Shining the spotlight on diabetes and its hypos

For many people living with diabetes, hypos are a part of life.

They can be scary and dangerous. They can lead to blurred vision, confusion, seizures and, in severe cases, unconsciousness and coma.

So, to mark Hypo Awareness Week this week, Diabetes UK wants to shine a spotlight on what hypos are and how to treat them.

Hypos (short for hypoglycaemia) can affect people with type 1 diabetes, as well as many with type 2 diabetes, who use insulin or certain other diabetes medications.

A hypo is when the blood sugars drop too low, below 4mmol/l.

It can be dangerous if not treated immediately, as it means the brain does not have enough energy to work properly.

It can happen for various reasons, including taking too much insulin, missing a meal or miscalculating carbs.

Hypos must be treated quickly with fast-acting sugar, so that blood sugar levels rise again.

Good hypo treatments include sugary drinks (not diet versions), fruit juice, glucose tablets or gel or sweets like jelly babies.

If someone tells you they have diabetes and are having a hypo, you can help them to find or get a sugary drink or some sweets, but if they become unconscious, call an ambulance.

If you have diabetes and you are experiencing frequent hypos, speak to your healthcare team who can support you to make changes to your medication or insulin doses.

Everyone has different hypo symptoms, but the most common are feeling shaky, feeling disorientated, sweating, being anxious or irritable, going pale, palpitations and a fast pulse, lips feeling tingly, blurred vision, feeling hungry, feeling tearful, tiredness, having a headache or lack of concentration.

Jill Steaton
Head of South East Coast and London Diabetes UK

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