This document provides information about hypoglycemia for diabetes educators. It defines hypoglycemia as a plasma glucose level below 70 mg/dL and describes the physiological response and counter-regulatory hormones involved. Common causes of hypoglycemia are discussed such as insulin excess, missed meals, and hypoglycemic unawareness. The importance of prevention through education and self-monitoring is emphasized. Treatment of mild hypoglycemia involves consuming fast-acting carbohydrates, while glucagon or IV dextrose are recommended for severe hypoglycemia.
3. HYPOGLYCEMIA
FACTS
Carbohydrates (Glucose) are the first/ main calorie
resource for our body
Extra CHO are stored as glycogen in liver and
muscles Or shifted to fat
The brain and RBCs are among other tissues that
relies only on glucose as a fuel
4. HYPOGLYCEMIA
DEFINITIONS
“All episodes of an abnormally low plasma glucose
concentration (w or w/o symptoms) that expose
the individual to harm”
Low blood sugar, occurs when brain and body are
not getting enough sugar.
Hypoglycemia …. < 70 mg/dl (< 3.9 mmol/L)
5. WHAT IS HYPOGLYCEMIA ?
For Non Diabetic patient
Glucose value < 50 mg/dl (2.8mmo/L)
For Diabetic patient
Glucose value < 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmo/L)
7. HYPOGLYCEMIA
FACTS
The brain relies almost exclusively on glucose
So …
Adequate uptake of glucose from the plasma is essential for
normal brain function and survival
Luckily …
Very effective physiological and behavioral mechanisms
normally prevent or rapidly correct hypoglycemia
8.
9. HYPOGLYCEMIA – PATHO-PHYSIOLOGY
Glycogen
Breakdown -Liver
Increased Glucagon
Energy
Fat Synthesis
Glycogen Synthesis
Glucose release to
blood
(+) Pancreas secretion
of Glucagon
Blood
Glucose
Pool
(+) Pancreas
secretion of Insulin
(+) Circulating
Insulin
Uptake of glucose by
cells
Decrease blood
glucose
18. HYPOGLYCEMIA
IT MATTERS …
The major limiting factor for achieving strict
control in DM patients
Still , it is an expected price for adequate
control
19. HYPOGLYCEMIA
IT MATTERS …
Bad impact on:
Quality of life: Fear / Psych
Satisfaction
Compliance; to diet and Rx
Achieving proper targets ?
20. HYPOGLYCEMIA
IT MATTERS …
Disturbing S & S
-Anxiety / Embarrassment
-Risk of accidents with impaired LOC
-Limitation of performance
-Rebound /Reaction
-Weight gain ?
21. HYPOGLYCEMIA
…IS COMMON
Common ; up to 30- 60% in DM patients
Type 1 > Type 2 …But !
Intensive DM control (lower HbA1c…?)
Elderly
Duration of disease
Asymptomatic in 50% + …Unawareness !
Nocturnal …very common !
24. HYPOGLYCEMIA
SETTING
Common with
Diabetics who are treated with
Insulin releasing pills
(sulfonylureas, Meglitinides, or Nateglinide)
Insulin
Very unlikely with
Lifestyle changes (TLC) only
Using alone medications like :
( ex: Metformin ,DPP4I, GLP-1 + ,SGLT2 -)
25. SETTING FOR HYPOGLYCEMIA
FOOD INTAKE
Skipped or delayed meals
Vomiting after meal & meds intake
Mismatch:
Wrong dose or too high a dose of medications
for the amount of food;
Too little carbohydrate
26. SETTING FOR HYPOGLYCEMIA
Unplanned / Excess exercise
without snack / Rx adjustment
Excessive insulin / OHA doses
Organ Failure Medications
Alcohol use
Identification of the precipitating factors is important
to prevent future events
28. INSULIN EXCESS -ABSOLUTE OR RELATIVE
Excess insulin (Secretagogues) Doses, ill-timed /wrong type
Reduced exogenous glucose influx (Fasting /missed meals)
Increased insulin-independent glucose utilization
(During and shortly after exercise)
Increased sensitivity to insulin (Hours after exercise, weight
loss, nocturnal ,after improved control)
Reduced endogenous glucose production
(Alcohol ingestion)
Reduced insulin clearance (Renal failure)
29. HYPOGLYCEMIC UNAWARENESS
Longer duration of DM and Autonomic Neuropathy
The brain has a trigger point at which it leads to release
stress hormones (Counter Regulatory Hormones)
With frequent low blood sugars, this set point gets
reprogrammed to lower and lower blood sugar levels.
