KARACHI, July 17: The impression that diabetes causes hypoglycemia was dispelled with a clarification that factually hypoglycemia occurred in people with diabetes, due to treatment with insulin or tablets.

An article that appeared in a recent publication of the Diabetic Association of Pakistan defining hypoglycemia as a condition during which blood glucose level drops to less than 40 mg/dl said it was consequent to taking too much insulin; missing a meal or delaying it; vigorous exercise or consuming too much alcohol.

“Glucose is vital for the function of the brain and the symptoms of hypoglycemia occur in order to warn the patients that they need to take in some food quickly,” it was stressed mentioning that these were but often ignored leading to loss of consciousness.

Some people, including those who either have diabetes for a long time or those who have been tightly controlled with frequent hypos were said not to experience good warning.

It was warned that while having an occasional hypo would do no harm – sustained hypoglycemia which results in coma may cause fatal brain damage. Experiencing hypo while driving, swimming or working at heights, also holds obvious implications. Symptoms of hypoglycemia are very variable and start to manifest at widely varying levels of blood glucose.

The earliest symptoms are hunger, feeling shaky and anxious and excessive sweating and some might also experience slight headache. However, as the blood glucose concentrations of the patients the symptoms become more intense.

“Sweating at night or awakening with headaches in the morning may indicate right time hypos - making necessary to get checked blood sugars at night,” the report said.

In case the symptoms get intense there are also chances the person concerned feel weak and dizzy, coordination may suffer and vision will start to blur. Others may also notice the concerned person's behaviour strangely - who themselves may not be aware of it but do become confused.

There can also be possibility of a sudden loss of consciousness due to hypoglycemia, with little or no warning. It is believed that the brains of people who are very tightly controlled and those who have frequent hypos may become less sensitive to the effects of low blood sugar. A sudden drop in blood sugar may also result in the usual warning symptoms being bypassed.

Being familiar with the warning symptoms of the hypoglycemia was said to be the most important defence against hypos. Those who are unsure were suggested to always test their sugar levels - bearing in mind that conventional finger prick glucose monitoring devices were not very accurate at low level or blood glucose.

Such individuals were advised to always carry a source of sugar or glucose tablet or a sweet drink. With mild symptoms it is not necessary to take a large amount of sugar and eating a meal or having a snack.—APP