• Reference Number: HEY945/2017
• Departments: Nutrition Support
• Last Updated: 31 October 2017

What is Hypoglycaemia?

Hypoglycaemia (sometimes referred to as a ‘hypo’) is a low level of glucose in the bloodstream (4mmol/L or less).

Who is at risk?

People who have diabetes and are taking insulin or a sulphonylurea type medication (such as gliclazide, glipizide or glimepiride) are at risk of having a hypo.

Does it need treating?

Hypos can be very serious and need treating as soon as possible to avoid complications. The effects of hypos can vary. Symptoms can range from being mild to causing a diabetic coma. If left untreated hypos can be fatal.

Treating Hypos

If you think you are having a hypo, please inform the nursing staff. For some people who have long-standing insulin-treated diabetes warning symptoms may not always present, however, most people get a warning sign – symptoms may include:

• Sweating heavily
• Tingling lips
• Feeling anxious
• Hunger
• Trembling and shaking
• Palpitations
• Feeling disorientated

If a hypo is suspected, a blood glucose check needs to be carried out straight away. If your blood glucose level is less than 4mmol/L, the hypo needs treating with a ‘fast acting’ carbohydrate (see below for examples).

• 60mls (1 bottle) Glucojuice
• 4 to 5 Gluco Tabs or 5 to 6 dextrose tablets
• 5 jelly babies
• 2 tubes of Glucogel
• 150 to 200ml pure orange juice
• 200ml lucozade

Your blood glucose levels should be checked 10 to 15 minutes after treatment. If your levels have not risen above 4mmol/L then the fast-acting hypo treatment needs repeating.

It is also advisable to have a carbohydrate snack after treating the hypo. Suitable snacks include:

• 2 biscuits and a glass of milk
• Bowl of cereal
• 2 slices of toast  
• 1 banana

Types of carbohydrate foods include:

• Bread, Cereals, Rice, Pasta, Potatoes, Milk, Confectionery (i.e. biscuits/cake), Fruit, Any foods/drinks containing sugar e.g. pure fruit juice

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.