How to Treat a Hypo
Hypos are common for people with diabetes - particularly during times of physical exertion
Hypos are periods of low blood sugar. Although common for diabetics, a hypo can be unnerving. With appropriate treatment the effects and length of hypos can be reduced.
Noticing you’re having a hypo
Before you can treat the hypo, you need to notice that you are low on blood sugar.
The sooner you notice hypoglycemia, the less disruptive it’s likely to be.
Typical signs of hypoglycemia include:
- Feeling suddenly tired or weak
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Exaggerated mood changes
- Feeling dizzy
Hypos can occur at any time, pay close attention to your blood sugar levels when exercising, playing sports or during physical activity.
Check it is a hypo by blood glucose testing
Where possible, test your blood sugar to ensure it is low blood sugar as some of the signs of low blood sugar may also represent higher blood sugar (such as tiredness or mood changes).
If you cannot test and are unsure if you have low or high blood glucose, it may be best to treat it as a hypo as hypoglycemia can quickly become dangerous if left untreated.
Take a quick acting source of sugar
To treat the hypo, you need to take about 10 to 15 grams of quick acting carbohydrate.
Glucose tablets are ideal as they act very quickly and will take you out of the hypo quicker.
They are also relatively easy to judge how much sugar you are taking.
Sweets and sugary drinks are other good sources of quick acting carbohydrate.
Sugary drinks can be a little more difficult to judge how much sugar you are taking but they’re still a good source of sugar in an emergency.
Some of the symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
- Tiredness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Exaggerated mood changes
- Feeling light headed or dizzy
Where possible, check it is actually a hypo by doing a blood test as some of the hypo signs can sometimes be similar to high blood sugar symptoms.
To treat a hypo take 10-15g of quick acting glucose. Glucose tablets are ideal as they’re very quick acting and easy to measure how many carbs you’re taking.
If next meal is some time off, have a modest amount of longer acting carbs such as a slice of bread or a piece of fruit, such as an apple. If the hypo symptoms persist past about 15 minutes, check your blood glucose again and treat the same way again.
If there’s time before the next meal, have some slower absorbed carbs
If your next meal is not soon, it’s recommended that you take a modest amount of slower absorbed carbohydrate to prevent a further dip in blood sugar.
A slice of bread or a piece of fruit (such as an apple or banana) should help to keep your sugar levels up until the next meal but be prepared to test your blood sugar again within an hour to check.
If hypo symptoms persist, check blood glucose and treat again
It’s possible that the quick acting initial treatment of a hypo may not be enough. This can be the case if too many units of quick acting insulin have been taken. If hypo symptoms persist past 15 minutes it’s recommended to check your blood glucose and re-treat the hypo with an extra 10 to 15g of quick acting glucose.
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