Are you a hypoglycemiac?  If you have hypoglycemia symptoms you will need to know what the signs are as this can be a cause of complications when you have diabetes.  Because this condition happens occasionally to all who have diabetes, you should learn the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia .  Always check your blood sugar levels to get a heads up when it’s high.  If it is high, you can get your blood sugar low by doing some exercise, unless ketones are shown to be present in your urine.

Although every diabetic knows what high and low blood sugar is, hyperglycemia is  technically called high blood glucose.  This condition happens when your body either can’t use insulin in a proper way, or when there is not enough of it.  There are several hyperglycemia causes and nocturnal hypoglycemia, naturally, happens at night.  You may bring on hypoglycemia if your haven’t taken enough insulin (type 1),  your body isn’t utilizing the insulin you have well enough (type 2), you exercised less than usual or ate more, you are under stress from the flu or a cold or other illness, and you are being stressed due to dating or school or family problems.  In other words — normal life.

Hypoglycemia symptoms can be higher than usual levels of blood sugar in urine, high blood glucose, increased thirst, and many trips to the bathroom.  Check your blood sugar level often and watch out for hyperglycemia symptoms.   Always keep up to date with your doctor about what the levels should be and how often and when you should check them.

Helpful info hyperglycemia symptoms:

• Exercise, but not if your blood glucose level is above 240 mg/dl.  If you have ketones at that level, don’t exercise.
• Cutting your food intake may work.  Check with your dietician for advice.  If this doesn’t work then your doctor may change your meds or insulin or when you take them.

If you’ve heard about whipple’s triad and wondered what it was, we have a little bit of data for you.  The triad is a collection of 3 criteria for determining that the symptoms suggesting hypoglycemia, which may mean insulinoma, are  the symptoms likely to be caused by the condition of hypoglycemia, a lower plasma glucose level at the same times as symptoms are evidenced, and the relief of those symptoms when glucose goes back to normal.

If hypoglycemia isn’t treated, a diabetic coma (ketoacidosis) can occur.  This is developed if your body lacks insulin. Without the latter hormone, you cannot use glucose for fuel so it uses fats by breaking them down.  During this process ketones are created and when these build up your body cannot handle them and will try and push them out in urine.   When it’s unable to get rid of them all they start to build up in your bloodstream.

Ketoacidosis can be life-threatening and you’ll need to get help right away.  Symptoms may include fruity breath or funny odor, being short of breath, ultra dry mouth, and vomiting and queasiness.   Discuss these with your doctor immediately.  Practice good diabetes management for yourself so you can prevent hypoglycemia.  You’ll discover that hypoglycemia and alcohol don’t mix well.  Treat your pancreas as good as you can.

Diet is so critical in the handling of all types of diabetes and hypoglycemia is no different.  You’ll need to learn about which foods to eat and when, and what amounts work out best.  With our technology these days and the thousands upon thousands of recipes that you can get online and in books, there is absolutely no need to do without most anything you have eaten in the past — or new foods you’d like to try in the future.  Have several sessions with your dietician and work out a varied and colorful and interesting food plan.  A diabetic diet is a healthy diet and most often, the rest of your family can benefit from it too.

If you have a sweet tooth then you won’t be denied all of those guilty pleasures.  Many diabetic suitable foods come already prepared, if you’re looking for  a quick bite or simply have no time to cook.  For the sugars and carbohydrates we all love, check with your doctor and dietitian about substitutes.  Some claim to be sugar free etc. but the substitute used may not be good for diabetics at all.  Try and stay natural and organic and this can help you.

There are some terrific natural food stores which have sprung up across the country and the Internet is also a wonderful source of special food types, if you cannot locate them near your town. Hypoglycemia symptoms can be controlled when you follow a diabetic diet plan.