The human organism, and especially the brain, for normal functioning requires that the amount of glucose in the blood is constant. In a healthy person, regulation of the glucose level occurs automatically - the body itself commands the pancreas to produce the necessary dose of insulin in order to assimilate the appropriate amount of glucose. With diabetes, this has to be done "manually" by injecting insulin preparations into the body. However, it is very difficult to accurately calculate the required doses depending on the needs of the organism in each case.
If the blood glucose level falls below the average normal value (less than 3.5 mmol / l), a pathological condition called glycemia arises. In this case, first of all, the brain cells suffer. Therefore, this condition requires urgent care.
How to identify the glycemia?
Hypoglycemia can occur suddenly or develop gradually, and the clinical manifestations may be different and depend on the rate of decrease in glucose in the blood.
Typical symptoms of hypoglycemia in diabetes include:
- feelings of anxiety and fear;
- aggressiveness, irritability;
- general weakness, fatigue;
- excessive sweating;
- arrhythmia ;
- tremor of extremities;
- speech and coordination disorders;
- blanching of the skin;
- hunger;
- nausea, vomiting;
- headache, dizziness;
- numbness in the area of the lips and tongue, etc.
If the first aid is not provided on time, the condition can deteriorate sharply and go to the hypoglycemic coma. In this case, the person loses consciousness, he has a sharp hypotonia of the muscles, a strong pallor, skin moisture, and convulsions may occur.
If hypoglycemia occurs in a dream due to an incorrect introduction of insulin, the signs and symptoms of it may be as follows:
- nightmares, a cry in a dream;
- bedclothes, wet from sweat;
- feeling tired on waking.
Long-term diabetic patients often do not feel signs of starting hypoglycemia. But this can be noticeable to others around the sharply arising inadequate behavior, reminiscent of the state of intoxication.
In a healthy person, the symptoms of hypoglycemia also sometimes arise, but they are short-lived, because the body reacts quickly enough to a low glucose level and balances it.
Hypoglycemia - first aid and treatment
If you experience symptoms of hypoglycemia, first aid is to take glucose drugs or one of the products that can quickly increase blood glucose levels:
- half a cup of fruit juice or a sweet non-alcoholic beverage;
- one cup of milk;
- a tablespoon of sugar or honey;
- 3 - 4 tablets of glucose;
- one serving of gel with glucose (15 g of carbohydrates).
Before and after 15 minutes after taking the sugar-containing product, the glucose concentration should be measured with a glucometer. If the glucose level remains low, it is necessary to eat
To prevent a repeated attack of hypoglycemia after that, you must eat foods that contain "slow" sugar. For example, it can be a pair of sandwiches with black bread, a portion of oatmeal or buckwheat porridge.
If a person loses consciousness, it is necessary to lay him on one side, put a piece of hard sugar under his tongue or cheek and immediately call an ambulance. If possible, the glucose solution should be administered intramuscularly. Further treatment for symptoms of hypoglycemia will be determined by the attending physician.