Act3.

What happens to your blood glucose level when you eat to little carbohydrate/little food?

You may enter a state of hypoglycemia. Severe carb limits can cause your body to break down fat into
ketones for energy. This is called ketosis. Ketosis can cause side effects such as bad breath, headache,
fatigue and weakness.

When a person is in a hyploglycemic state, he may experience the following manifestations

• Looking pale (pallor)

• Shakiness.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness.
• Sweating.
• Hunger or nausea.
• An irregular or fast heartbeat.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Feeling weak and having no energy (fatigue)
What can you advise to a person to prevent hypoglycemia

Monitor your blood sugar. 

Don't skip or delay meals or snacks. 
Measure medication carefully and take it on time. 
Adjust your medication or eat additional snacks if you increase your physical activity.
Eat a meal or snack with alcohol, if you choose to drink.
Record your low glucose reactions.
Carry some form of diabetes identification so that in an emergency others will know that
you have diabetes.

Act 5.

How do you manage hypoglycemia in a conscious person

If you have hypoglycemia symptoms, do the following:

  Eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates. These are sugary foods or drinks without
protein or fat that are easily converted to sugar in the body. Try glucose tablets or gel, fruit juice,
regular (not diet) soda, honey, or sugary candy.

 Recheck blood sugar levels 15 minutes after treatment. If blood sugar levels are still under
70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), eat or drink another 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, and
recheck your blood sugar level again in 15 minutes. Repeat these steps until the blood sugar is
above 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L).

 Have a snack or meal. Once your blood sugar is back in the standard range, eating a healthy snack
or meal can help prevent another drop in blood sugar and replenish your body's glycogen stores.

How do you manage hypoglycemia in an unconscious person

Rapid-acting glucose is the preferred treatment for a conscious patient regardless of the setting. For an
unconscious patient, glucagon is preferred if the patient does not have intravenous (IV) access and
dextrose can be used for patients with IV access.

1. Locate a glucagon emergency kit or glucagon nasal powder, if it’s available. If there’s no
glucagon emergency kit or glucagon nasal powder available, skip to step #3.

2. Administer the glucagon emergency kit or glucagon nasal powder. Follow the package
directions to prepare and administer the glucagon properly.

3. Turn the person on their side. If they vomit, this will help clear their airway and prevent them
from choking.

4. Call 911 or your local number for emergency medical services. Tell the dispatcher that the
person has type 1 diabetes and you think they’re experiencing severe hypoglycemia. Let them
know if the person is very disoriented, having seizures, or unconscious.

List down the food items for a person with hypoglycemia

Recommended
• Candy. When hypoglycemia occurs, patients should follow the 15-15 rule. ...

• Fresh or dried fruit. Fruits that provide the appropriate amount of carbohydrates include half a
banana, 15 grapes, two tablespoons of raisins or a small apple or orange.

• Fruit juice. ...

• Fat-free milk. ...

• Honey.

Avoid

Foods that are not suitable for people with hypoglycemia to eat because they can cause your blood
sugar levels to fluctuate significantly include:

White bread, white rice, and pasta.

Trans fats.

Sugar-sweetened drinks.

Fruit-flavored yogurt.

Sweetened breakfast cereals.

Honey, agave nectar, and maple syrup.

Dried fruit.