Prevention & Treatment of Hypoglycemia

Preventing & Treating Hypoglycemia is an Individual Effort
Your diabetes treatment plan is designed to match your medication dosage and schedule to your usual meals and activities. If you take insulin but then skip a meal, the insulin will still lower your blood glucose, but it will not find the food it is designed to break down. This mismatch may result in a hypoglycemic reaction.

To help prevent hypoglycemia, you must consider the following:

Your Diabetes Medications: Some diabetes medication can lead to hypoglycemia, so ask your doctor about your medications. Always remember to take medications and insulin in the recommended doses and at the recommended times.

Your Meal Plan: Meet with a registered dietitian and discuss a meal plan that fits your preferences and lifestyle. Try your best to follow this meal plan. Eating regular meals, having enough food at each meal, and not missing meals and snacks can go a long way towards preventing hypoglycemia.

Your Daily Activity: Talk to your health care team about snacking or adjusting medication before participating in sports or exercise. If you know that you will be more active than usual or doing something that is not part of your normal routine - like shoveling snow - consider having a snack first.

Alcoholic Beverages: Drinking, especially on an empty stomach, can cause hypoglycemia, even a day or two after consuming alcohol. Always have a snack or meal when drinking alcohol.

Your Diabetes Management Plan: Intensive diabetes management - keeping your blood glucose as close to the normal range as possible - can increase the risk of hypoglycemia. If your goal is tight control, talk to your doctor about preventing and treating hypoglycemia.