Diet

What to do if you have hypoglycaemia

Medical: Hypoglycemia

English: hypoglycemia

therapy

What to do if you have hypoglycaemia

A Hypoglycaemia can either be treated symptomatically or causally. In the first case, only the symptoms of hypoglycaemia are treated, in the second, however, the underlying cause. The therapy strategy is based on the disease causing the hypoglycaemia.

In the symptomatic treatment of hypoglycaemia, the measures depend on the severity of the hypoglycaemia. In mild forms without unconsciousness, the patient receives 5 to 20 g glucose in the form of grape sugar (dextrose) orally (through the mouth). Alternatively, it is possible to consume sugary drinks such as fruit juice or cola. In the case of severe hypoglycaemia with loss of consciousness, the administration of a larger amount of sugar is necessary, which is administered intravenously in the form of 40% glucose. Depending on the severity of the hypoglycaemia, between 25 and 100 ml of this solution are given. If the symptoms of hypoglycaemia do not improve sufficiently, either the administration of 40% glucose is repeated or 5% glucose is also administered intravenously until a blood sugar level of 200 mg / dl is reached.

An alternative treatment in the absence of intravenous access is the administration of the hormone glucagon, the "antagonist hormone" of Insulins, which increases blood sugar. Here you inject 1mg Glucagon into one muscle (intramuscular) or under the skin (subcutaneous). When the patient wakes up, therapy is continued with oral or intravenous glucose administration.

The causal therapy depends on the cause of the hypoglycaemia:

Reactive hypoglycemia: Gastric emptying disorders are treated with tablets that stimulate stomach movements (prokinetics), or the person concerned is operated on on the stomach. A dumping syndrome that occurs after surgery as the cause of recurring hypoglycaemia and hypoglycaemia in the case of vegetative disorders are treated with a special diet treated which many carbohydrates, contain little fat and protein and consist of frequent, small meals. Even with one Fructose intolerance as a trigger of Hypoglycaemia is a special one nutrition without Fructose necessary.

Fasting Hypoglycemia: At Tumors Depending on the type, size and spread of the cancer, an operation is carried out, chemotherapy- or radiation therapy. Insulinomas are treated either with drugs with sugar, diet and diazoxide (blood sugar-increasing drug) or surgically (on the pancreas). If the adrenal glands or the anterior pituitary lobes are not functioning properly, those affected by hypoglycaemia receive a substitution of the deficient hormones. As a therapy, people suffering from glycogenosis must adhere to a special diet.

Exogenous hypoglycemia: In the event of hypoglycaemia due to an overdose of the antidiabetic agent, it is necessary to readjust the medication, instruct the patient and, under certain circumstances, control the intake. If there is a mental illness or a suicide attempt, the person concerned must receive psychiatric care. At Alcohol abuse Psychiatric therapy with withdrawal should also be initiated. If hypoglycaemia develops due to drug interactions, it is necessary to change the tablets.

Hypoglycemic shock is treated in intensive care.