For Kids: Low Blood Sugar

Your body needs energy to do things. Energy comes from a kind of sugar found in the food you eat. This sugar is called glucose. Glucose travels in your blood. Without glucose you wouldn’t be able to study, play, or even eat or think. Too little glucose can make you feel sick. This is called low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Low blood sugar can happen when you exercise. It can also happen when you don’t eat enough or when you take too much insulin. If your blood sugar gets really low, it can be dangerous.

What do “lows” feel like?

Low blood sugar (“lows”) can make you feel sick. These are some symptoms of low blood sugar:

• Shakiness

• Weakness

• Hunger

• Dizziness

• Confusion

• Grumpiness

• Headache

• Sweating

• Clumsiness

• Forgetfulness

• Tingling around the mouth

• Anger

• Hunger

• Nausea

• Nightmares

• Seizure

• Unconsciousness

Lows don’t affect everyone the same way. Sometimes people with diabetes don’t feel any symptoms when they have low blood sugar. So pay attention to your body. Learn how it feels and how you act when you’re having a low. And to be safe, test your blood sugar as often as you’ve been told to.

You can prevent lows

Don’t let lows get you down. Follow these tips:

• Test your blood sugar often.

• Always take your insulin. Take it on time and take the right amount. Talk with your healthcare provider about exercise, illness, and other time you may need to adjust your insulin dose. 

• Don’t skip meals and snacks, and eat them on time.

• Check your blood sugar before, during, and after you exercise to see if you need a snack.

• If your healthcare team tells you to, eat a snack before bedtime.

You can treat lows

No matter how good you get at avoiding lows, they will happen from time to time. If you feel like you might be having a low, check your blood sugar right away. Or, have an adult check it.

Then follow these steps:

• Step 1. Tell your parents or another adult right away that you are having a low.

• Step 2. Eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrate (fast-acting sugar). You can get at least 15 grams of carbohydrate from each of these:

  • 3 to 4 glucose tablets

  • 8 ounces (a whole glass) of fat-free milk

  • 4 ounces (half a glass or can) of juice or nondiet soda

  • 1 tablespoon of honey

  • 2 tablespoons of raisins

• Step 3. Check your blood sugar again in 15 minutes. It should be at 70 or above.

• Step 4. If your blood sugar is still too low, eat 15 grams of carbohydrate again. Wait another 15 minutes, then test again.

• Step 5. If your blood sugar returns to normal, eat a snack or meal to keep your blood sugar in a safe range.

NOTE: If after step 4 you still don’t feel well and your blood sugar is still low, have someone drive you to your healthcare provider’s office or the hospital emergency department (ER).

You may also want to talk with your healthcare provider about whether you should be prescribed a glucagon shot. Glucagon is a hormone that quickly elevates blood sugar and can reverse serious symptoms. 

The low patrol

Lows can happen when you exercise or play. That’s why you need to be on your very own “Low Patrol.” Your duty is to pay attention to how you feel when you’re being active and playing sports. If you’re low, tell your parent, coach, or another adult right away. Then take a break and have your blood sugar tested or test it yourself, if you can. If you’re low, take fast-acting sugar and eat a snack.

Resources

Still have questions about diabetes? Check out these websites:

• American Diabetes Associationwww.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/parents-and-kids/planet-d/

• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation www.kids.jdrf.org