Stress hormones aren’t released until the blood
sugar is dangerously low
30. HYPOGLYCEMIC UNAWARENESS
What causes hypoglycemic unawareness?
Loss of the ability to detect a low blood sugar
Patient needs to be vigilant; Do frequent monitoring
It may not be a permanent condition
Managed by easing the strict control for 2-3 weeks of
more
45. HYPOGLYCEMIA
TAKE CONTROL
+ve mild symptoms
Check blood sugar - Take fast acting CHO
½ cup of fruit juice or low fat / fat-free milk, Regular soda
3 glucose tablets
2 tbsp of raisins, 1 tbsp of honey or 2 tbsp of jam
About 15-20 grams of glucose
46. HYPOGLYCEMIA
TAKE CONTROL
+ve mild symptoms
You will need more glucose if the blood sugar is very low
Check your blood sugar again after 15 minutes.
Repeat same dose if the sugar is still low (<70mg/dl)
Double Dose if getting lower
47. If blood glucose is getting
lower than base line
Double the amount
48. HYPOGLYCEMIA
TAKE CONTROL
+ve severe symptoms :Call for help
Emergency IM glucagon by someone trained to do so
(SC/ IM injection) of 0.5 to 1.0 mg
Recovery of consciousness within 10 to 15 minutes
Glucagon may cause nausea or vomiting
Check blood sugar
Don’t wait for the emergency personnel arrival
49. HYPOGLYCEMIA
TAKE CONTROL
+ve severe symptoms
Patients in the hospital
Give 15-20 g of 50% glucose (dextrose) intravenously
A subsequent glucose infusion (or food, if patient is able to eat) is
often needed, depending upon the cause of the hypoglycemia
50. ADA 2015 - HYPOGLYCEMIA
Individuals at risk for hypoglycemia should be asked about
symptomatic and asymptomatic hypoglycemia at each
encounter. C
Ongoing assessment of cognitive function is suggested with
increased vigilance for hypoglycemia by the clinician, patient,
and caregivers if low cognition and/or declining cognition
is found. B
51. ADA 2015 - HYPOGLYCEMIA
Glucose (15–20 g) is the preferred treatment for the conscious
individual with hypoglycemia, although any form of CHO that
contains glucose may be used
15-minutes after treatment, if SMBG shows continued
hypoglycemia, the treatment should be repeated.
Once SMBG returns to normal, the individual should consume a
meal or snack to prevent recurrence of hypoglycemia. E
52. ADA 2015 - HYPOGLYCEMIA
Glucagon
Prescribe for all patients with increased risk
of severe hypoglycemia
Keep it handy !!
Make sure about :
Proper storage /Refrigerator/ No direct light /
Expiration date
53. ADA 2015 - HYPOGLYCEMIA
Glucagon
Caregivers or family members
(not limited to health care professionals)
Should be instructed on its proper
mixing and administer immediately
Glucagon can cause vomiting
Risk of aspiration when unconscious
Keep patient on his side
54. ADA 2015 - HYPOGLYCEMIA
Hypoglycemia unawareness or
one or more episodes of severe hypoglycemia
should trigger reevaluation of the treatment regimen. E
Action:
Raise their glycemic targets
to avoid further hypoglycemia for at least several weeks
Aiming to partially reverse hypoglycemia unawareness and reduce
risk of future episodes. A
58. HYPOGLYCEMIA
TAKE HOME MESSAGES
All episodes of an abnormally low plasma glucose that
expose the individual to harm) ;
PG <70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L)
Occurs in both type 1 DM and patients with type 2 DM
(Insulin and SU …highest risk)
59. HYPOGLYCEMIA
TAKE HOME MESSAGES
Hypoglycemia can occur at any level of glycemia,
but the risk increases with more intensive therapy
It is a major limiting factor for intensive DM control
Hypoglycemia : Cost / M &M
60. HYPOGLYCEMIA
TAKE HOME MESSAGES
Know the risk factors /setting
Beware of nocturnal , exercise-induced and
unawareness forms
Treat and try to prevent recurrence
Educate your self , your patients and their families
This guideline offers best practice advice on the care of people at risk of cardiovascular disease.
