Hypoglycaemia (hypo), means your blood glucose is low (under 4mmol/l).
Important
Not everyone with type 2 diabetes is at risk of hypo
Check if you are at risk of hypoglycemia due to your medicine
Hypos can happen as a side effect of some tablets and diabetes medicines such as insulin injections.
Check with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or diabetes team what diabetes medicines you are taking. Ask if any of these can put you at risk of a hypo.
What can increase your risk of hypo
If you are at risk of having hypos due to your medicine, you may get a hypo if:
- you take too much insulin or diabetes tablets, or you take them at the wrong times
- you eat too few carbohydrates
- you skip a meal or snack, or eat it later than usual
- you do more physical activity than usual
- you drink alcohol, especially without having eaten
- there is hot weather
Warning signs and symptoms of a hypo
Warning signs or symptoms of a hypo can vary between people.
Signs can include:
- weakness
- sweating
- tingling of lips and tongue
- feeling tired or sleepy
- feeling hungry
- trembling and feeling shaky
- dizziness
- headache
- blurred vision
- difficulty concentrating
- being anxious or irritable
Important
It is important to know your own hypo signs
Some of these symptoms also happen when you have high blood glucose levels. Test your blood glucose to confirm if you are hypo.
Sometimes a hypo can happen without any symptoms, but it still needs to be treated.
What to do if you think you have a hypo
If you think you are hypo, check your blood glucose with your blood glucose meter.
Important
If you do not feel able to check your blood glucose, take 15g of fast-acting carbohydrate immediately.
If it is below 4mmol/l, treat your hypo.
How to treat your hypo
Follow these steps to treat your hypo.
Step 1: Treat the hypo with 15 grams of carbohydrate
Examples of 15g fast-acting carbohydrate are:
- 5 glucose or dextrose sweets such as ‘Dextro Energy’, ‘Lucozade Energy’ or ‘Lift’ tablets (available from your pharmacy)
- 170ml of Lucozade Original
- Lift Glucose Juice Shot (60ml)
Be aware that 1 glucose tube such as ‘Glucogel’ has 10g of carbohydrate.
If glucose is not available, other options include:
- 1 glass of fruit juice
- 1 glass of a fizzy drink (not diet or sugar-free) - check the carbohydrate content
- 3 teaspoons of sugar - for example, dissolved in hot water or tea
High-fat foods such as chocolate and biscuits are not as fast-acting as those listed above.
Always check the amount of carbohydrate (sugar or glucose) in whichever product you use to treat a hypo. The amount in different fizzy drinks, glucose tablets or gels may change over time. Check the amount needed to give you 15g of carbohydrate.
Step 2: Retest your blood glucose after 15 minutes
If your blood glucose level is still below 4mmol/l, repeat the treatment by taking a further 15g of fast-acting carbohydrate. Do this even if your symptoms have improved.
When your blood glucose is over 4mmol/l and you are due to eat in the next hour, you don't need to eat or drink more carbohydrate right now.
If you are not due to eat for a few hours, have a snack containing carbohydrate or take your next meal early.
Step 3: Try to figure out why the hypo happened and discuss it with your diabetes care team
Take a moment to consider when and why the hypo happened. This can help you to prevent it happening in future. If you are having hypos regularly, talk to your doctor.
If you use insulin
If you use insulin to treat type 2 diabetes, ask your team if you need to use and store glucagon injections to treat hypos.
Reducing your risk of a hypo
There are things you can do to help prevent having a hypo:
- Check your risk by asking if your diabetes medicines could cause hypos.
- Be prepared - carry some form of fast-acting carbohydrate or glucose at all times.
- Have your blood glucose meter with you to check your blood glucose.
- Carry ID to let people know you have diabetes in case of emergency - you could keep this in a purse or wallet, or wear engraved jewellery (for example, a bracelet or necklace).
- In your mobile phone, save a contact name as 'ICE' to be called In Case of Emergency (ICE) or use the Medical ID function available on some mobile phones.
- Have regular meals.
- If exercising or more active than usual, consider your need for extra snacks.
Alcohol increases your risk of a hypo if you are treated with insulin or some medicines. Use alcohol in moderation and avoid drinking on an empty stomach.
Check your blood glucose before and after drinking alcohol to make sure you are safe. Take a carbohydrate snack, especially before going to bed.
Hypos and driving
If you use insulin or medicines that have the potential to cause hypos, you must take extra care when you drive.
Follow the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) guidelines to help manage diabetes, check your blood glucose levels and drive safely.
Financial support for hypo treatments
Hypo treatments are available from your pharmacy.
If your hypo treatment is prescribed by your doctor it may be available under the Long-Term Illness Scheme. Check with your pharmacy what is available under the scheme.
You may be able to claim tax relief on the cost of hypo treatments as part of their health expense annual return. Ask your local tax office for more information.
