Blood sugar levels often change during the day, but levels below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) are a cause for concern.
Blood sugar levels below 70 mg/dl signal hypoglycemia, a condition in which a person’s blood sugar/glucose levels are lower than normal. Hypoglycemia is usually related to diabetes, but according to the CDC, there are other causes of low blood sugar levels:
Non-Diabetic Causes of Low Blood Sugar
- Missing a meal
- Amount and timing of physical activity
- Drinking alcohol
- Hot or humid weather and or spending time in high altitudes
- Menstruation
Common Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar
Some common symptoms of low blood sugar, according to the Mayo Clinic, include:
- An irregular heartbeat
- Fatigue
- Pale skin
- Shakiness
- Anxiety
- Sweating
- Hunger
- Irritability
- Tingling or numbness in lips, tongue or cheeks
If hypoglycemia worsens, more-serious symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic can include:
- Confusion and or abnormal behavior
- Blurred vision
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness, such as fainting
You can check your blood sugar using a glucometer or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM.) A blood sugar meter measures the amount of sugar in a small sample of blood. Blood tests can also be run at a doctor’s office.
The CDC recommends that people with diabetes check their blood sugar when they first wake up, before meals, and at bedtime. How often you check your blood sugar depends on what type of diabetes you have, and what medications, if any, you are taking.
Treatments For Low Blood Sugar
For immediate treatment for low blood sugar, the CDC recommends consumption of one of the following:
- Four glucose tablets
- Four ounces of fruit juice or soda
- Four pieces of hard candy
For more information on low blood sugar, visit https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypoglycemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373685.
