs and insulin. Naturally, artificial maintenance of glucose in the blood cannot do without errors. Once the sugar in the blood turns out to be more than prescribed, it begins to destroy the blood vessels and nerves of the patient, arises. Sometimes glucose is insufficient and hypoglycemia develops.

The task of a diabetic patient is to ensure that these fluctuations are minimal, and in time to eliminate deviations in blood sugar from normal level... Diabetes without sharp jumps sugar is called compensated. Only long-term diabetes compensation guarantees an active and long life.

Causes of hypoglycemia

The causes of hypoglycemia are varied. They include not only nutritional deficiencies or drug overdose in diabetes mellitus, but also a drop in glucose levels in physiological reasons and due to the pathology of various organs.

Causes of hypoglycemia		a brief description of
Physiological
Carbohydrate starvation	In healthy people, lack of food turns on compensatory mechanisms, glucose from the liver enters the bloodstream. Hypoglycemia develops gradually, a strong decrease in sugar is very rare. In type 2 diabetes, glycogen stores are insignificant, as the patient adheres to. Hypoglycemia develops faster.
Physical exercise	Long-term muscle work requires increased number glucose. After depletion of reserves in the liver and muscles, its level in the blood also decreases.
Stress	Nervous tension activates work endocrine system, the production of insulin increases. It is the lack of glucose that explains the desire to "seize" the problem. Such hypoglycemia can be dangerous in type 2 diabetes with high pancreatic function.
Reactive hypoglycemia due to a single dose a large number	The pancreas responds to the rapid rise in sugar by releasing a portion of insulin with a reserve. As a result, blood glucose decreases, the body requires new carbohydrates to eliminate hypoglycemia, and a feeling of hunger arises.
Transient hypoglycemia	It is observed in newborns with a low glycogen store. The reasons are prematurity, diabetes mellitus in the mother, difficult childbirth with large blood loss in the mother or hypoxia in the fetus. Once you start eating, your glucose levels return to normal. In difficult cases, transistor hypoglycemia is eliminated intravenous administration glucose.
False hypoglycemia	It develops if, in diabetes, blood sugar drops sharply to values close to normal. Despite the same symptoms as in true hypoglycemia, this condition is not dangerous.
Pathological
Exhaustion or dehydration	When glycogen falls to critical level even healthy people have severe hypoglycemia.
Liver disease	Dysfunction of the liver leads to impaired access to the glycogen depot or its depletion.
Endocrine system diseases	Hypoglycemia is caused by a lack of hormones involved in glucose metabolism: adrenaline, somatropin, cortisol.
Digestive disorders	Insufficient absorption of carbohydrates due to gastrointestinal diseases.
Lack or defect of enzymes	Violated chemical processes breakdown of sugars, the lack of nutrition of cells is compensated by lowering blood glucose.
Renal failure	The reabsorption of sugar is weakened, as a result of which it is excreted from the body in the urine.
Alcoholic hypoglycemia	When drunk, all the forces of the liver are aimed at eliminating intoxication, glucose synthesis is inhibited. Especially dangerous without a snack or on a low-carb diet.
	A tumor of the pancreas that produces large amounts of insulin.

In diabetes, errors in treatment can also lead to hypoglycemia:

Overdose of insulin or drugs that lower sugar.
After taking medication, a diabetic patient forgets to eat.
Defective meter or insulin delivery devices.
Incorrect calculation of the dose of drugs by the attending physician or painful diabetes -.
Incorrect injection technique -.
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What signs are observed

Symptoms increase as blood sugar drops. Mild hypoglycemia requires treatment within half an hour after onset, otherwise the decrease in glucose progresses. Most often, the signs are quite obvious and easily recognized by patients. With frequent hypoglycemia, persistently low sugar levels, in the elderly and with a significant history of diabetes, symptoms can be erased. These patients have the highest probability.

