Preventing Hypoglycaemia

During the course of a lifetime's treatment with insulin (or sulphonylureas) , it is difficult entirely to prevent the occasional episode of hypoglycaemia. However, there are measures that can be taken to minimize the risk. Some of these have already been mentioned previously but they can be summarized as follows.

• Take insulin doses at the times recommended by your diabetes clinical care team.

• Eat meals and snacks on time, again according to clinical advice.

• Monitor blood glucose levels regularly to check the effects of each insulin dose and to ensure that injections match food intake.

• Always carry a supply of glucose with you.

• Be aware of the possible effect of changing the injection site on the rate of insulin absorption - advice on this is given at the diabetes clinic.

• Always have a snack or meal before driving. On longer journeys, check your blood glucose before and during the travel period. Make regular stops for food and rest. If you experience warning signs of a hypo, stop the car in a safe place, switch off the engine, remove the keys from the ignition and move to the passenger seat to take your glucose.

• Carry diabetes identification with you at all times so that your condition will be recognized, should you have a hypo.

• Inform family, friends, work colleagues, and so on, about the possibility of hypoglycaemia. Explain what they need to do to help, should it prove necessary.

• Be aware of the effects of exercise, adjust insulin dose and/or eat a carbohydrate containing snack before starting, in accordance with clinical advice. If the exercise is unplanned, eat some extra carbohydrate.

• Take extra care when travelling and crossing time zones

Get more information about hypoglycaemia.