Hypoglycaemia means low blood glucose and in a person who doesn't have diabetes, the levels never fall much below 3.5 mmol/I. In an insulin dependent person the glucose levels will drop and continue dropping until you have some food in the form of carbohydrate. 'Hypo' is the name given to this situation and the symptoms which occur as the blood glucose levels fall. 

Symptoms of hypos

When the blood glucose levels begin to fall the body usually triggers a number of 'warning symptoms' including feeling sweaty or cold, trembling and feeling weak, feeling hungry, blurred vision, feeling irritable upset or angry, an inability to concentrate, looking pale, feeling drowsy. If nothing is done and the blood glucose level continues to fall the person will lose consciousness. 

The young people we talked to said that their 'warning symptoms' haven't changed that much over the years. They also indicated that you don't get all the symptoms at the same time. Many young people said that their parents are sometimes the first ones to notice that they are having a hypo. (See also 'Support from parents and families'.)

Explains how she feels when having a hypo and how fast her mother is at recognising her symptoms.

Many indicated that it is not unusual to experience hypos during the period following being diagnosed with diabetes and many have experienced night-time hypos - from which they wake up feeling sweaty and bad tempered. Young people said that they get a lot of support and advice from doctors and nurses about the symptoms they need to watch out for and what to do when having a hypo. (See Section II - The diabetes care team.) For instance they have been told that they need to take glucose tablets or a glucose drink, have a piece of toast and check their blood glucose. Young people know that they need to carry their glucose tablets with them at all times and if going away to take a sugary glucose gel such as Glucogel or Dextrogel (for more information on treating hypos see Diabetes UK website).

Why do I have hypos?

The young people we talked to believed that their hypos could happen for one of a number of possible reasons: eating less than usual, injecting more insulin than needed and taking more exercise than usual.

After diagnosis she experienced hypos everyday for a week. She went back to the hospital and her insulin dosage was reduced, since then she hasn't had any more hypos.

Says that he is most likely to have a hypo when he is tired but that he and his mum know what to do before it gets bad.

He has experienced one serious hypo and it was because he didn't know what to do when exercising. When he changes his routine he tends to go high rather than low.

Hypos and snacks

One situation described by many young people is when you have the warning symptoms of a hypo and you eat something, but you still feel hungry and eat some more and end up with high blood glucose level. Many teenagers said that they find it difficult to regulate their need to eat to stop the symptoms of a hypo without overeating. Young people said that ideally when you feel hypo you need to have a snack and wait 15 minutes and do a blood glucose test. They said do not continue eating because that could take your blood glucose level sky high. Some suggested liquids like coke or fruit juices rather than a chocolate, because liquids get into the bloodstream faster.

Says that he is learning to deal with hypos but that it isn't easy.

Understanding hypos

Young people talked of the need to know how to adjust things on a daily basis and to know the reasons why sometimes they might go low or high. One young man tended to have an overly tight control and it was not until he changed that pattern that he stopped having frequent hypos. One young woman has never experienced any serious hypo (or highs) and attributes that to her good control. Another girl suggested that there is never going to be 'the perfect diabetic' because it is very difficult to keep your blood glucose level between the ideal range of 4 and 10 but that you do learn to deal with the warning symptoms early. Many indicated that some alcoholic drinks, particularly wine, make them to go hypo. (See 'Drinking and alcohol'.)

He kept his blood glucose level lower and was experiencing frequent hypos. His diabetes doctor advised him to get them a bit higher as his control is actually too good.

She doesn't have many hypos & has never had a serious one. Thinks that it is very important to understand the reasons why your blood glucose levels are too low or high.

Says that there is never going to be 'the perfect diabetic'.

One of the most difficult things

Learning not to go 'too low' or 'too high' is the goal of all the young people we talked to. But for some teenagers this is one of the most difficult things about controlling diabetes - particularly what to do to stop having hypos. Hypos they find, affect their daily life whether it is going out with friends or practicing a sport. One young woman diagnosed as a child said that her mother has been more relaxed with her sister than with her when it comes to going out with friends. Sometimes she feels that diabetes is stopping her from being allowed to grow up. The attitude of all the teenagers we talked to is that diabetes and hypos are things they have to deal with. One young man sees it as his goal to get rid of his hypos.

The thing she find the most difficult when controlling diabetes is to stop having hypos.

Describes his hypos as vicious and explains what he does to control his blood glucose levels.

Says that occasionally you could get a hypo where it takes longer to bring your blood glucose to a normal level. But luckily they don't tend to occur that frequently.

A few of the young people we talked to have experience severe hypos - when your blood glucose levels drop very rapidly. They talked of losing consciousness, of having an epileptic type of fit. Two young women talked of going into a coma and ending up in hospital. This can be a scary experience. One young woman indicated that this is the only area where diabetes rules because she does not like to be by herself in the house at night. The other indicated that she runs her blood glucose level high on purpose because she does not want to risk going low and ending up in a coma again. But she also knows that by having high blood glucose levels she is damaging her body.

At fourteen she had a severe fit and went unconscious. Last year she had seven more fits. She is scared to drop her blood glucose level but knows that being high isn't good.

Last reviewed April 2010.

Last updated April 2010.