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Hypoglycemia Unawareness

Nina Ghamrawi, MS, RD, CDE
July 18, 2023
July 18, 2023
2
"My blood sugars are low, but I feel totally fine!"

Very often, hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) symptoms occur when blood glucose levels fall below 70 mg/dl. But, many people have blood glucose readings below this level and feel no symptoms. This is called hypoglycemia unawareness. People with hypoglycemia unawareness are also less likely to be awakened from sleep when hypoglycemia occurs at night.

Hypoglycemia unawareness occurs more frequently in those who:

  • Frequently have low blood glucose episodes (which can cause you to stop sensing the early warning signs of hypoglycemia)
  • Have had diabetes for a long time
  • Tightly control their diabetes (which increases your chances of having low blood glucose reactions)

If you think you have hypoglycemia unawareness, speak with your health care provider. Your health care provider may adjust/raise your blood glucose targets to avoid further hypoglycemia and risk of future episodes.

Other Causes of Symptoms

Other people may start to have symptoms of hypoglycemia when their blood glucose levels are higher than 70 mg/dl. This can happen when your blood glucose levels are normally very high, but you change your diet, medications or exercise routine and they start to go down quickly. If this is happening, discuss treatment with your health care provider. Hypoglycemia could be dangerous, even fatal. Please contact your provider if you think you have hypoglycemia unawareness or experience hypoglycemia symptoms.

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