Quick Answer: why do diabetics blood sugar get low?

Taking too much insulin. Not eating enough carbs for how much insulin you take. Timing of when you take your insulin. The amount and timing of physical activity.

What causes blood sugar to drop suddenly in diabetics?

The hormone insulin lowers blood sugar levels when blood sugar is too high. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and need insulin to control your blood sugar, taking more insulin than you need can cause your blood sugar level to drop too low and result in hypoglycemia.

What happens if your diabetic and your sugar is low?

If your blood sugar drops below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), you may have symptoms, such as feeling tired, weak, or shaky. If your blood sugar drops very low (usually below 20 mg/dL) and you do not get help, you could become confused or drowsy or even lose consciousness and possibly die.

Why do Type 2 diabetics get low blood sugar?

In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin, or your body can’t use it properly. Too much insulin or oral diabetic medication can lower the blood sugar level, leading to hypoglycemia.

What is the best thing to eat when your blood sugar is low?

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 can also boost blood sugar levels. Norton suggests half a cup (4 ounces ) of your favorite fruit juice, such as apple, orange, pineapple or cranberry juice.

How do you keep your blood sugar from dropping?

Preventing Low Blood Sugar Levels

1. Eat all your meals and snacks on time and try not to skip any.
2. Take the right amount of insulin.
3. If you exercise longer or harder than usual, have an extra snack.
4. Don’t take a hot bath or shower right after an insulin shot.
5. Stick to your diabetes management plan.

What is dangerously low blood sugar?

A blood sugar level below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) is low and can harm you. A blood sugar level below 54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) is a cause for immediate action. You are at risk for low blood sugar if you have diabetes and are taking any of the following diabetes medicines: Insulin.

What is the 15 15 rule in diabetes?

For low blood sugar between 55-69 mg/dL, raise it by following the 15-15 rule: have 15 grams of carbs and check your blood sugar after 15 minutes. If it’s still below your target range, have another serving. Repeat these steps until it’s in your target range.

Why is my blood sugar low even after eating?

Causes of Reactive Hypoglycemia

It’s likely the result of your body making too much insulin after a large, carb-heavy meal. Scientists aren’t sure why, but sometimes your body continues to release extra insulin even after you’ve digested your meal. This added insulin makes your blood glucose level drop below normal.

What happens if blood sugar gets too low while sleeping?

Know the Signs of Low Overnight Blood Sugar

They include shakiness, sweating, confusion, erratic behavior, headache, and lightheadedness. With nighttime hypoglycemia, you may wake up with these symptoms or with a higher blood sugar reading that results from the body’s response to an overnight low.

Does hypoglycemia go away?

What should you do in an emergency? If mild or moderate hypoglycemia isn’t treated right away, it can turn into severe hypoglycemia. People with severe hypoglycemia usually pass out.

What is a good blood sugar level for a type 2 diabetes?

The American Diabetes Association recommends aiming for a blood sugar level between 70 to 130 mg/dl before meals and less than 180 mg/dl one to two hours after a meal. To keep your blood sugar within this range, follow a healthy, well-rounded diet and eat meals and snacks on a consistent schedule.

Can metformin cause low blood sugar?

Low blood sugar. Metformin does not usually cause low blood sugar (known as hypoglycaemia, or “hypos”) when taken on its own. But hypos can happen when you take metformin with other diabetes medicines, such as insulin or gliclazide.

How long does it take to recover from low blood sugar?

It will usually take around 15 minutes to recover from a mild episode of hypoglycaemia. If you have a blood glucose meter, measure your blood sugar again after 15 to 20 minutes.

What should I eat before bed to avoid hypoglycemia?

Try one the following healthful snacks before bed to help manage blood sugar levels and satisfy nighttime hunger:

• A handful of nuts. …
• A hard-boiled egg. …
• Low-fat cheese and whole-wheat crackers. …
• Baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, or cucumber slices. …
• Celery sticks with hummus. …
• Air-popped popcorn. …
• Roasted chickpeas.

What should I eat when I feel shaky?

Eat or drink a quickly digested carbohydrate food, such as:

• ½ cup fruit juice.
• ½ cup of a regular soft drink (not a diet soda)
• 1 cup of milk.
• 5 or 6 hard candies.
• 4 or 5 saltine crackers.
• 2 tablespoons of raisins.
• 3 to 4 teaspoons of sugar or honey.
• 3 or 4 glucose tablets or a serving of glucose gel.

Are bananas good for low blood sugar?

In most people, blood sugar levels should be within a range of 70 to 99 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Most healthy people only need a quick high-carb snack, such as an apple or banana, to help get their blood sugar back up to normal.

Is 200 blood sugar normal after eating?

Results are interpreted as follows: Less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) is normal. 140 to 199 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L and 11.0 mmol/L) is diagnosed as prediabetes. 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher after two hours suggests diabetes.

What is normal blood sugar by age?

Normal blood glucose levels for adults, without diabetes, is 90 to 110 mg/dL. Learn the symptoms of high and low blood sugar here.
…
Normal blood sugar levels for adolescents.

What is a normal blood sugar 2 hours after eating?

What Are Normal Blood Sugar Levels? They’re less than 100 mg/dL after not eating (fasting) for at least 8 hours. And they’re less than 140 mg/dL 2 hours after eating. During the day, levels tend to be at their lowest just before meals.