Gestational diabetes: Dealing with low blood sugar
Why is it important to quickly deal with low blood sugar emergencies?
There are three types of low blood sugar: mild, moderate, and severe. If your blood sugar level falls below 55 mg/dL, your body reacts in the same way it does when you feel very afraid, angry, or anxious. These symptoms of mild low blood sugar often last for only a short time if you eat food that contains sugar, which causes the blood sugar level to rise. An emergency is not likely to develop, and you and your baby will not have any long-lasting effects.
Do not drive a car or operate other machinery if you think that your blood sugar is low. You could harm yourself or someone else. Check your blood sugar before driving. Do not drive if your blood sugar level is less than 70 mg/dL.
If your blood sugar continues to drop (below 40 mg/dL), your brain may receive too little sugar to work well. Problems with judgment and muscle coordination are symptoms of moderate low blood sugar.
If your blood sugar drops below 20 mg/dL (severe low blood sugar), you could have a seizure or stop breathing, possibly harming your baby. You could also fall into a coma, have a stroke, or possibly die.
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How to deal with low blood sugar emergencies
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| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: December 4, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Lois Jovanovic, MD - Endocrinology | |
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