Home

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Erectile Dysfunction

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Doctor123.org

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Low Blood Sugar Discharge Instructions, Adult


About this topic


Low blood sugar is also called hypoglycemia. It can happen all of a sudden or more slowly. It is most often mild and can be treated. An easy way to treat it is to eat or drink something that is high in sugar such as hard candies, glucose tablets, liquid glucose, or juice. If low blood sugar is not treated, it can get worse. Then you may have serious health problems like an inability to think normally. Your doctor will talk to you about what has caused your low blood sugar. ‚  
Signs of low blood sugar are: ‚  
  • Anger
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Nervousness
  • Bad headache
  • Shaking
  • Sweating
  • Feeling tired
  • Confusion


View OriginalView Original

What care is needed at home?


  • Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
  • Learn how to take your own blood sugar. Keep a diary. Write down the results and how you were feeling at the time. This may help your doctor treat you.
  • Carry hard candy or some type of sugar with you always. Eat them if you feel very drowsy.
  • Eat small meals often.
  • Eat extra meals when you exercise.
  • Avoid drinking beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) without eating first.
  • Learn how to manage stress.
  • Wear a medical alert bracelet.
  • Tell your family and friends about your condition and how to help.

What follow-up care is needed?


Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. Your doctor will keep track of your progress. During your visits, your doctor will tell you if you need more treatment. ‚  

What drugs may be needed?


The doctor may order drugs to: ‚  
  • Replace the sugar in your body

Certain drugs for your diabetes can cause the condition. Your doctor may change the drugs or the dosage. Do not stop taking the drugs unless your doctor tells you to. ‚  

Will physical activity be limited?


No limits on physical activity are needed. If increased exercise caused the low blood sugar, then some changes to your diet may be needed. ‚  

What changes to diet are needed?


  • Keep juice, hard candy (not sugar-free), honey, corn syrup, glucose tablets, liquid glucose, or crackers around to treat low blood sugar.
  • If your blood sugar has not improved in 15 to 20 minutes, repeat your sugar snack.
  • Return to your normal diet after the low blood sugar is gone.
  • Do not use chocolate, cookies, or cake to treat low blood sugar. They have lots of sugar but are high in fat. This makes them slower at boosting your blood sugar up.
  • Limit your intake of alcohol.

What problems could happen?


  • Seizure
  • Fainting
  • Coma

When do I need to call the doctor?


  • Low blood sugar happens again
  • You cannot fix the low blood sugar
  • You have a seizure
  • You pass out
  • You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse

Teach Back: Helping You Understand


The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚  
  • I can tell you about my condition.
  • I can tell you what I need to keep with me to treat my low blood sugar.
  • I can tell you the signs of low blood sugar and what I will do if I have them.

Where can I learn more?


American Diabetes Association ‚  
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/hypoglycemia-low-blood.html ‚  
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases ‚  
http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/hypoglycemia/hypoglycemia.pdf ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

Copyright


Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚  
Copyright © 2016 - 2017
Doctor123.org | Disclaimer