How low is too low?
Know how to recognize the symptoms of low blood glucose, and methods to deal with it.
Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) happens when your blood glucose goes below 4 mmol/L. Hypoglycemia can happen for different reasons, including:1
More physical activity than usual
Not eating on time
Eating less than you should have
Taking too much diabetes medication
Drinking alcohol
There are common signs of hypoglycemia to be aware of. You may feel:1
Shaky, light-headed, upset stomach
Nervous, irritable, anxious
Confused, or unable to concentrate
Hungry
A fast heart rate
Sweaty, headachy
Weak, drowsy
A numbness or tingling in your tongue or lips
It’s important to know these symptoms so you can recognize them and take action right away. If you are hypoglycemic, the Canadian Diabetes Association recommends you eat or drink a fast-acting sugar, such as:1
15 mL (3 teaspoons) of sugar dissolved in water
15 mL (1 tablespoon) of honey
15 g of glucose tablets
175 mL (3/4 cup) of juice or non-diet soft drink
Afterwards, wait 15 minutes and then check your blood glucose again. If your glucose is still below 4 mmol/L, try one of the above methods again, and do another glucose test. If your next meal is more than one hour away, have a snack with both carbohydrates and protein.
If you keep having periods of hypoglycemia, talk to your healthcare professional. You can discuss ways to keep your blood glucose more in check, such as when you test and your meal plan.
1. Canadian Diabetes Association Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee. Canadian Diabetes Association 2013 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada. Can J Diabetes 2013;37(suppl 1):S1-S212.