NEW OneTouch Verio Reflect™ Meter
Provides personalized guidance, insight and encouragement so you can take action to help avoid highs and lows.*
Provides personalized guidance, insight and encouragement so you can take action to help avoid highs and lows.*
*Treatment decisions should be based on the numeric result and healthcare professional’s recommendation.
Recognize signs of hypoglycemia and take action.
Even when you do your best to manage your blood glucose, you might experience lows. These lows can be dangerous if you don’t act quickly. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar (blood glucose lower than 4.0 mmol/L)1 is a deficiency of glucose in your blood. The reference table below can help you quickly recognize the signs of hypoglycemia and know what to do. You may want to print it off and keep it handy as a reference for the first while. If your blood glucose levels are consistently low, speak with your healthcare team. Your diabetes management plan may need to be adjusted.
Signs to look out for | What to do | |
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Feeling shaky or light-headed Nausea Feeling nervous, irritable or anxious Feeling confused or unable to concentrate Hunger Increased heart rate Sweating Headache Feeling weak or drowsy Numbness or tingling in your tongue or lips |
STEP 1: Treat it right away |
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Mild and moderate lows(blood glucose lower than 4.0 mmol/L): Take 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate, like2:
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Severe lows: If your blood glucose is less than If you’re alert and able to swallow, they should give you 20 g of fast-acting carbohydrate, like2:
If you’re unconscious, someone needs to give you a glucagon injection and call 911. |
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STEP 2: Wait and re-test |
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After treating, wait 15 minutes and then test your blood glucose.
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Be prepared in case you experience low blood sugar. Have fast-acting carbohydrates available in case of an emergency.
Because you may need help from those around you, it may be helpful to:
References:
1 Canadian Diabetes Association. Lows and highs: blood glucose levels. Available at: http://www.diabetes.ca/diabetes-and-you/healthy-living-resources/blood-glucose-insulin/lows-highs-blood-glucose-levels. Accessed September 30, 2018.
2 Clayton D, Woo, V, Yale JF, et al. Canadian Diabetes Association 2013 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada: hypoglycemia. Can J Diabetes 2013;37(suppl 1): S69-S71.