This cut-off value has been debated, with some favoring a value of <63 mg/dL (3.5 mmol/L) to avoid overclassification of hypoglycemia in asymptomatic patients
For Non Diabetics :
< 50 mg/dl(< 2.8 mmol/L)
The brain relies almost exclusively on glucose as a fuel, but cannot synthesize or store it
Severe hypoglycemia – An event requiring the assistance of another person to actively administer carbohydrate, glucagon or other resuscitative actions is classified as a severe hypoglycemic event. Plasma glucose measurements may not be available during such an event, but neurological recovery attributable to restoration of plasma glucose to normal is considered sufficient evidence that the event was induced by a low plasma glucose concentration.
Documented symptomatic hypoglycemia – An event during which typical symptoms of hypoglycemia are accompanied by a measured (typically with a monitor or with a validated glucose sensor) plasma glucose concentration ≤70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) is classified as a documented symptomatic hypoglycemic event.
Asymptomatic hypoglycemia – Asymptomatic hypoglycemia is classified as an event not accompanied by typical symptoms of hypoglycemia but with a measured plasma glucose concentration of ≤70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L).
Probable symptomatic hypoglycemia – Probable symptomatic hypoglycemia is classified as an event during which typical symptoms of hypoglycemia are not accompanied by a plasma glucose determination (but that was presumably caused by a plasma glucose concentration ≤70 mg/dL [3.9 mmol/L]).
Relative hypoglycemia – Relative hypoglycemia is classified as an event during which the person with diabetes reports typical symptoms of hypoglycemia, and interprets those as indicative of hypoglycemia, but with a measured plasma glucose concentration >70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L). This category reflects the fact that patients with chronically poor glycemic control can experience symptoms of hypoglycemia at plasma glucose levels >70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) as glucose levels decline into the physiological range.
Severe hypoglycemia – An event requiring the assistance of another person to actively administer carbohydrate, glucagon or other resuscitative actions is classified as a severe hypoglycemic event. Plasma glucose measurements may not be available during such an event, but neurological recovery attributable to restoration of plasma glucose to normal is considered sufficient evidence that the event was induced by a low plasma glucose concentration.
Documented symptomatic hypoglycemia – An event during which typical symptoms of hypoglycemia are accompanied by a measured (typically with a monitor or with a validated glucose sensor) plasma glucose concentration ≤70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) is classified as a documented symptomatic hypoglycemic event.
Asymptomatic hypoglycemia – Asymptomatic hypoglycemia is classified as an event not accompanied by typical symptoms of hypoglycemia but with a measured plasma glucose concentration of ≤70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L).
Probable symptomatic hypoglycemia – Probable symptomatic hypoglycemia is classified as an event during which typical symptoms of hypoglycemia are not accompanied by a plasma glucose determination (but that was presumably caused by a plasma glucose concentration ≤70 mg/dL [3.9 mmol/L]).
Relative hypoglycemia – Relative hypoglycemia is classified as an event during which the person with diabetes reports typical symptoms of hypoglycemia, and interprets those as indicative of hypoglycemia, but with a measured plasma glucose concentration >70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L). This category reflects the fact that patients with chronically poor glycemic control can experience symptoms of hypoglycemia at plasma glucose levels >70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) as glucose levels decline into the physiological range.
Risk of hypoglycemia is more related to treatment used rather than to the A1c level;
i.E : Metformin or TLC have very low risk or none Vs SU / insulin …even with same A1c of 6.8%
Alcohol use
(which suppresses hepatic glucose production)
Alcohol use
(which suppresses hepatic glucose production)
These estimates are based on ADAG data of ~2,700 glucose measurements over 3 months per A1C measurement in 507 adults with type 1, type 2, and no diabetes. The correlation between A1C and average glucose was 0.92. A calculator for converting A1C results into estimated average glucose (eAG), in either mg/dl or mmol/l, is available at http://professional.diabetes.org/GlucoseCalculator.aspx.
8 pieces of Lifesavers candy,
2 tbsp of raisins,
7 small gumdrops,
fruit juice
Regular soda.
1 cup of fat-free milk,
1 tbsp of hone
y or corn syrup and
2 tbsp of jam.
Glucose tablets are useful for relieving a low blood sugar attack, as well.
Read more : http://www.ehow.com/way_5649280_eat-low-blood-sugar.html
8 pieces of Lifesavers candy, 2 tbsp of raisins, 7 small gumdrops, fruit juice or regular soda. You should keep a supply of these foods in the car in your purse or pockets and at the office.
If you experience an attack at home, other foods that help increase your blood sugar include 1 cup of fat-free milk, 1 tbsp of honey or corn syrup and 2 tbsp of jam. Glucose tablets are useful for relieving a low blood sugar attack, as well.
Read more : http://www.ehow.com/way_5649280_eat-low-blood-sugar.html