Hypoglycemia in Children

When checking your child's blood glucose level, it is important to know what to do if her blood glucose levels are outside her target range.

When you find that her blood glucose is below the target range, she is most likely experiencing hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can be caused by a variety of factors: too much insulin, not enough food, excessive exercise, or eating too few carbohydrates.

Basically, hypoglycemia occurs when blood glucose and insulin are out of balance.

In children and adults who take insulin, mild or moderate hypoglycemia is fairly common. This can become dangerous if not promptly treated. Mild or moderate hypoglycemia can turn into severe hypoglycemia in a short period of time. It is therefore very important to know all you can about hypoglycemia. It is also important to educate your child, as well as friends, family, teachers, and coaches, about the symptoms, effects, and treatment of hypoglycemia.

Exercise and Hypoglycemia
Certain situations may increase the risk of hypoglycemia in your child. One of these situations is during and after exercise. The longer and harder your child exercises, the more she is likely to have a hypoglycemic reaction.

When exercise of more than one hour is expected (like during sports practice or games), advise your child to take a short break and eat a snack to maintain blood glucose levels. After exercising, blood glucose levels could remain low for up to 24 hours, so it is essential to monitor blood glucose levels in the hours after your child exercises.

If your child participates in athletics, it is crucial to inform coaches and teammates about hypoglycemia, including how to recognize hypoglycemia and how to treat it.

Nighttime Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia can also occur at night while your child is sleeping. This can be particularly dangerous and hard to catch because your child may not wake up enough to recognize the symptoms. The symptoms of nighttime hypoglycemia include:

• Damp pajamas and sheets in the morning
• Bad dreams or restless sleep
• Waking up feeling tired or with a headache
• An unusually high blood glucose reading in the morning

High blood glucose readings in the morning result from a rebound effect; the body reacting to hypoglycemia by releasing hormones that raise blood sugar levels.

If you or your child suspects that nighttime hypoglycemia is occurring, wake your child at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning for several nights and take a blood glucose reading. If the blood glucose reading is too low, treat for hypoglycemia before she goes back to sleep. If you find that nighttime hypoglycemia is occurring often, tell your doctor. The doctor may want to adjust your child's insulin or eating schedule.

Preventing Hypoglycemia in Children
Mild or moderate hypoglycemia, if not promptly treated, can turn into severe hypoglycemia. People with severe hypoglycemia have low blood sugar levels that may affect their brain. This can result in a diabetic coma. Catching hypoglycemia early is the best way to avoid developing severe hypoglycemia. You and your child must be aware of any of the symptoms of hypoglycemia. Teach your child to check blood glucose levels if she has any doubt that they are too low. Remember: it never hurts to check.

People who are around your child often need to know the symptoms of hypoglycemia. Some people to consider include teachers, coaches and other adult leaders of after-school activities, school bus drivers, school nurses, close friends, grandparents, and other extended family, baby sitters, and day care providers. Strongly encourage your child to wear a medical ID bracelet or necklace that identifies her as a diabetic.

Over-Treatment of Hypoglycemia in Children
Because the symptoms of hypoglycemia can be frightening, your child may want to keep eating until she feels better. This can result in the over-treatment of hypoglycemia. Encourage your child to eat a measured amount of sugar and then wait 10 or 15 minutes before eating more. Over-treating hypoglycemia can result in the opposite problem - high blood glucose - later in the day.