Hypos: (Where blood glucose levels drop too low) are an inevitable part of life for many people living with diabetes, particularly those taking insulin. For some, they are a minor inconvenience, easily fixed with a few jelly beans. For others, they are a major disruption to life, causing social embarrassment, affecting relationships, and preventing people from working, driving or taking part in activities they enjoy.
WHAT IS A HYPO?
Hypoglycaemia, or a hypo for short, occurs when your blood glucose level drops below 3.9mmol/L. Both insulin and some diabetes tablets (called sulphonylureas) can cause hypos.
The symptoms of a hypo vary from one person to the next but include:
• Feeling weak, shaky, dizzy and/or lightheaded
• excessive sweating
• finding it hard to concentrate
• behaviour changes such as being irritable, angry or emotional
• feeling hungry
• having a headache
What causes a hypo?
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