Hypoglycemic stage	Sugar indicators, mol / l	Possibility of cupping	Symptoms
Easy	2,7 < GLU < 3,3	Easily eliminated by diabetes patients on their own	Pallor of the skin, internal tremors and tremors of the fingertips, a strong desire to eat, causeless anxiety, nausea, fatigue.
Average	2 < GLU < 2,6	Need help from others	Headache, incoherent movements, numbness of the limbs, dilated pupils, incoherent speech, amnesia, convulsions, dizziness, inadequate reactions to what is happening, fear, aggression.
Heavy	GLU< 2	Immediate health care	Hypertension, impaired consciousness, fainting, respiratory and cardiac disorders, coma.

Sleep hypoglycemia can be recognized by clammy, cold skin, rapid breathing... A diabetic patient wakes up from disturbing sleep and feels tired after waking up.

How to provide first aid correctly

As soon as a diabetic feels any symptoms that can be attributed to the consequences of hypoglycemia, he immediately needs to measure his blood sugar. To do this, you should always have a blood glucose meter with strips with you. First aid for hypoglycemia is oral intake of fast carbohydrates. For an easy rise in sugar, this is enough to completely normalize the patient's condition.

Low sugar before meals is not a reason to postpone treatment for hypoglycemia in the hope that carbohydrates from food will eliminate it. Diabetic diets significantly limit easily digestible sugars, so hypoglycemia can worsen even before food is digested.

The relief of hypoglycemia at the beginning of development is carried out with the help of glucose tablets. They act faster than other means, since absorption into the blood during their use begins in the oral cavity, and then continues in gastrointestinal tract... In addition, the use of tablets makes it easy to calculate the glucose dose that will eliminate hypoglycemia, but will not lead to hyperglycemia.

On average, in a person with diabetes weighing 64 kg, 1 g of glucose provokes an increase in blood sugar by 0.28 mmol / L. If your weight is more, you can calculate the approximate effect of a glucose tablet on sugar values using the inverse proportion.

With a weight of 90 kg, an increase of 64 * 0.28 / 90 = 0.2 mmol / L will occur. For example, sugar dropped to 3 mmol / L. To raise it to 5, you will need (5-3) / 0.2 = 10 g of glucose, or 20 tablets of 500 mg each.

Such pills are inexpensive, sold in every pharmacy. With diabetes, it is advisable to buy several packs at once, put them at home, at work, in all bags and pockets of outerwear. To eliminate hypoglycemia, glucose tablets should always be with you.

IN last resort, can quickly raise sugar:

120 g of sweet juice;
a couple of sweets or pieces of chocolate;
2-3 cubes or the same spoons of refined sugar;
2 tsp honey;
1 banana;
6 dates.

Signs of hypoglycemia in diabetes can be observed within an hour after sugar normalization. They are not dangerous and do not require additional intake of sweets.

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How can hypoglycemia be treated and controlled?

If a diabetic patient has already begun to starve the brain, he is not able to help himself on his own. The impairment of the ability to chew food complicates treatment, so glucose will have to be given in liquid form: either special drug from a pharmacy, or sugar or honey dissolved in water. If there is a tendency to improve the condition, the patient should be additionally given about 15 g of complex carbohydrates. It can be bread, porridge, cookies.

When a patient with diabetes begins to lose consciousness, it is impossible to give him oral glucose due to the threat of asphyxiation. In this case, hypoglycemia is treated with intramuscular or subcutaneous injection glucagon. This medication is sold as kits over the counter emergency with diabetes mellitus. The kit includes a plastic case, a syringe with solvent and a bottle of glucagon powder. The lid of the bottle is pierced with a needle, the liquid is squeezed into it. Without taking out the needle, shake the vial well, and draw the drug back into the syringe.

Glucagon stimulates the rise in blood sugar by prompting the liver and muscles to release the remaining glycogen. Consciousness should return to the patient within 5 minutes after the injection. If this does not happen, the patient's glucose depot is already depleted and repeated injection will not help... You need to call an ambulance, which will inject glucose intravenously.

If a diabetic gets better, after 20 minutes he will be able to answer questions, and after an hour, almost all symptoms will disappear. Within 24 hours after the administration of glucagon, increased attention should be paid to blood sugar, use a glucometer every 2 hours. A repeated drop in performance during this time can be rapid and deadly.

