If you have hypoglycemia unawareness, you should be careful to change your diabetes management strategy to reduce your risks. That starts with more frequent blood sugar checks.
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“The best way to treat hypoglycemia unawareness would be to monitor blood sugar very closely, ideally with a continuous glucose monitor, which should be an essential part of managing any individual who is on insulin or has a history of hypoglycemia,” Hames says.
Depending on your device, you may be able to turn on a sharing mode that can send low blood sugar alerts to a friend or family member.
You should also talk to your doctor about having the medication glucagon on hand. This emergency drug can raise glucose levels quickly in cases of severe hypoglycemia. People with low blood sugar don’t typically use glucagon on themselves; instead, they train their family members, caregivers, coworkers, or roommates on how to use it in an emergency.
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Your doctor or diabetes educator may also have specific advice on how to avoid dangerous hypoglycemia episodes. For example, you may be advised to change your drinking habits or take less insulin before you go to sleep or on days when you plan to exercise.
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Lifestyle changes that support stable blood sugar levels will help, too. Have regular meals and snacks that include sources of complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans, Hsiao says.
When your blood sugar levels do fall below 70 mg/dL, take steps to bring them back up — even if you feel fine. Have 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates as soon as possible. A tablespoon of honey, 4 ounces of regular soda or fruit juice, hard candies or jelly beans (check the nutrition label for the serving size), or a glucose gel tube may do the trick. Then wait 15 minutes and check your blood sugar again.
Repeat this process as needed until your blood sugar levels are trending up. Then, have a snack with carbohydrates and protein, such as crackers with cheese or peanut butter, to keep your blood sugar levels from dropping again before your next meal.
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