The Best First Step - Talk to Your Health Care Team

If you are a Veteran with diabetes, you probably hear a lot about lowering your blood sugar. But diabetes can be difficult to manage. Sometimes your blood sugar can go too low. This can even be as serious as having high blood sugar.

Talk with your health care team about selecting a safe and effective blood glucose target range that is based on your own goals, priorities, and lifestyle. Selecting a safe blood glucose target range can help you best manage your diabetes and prevent episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

What is Low Blood Sugar?

Blood sugar of less than 70 is low blood sugar. It is also called hypoglycemia. Some symptoms you can expect are:

• Mild: Shakiness, sweating, fast heartbeat, dizziness, hunger, blurred vision, difficulty paying attention, chest thumping, anxiety, headache, and tiredness
• Moderate: Difficulty moving, confusion, and unusual behavior
• Severe: Seizures, coma, loss of consciousness, and combative behavior

Causes of low blood sugar

Low blood sugar can be caused by the following:

• Missing a meal or eating less than usual
• More activity or exercise than usual
• Taking too much insulin or diabetes medicine
• Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach

How to treat low blood sugar below 70

If you have low blood sugar between 55 to 70, take 1 of the food items listed below. You will need 15 grams of carbohydrate. Then recheck your blood sugar 15 minutes later. If it’s still below 70, repeat these steps.

15 grams of carbohydrate is equal to:

• One-half tube of glucose gel*
• 3-4 glucose tablets*
• 6 pieces of hard candy
• 8 ounces of skim milk
• 4 ounces of fruit juice (no tomato juice or V8 vegetable juice)
• 1 tablespoon of jam/preserves, jelly, honey, or sugar

*Ask your pharmacist or healthcare team how much 15 grams is.

How to treat low blood sugar of 54 or less

If you have low blood sugar of 54 or less, you will need to take 30 grams of carbohydrate instead of 15 grams. This is equal to double the amounts listed above.

Check your blood sugar results in 15 minutes. If it’s not better, repeat treatment with 15 grams of carbohydrate. Eat your next meal if it is time or have a snack of a half sandwich and a glass of milk if it is 1-2 hours or longer away.

Remember the following:

• Wear an ID bracelet or necklace.
• Always carry a quick source of sugar with you.
• Check your blood sugar before driving and never drive when it is low.
• Call your health care team if you have several low blood sugar episodes.
• Tell friends and family to call 911 if you become unable to wake up or unable to swallow.

For more information on low blood sugar or diabetes, check out the Veterans Health Library:  https://veteranshealthlibrary.va.gov

Optimizing diabetes management involves a dedicated health care team that provides personalized, proactive, patient-driven health care to empower, equip, and encourage Veterans to take charge of their health and to adopt healthy living practices to reduce risks for diabetes-related complications. Checking blood sugars, monitoring A1C levels, knowing blood sugar targets, recognizing low blood sugars, and counting carbohydrates are just a few of the ‘numbers’ that Veterans should know. 

If you would like more information on diabetes or any other Healthy Living topic, please call the Healthy Living Team at 878-271-6484.  The Butler VA offers a free Diabetes Education Program.  Please call 878-271-6922 to enroll or for more information.