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What is low blood glucose?Low blood glucose, also called low blood sugar or hypoglycemia, occurs when the level of glucose in your blood drops below what is healthy for you. For many people with diabetes, this means a blood glucose reading lower than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).1 Your number might be different, so check with your doctor or health care team to find out what blood glucose level is low for you. How common is low blood glucose?Low blood glucose is common among people with type 1 diabetes and among people with type 2 diabetes who take insulin or some other diabetes medicines. In a large global study of people with diabetes who take insulin, 4 in 5 people with type 1 diabetes and nearly half of those with type 2 diabetes reported a low blood sugar event at least once over a 4-week period.2 Severely low blood glucose, defined as when your blood glucose level drops so low you can’t treat it yourself, is less common. Among U.S. adults with diabetes who take insulin or some diabetes medicines that help the pancreas release insulin into the blood, 2 in 100 may develop severely low blood glucose each year.3 Who is more likely to develop low blood glucose?You are more likely to develop low blood glucose if you4
What are the symptoms of low blood glucose?Symptoms of low blood glucose tend to come on quickly and can vary from person to person. As Table 1 below shows, symptoms can range from mild to severe. Table 1. Symptoms of low blood glucose6
Low blood glucose during sleepYour blood glucose level can drop while you sleep and stay low for several hours, causing serious problems.7 Symptoms of low blood glucose while you sleep can include
Although you may not wake up or notice any symptoms, low blood glucose can interfere with your sleep, which may affect your quality of life, mood, and ability to work. Having low blood glucose during sleep can also make you less likely to notice and respond to symptoms of low blood glucose during the day. What are the complications of low blood glucose?Mild-to-moderate low blood glucose can be easily treated. But severely low blood glucose can cause serious complications, including passing out, coma, or death. Repeated episodes of low blood glucose can lead to
What causes low blood glucose in people with diabetes?Low blood glucose levels can be a side effect of insulin or some other medicines that help your pancreas release insulin into your blood. Taking these can lower your blood glucose level. Two types of diabetes pills can cause low blood glucose
Insulin and some other diabetes medicines can lower your blood glucose level. The following may also lower your blood glucose level
How can I prevent low blood glucose if I have diabetes?If you take insulin or other medicines that lower blood glucose, the following actions may help you prevent low blood glucose levels.
Some CGMs let you track your blood glucose levels using a small sensor attached to your arm or abdomen and view the information on your smartphone. How do I treat low blood glucose?If your blood glucose is below your target, take 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrates right away. If you begin to feel one or more symptoms of low blood glucose, check your blood glucose level. If your blood glucose level is below your target or less than 70 mg/dL, follow these steps
Treating low blood glucose if you take medicines that slow down digestionSome diabetes medicines slow down the digestion of carbohydrates to keep blood glucose levels from rising too high after you eat. If you develop low blood glucose while taking these medicines, you will need to take glucose tablets or glucose gel right away. Eating or drinking other sources of carbohydrates won’t raise your blood glucose level quickly enough. What if I have severe low blood glucose and can’t treat myself?Glucagon—a hormone that raises blood glucose levels—is the best way to treat severely low blood glucose. Available as an injection or a nasal spray, glucagon will quickly raise your blood glucose level. Your doctor can prescribe you a glucagon kit for use in case of an emergency. If your blood glucose level drops very low, you won’t be able to treat it by yourself. Be prepared to address severely low blood glucose by
Clinical Trials for Low Blood GlucoseThe NIDDK conducts and supports clinical trials in many diseases and conditions, including diabetes. The trials look to find new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease and improve quality of life. What are clinical trials for low blood glucose?Clinical trials—and other types of clinical studies—are part of medical research and involve people like you. When you volunteer to take part in a clinical study, you help doctors and researchers learn more about disease and improve health care for people in the future. Researchers are studying many aspects of low blood glucose levels in diabetes, such as
Find out if clinical studies are right for you. Watch a video of NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers explaining the importance of participating in clinical trials.
What clinical studies for low blood glucose are looking for participants?You can view a filtered list of clinical studies on low blood glucose that are federally funded, open, and recruiting at www.ClinicalTrials.gov. You can expand or narrow the list to include clinical studies from industry, universities, and individuals; however, the National Institutes of Health does not review these studies and cannot ensure they are safe. Always talk with your health care provider before you participate in a clinical study. References |