I guess the explanation of hypoglycemia was covered by the answer to
your other question about nursing interventions for it. So here I go
right to the answer.
While a person is conscious, the best treatment is actually
prevention. Consider the causes below, listed by Lifescan:
Causes of Hypoglycemia:
- Too much insulin or oral medication.
- More exercise or activity than usual.
- Skipping or delaying meals or snacks, or eating less food than
usual.
So one must avoid taking too much insulin, overexert oneself nor
undereat. And check the following, also advised by Lifescan.
Treat Hypoglycemia when:
- Your blood glucose is below 60 mg/dL, with or without the symptoms.
(or below 3 to 4 mmol/l)
- Your blood glucose is between 60-100 mg/dL, with symptoms.
- You are unable to check your blood glucose.
- If your blood glucose is above 100 mg dL, there is no need for
treatment.
Once a person has been found to certainly have Hypoglycemia, but is
still conscious, treatment goes this way, again quoting Lifescan:
1. Quickly take one of the following rapid-acting glucose sources
(10-15 gms carbohydrate): 3 glucose tablets (from pharmacy); 1 tube of
glucose gel (from pharmacy); 4 oz juice or regular cola; 1 Tbsp. of
honey; 8 oz of nonfat milk; or 6 hard candies. Novo Nordisk also
suggests one glass of sweet juice or lemonade.
2. Test your blood glucose again 10-15 minutes later.
3. If your blood glucose level has not risen, repeat glucose dose, as
above.
4. In either case, if next meal is more than one hour a way, follow
the above treatment with something more substantial, such as starch
and meat. (Eating food with the first glucose dose can delay the blood
glucose rise.)
5. Treatment for low blood glucose should not take the place of a
snack or meal.
A hypoglycemic person who has become unconscious will be injected with
Glucagon, a substance meant to raise blood glucose levels. Family
members are encouraged to learn how to mix and administer (by
injection) Glucagon. The sufferer, especially a child, must not be
forcefully restrained if suffering from convulsions. Glucagon will not
work if alcohol is present in the blood.
The Reactive Hypoglycemia Page
http://www.fred.net/slowup/hypotret.html
Novo Nordisk Diabetes Care
http://www.childhooddiabetes.com/view.asp?categoryID=104
Hypo Glycemia FAQ - Coping
http://lightning.prohosting.com/~hypoglyc/faq/hfaq05.htm
Lifescan Diabetes Care
http://www.lifescan.com/care/living/complications/hypoglycemia.html
Some Hypoglycemia and Diabetes resources courtesy of Sugarblues
http://www.ibar.com/sugarblues/resources.html
Search string on Google: hypoglycemia treatment, hypoglycemia coping
May this be the answer you’re looking for. Good day!
techtor-ga |