What to do when a diabetic loses consciousness:

If you have a meter, measure your sugar.
If the level is low, try pouring sweet liquid into his mouth, making sure that the patient swallows.
If there is no meter, it should be assumed that giving carbohydrates to a diabetic is less dangerous than not giving them.
If swallowing is impaired, enter glucagon.
Lay the patient on his side, as he may vomit.
If the condition does not improve, call an ambulance.

What is the danger

In the absence of help, a hypoglycemic coma occurs, due to a lack of nutrition, brain cells begin to die off. If by this moment have not started resuscitation measures, the consequences of severe hypoglycemia lead to lethal outcome.

Why mild hypoglycemia is dangerous:

Frequent episodes make the symptoms wear off, making it easy to miss a major drop in blood sugar.
Regular malnutrition of the brain affects the ability to remember, analyze, and think logically.
The risk of ischemia and myocardial infarction increases.
Extremities and retina appear.

Each case of hypoglycemia must be carefully analyzed, its cause identified and eliminated. Due to amnesia, this is not always possible, so it is imperative to keep a diary for diabetes. It indicates fluctuations in sugar during the day, the amount of carbohydrates consumed and the amount of drugs received, an unusual physical activity, cases of alcohol consumption and exacerbation of concomitant diseases.

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Hypoglycemia is a medical condition associated with abnormally low blood glucose levels. People suffering from diabetes mellitus, severe liver and pancreatic diseases, and malfunctions can face hypoglycemic attacks. digestive tract, functional disorders endocrine glands(adrenal cortex, pituitary gland, etc.), some infectious diseases (encephalitis, meningitis). At risk are also individuals who are too active on low-carb diets, which are very popular today with losing weight.

Let's get acquainted with those signs of hypoglycemia, which in no case should be ignored.

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Constant hunger

At mild form hypoglycemia, the feeling of hunger usually occurs suddenly. It is the response of the corresponding brain center to a low blood glucose concentration. Sudden hunger often occurs in diabetics against the background of physical exertion, eating disorders or incorrect use of antihyperglycemic drugs. Hunger can be accompanied by nausea.

In healthy people on a low-carb diet, unexpected hunger also appears due to the refusal of fiber-rich foods (vegetables, fruits, cereals). It is they who, getting into the stomach, create a long-lasting feeling of satiety. With a complete rejection of carbohydrates, a person can be hungry all the time, even immediately after eating.

Source: depositphotos.com

Headaches

A significant decrease in blood glucose levels usually results in a drop in blood pressure... The result is a headache, often accompanied by dizziness. Occasionally, short-term speech disturbances and visual effects (for example, ghosting or color spots in front of the eyes) appear.

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Disorders of the central nervous system

The human body uses glucose as a universal source of energy. With its deficiency in the blood, they especially suffer nerve cells, therefore, signs of deterioration in brain function appear almost immediately.

Hypoglycemia is accompanied by the following manifestations:

drowsiness, lethargy;
difficulties with orientation in space;
disorders of coordination of movements;
impossibility of concentration;
memory impairment;
hand tremor;
fainting;
seizures similar to epileptic seizures.

Lack of help with the onset and increase of these symptoms leads to a hypoglycemic coma, fraught with death.

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Thermoregulation disorders

The lack of "universal fuel" has a bad effect on the state of all organs and systems of the human body. During an attack of hypoglycemia, the patient may experience chills, complain of cold in the fingers and toes. Cold sweat may occur (sweat back surface necks and all hairy part head). If an attack of hypoglycemia occurs at night, the whole body sweats profusely: a person wakes up in completely wet underwear.

Source: depositphotos.com

Weight stabilization while dieting

People trying to get rid of excess weight with the help of low-carbohydrate diets, it is often noticed that at a certain stage, the weight ceases to decrease, despite a severely limited diet. This could be a sign of hypoglycemia. The fact is that with an insufficient intake of carbohydrates, the liver begins to process glycogen stores into glucose, and the intensity of the breakdown of accumulated fats decreases.