Diabetes in children: Preventing low blood sugar
Introduction
Low blood sugar, also called hypoglycemia, occurs when the sugar (glucose) level in the blood of a person with diabetes drops below what the body needs to function normally. Taking too much insulin, not eating enough food or skipping meals, or exercising more than usual can cause blood sugar levels to drop rapidly.
If your child's blood sugar level drops very low and he or she does not get help, your child could have a seizure or go into a coma and possibly die.
These four simple steps might save your child's life:
- Test your child's blood sugar as suggested by his or her doctor so that you do not have to guess when your child's blood sugar is low.
- Be alert to the early signs of low blood sugar: sweating, shakiness, hunger, blurred vision, and dizziness.
- Have your child keep some hard candy, raisins, or other foods that contain sugar with him or her at all times. Your child should eat some at the first sign of low blood sugar.
- Teach all of your child's caregivers what to do if your child's blood sugar is very low.
What is low blood sugar?
Why is low blood sugar a problem?
How do you deal with low blood sugar?
Where to go from here
More information about children and diabetes can be found in these topics:
- Type 1 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed
- Type 1 Diabetes: Children Living With the Disease
- Type 2 Diabetes in Children
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| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: December 3, 2008 |
| Medical Review: |
Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Stephen LaFranchi, MD - Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology |
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