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	Hypoglycemia is a common complication of insulin-dependent diabetes. Hypoglycemia occurs when a diabetic’s blood glucose falls below normal levels (60-80 mg/dL). Hypoglycemia may cause serious neurological and/or cardiovascular damage and may even result in death. Causes of hypoglycemia include: • Too much insulin or oral diabetes medications • More exercise or activity than usual or expected • Eating less food than usual or expected • Delaying or skipping snacks and/or meals Symptoms of hypoglycemia include: • Excessive sweating, faintness • Shakiness, weakness, dizziness • Cold clammy skin • Irritability; personality change • Tingling – numbness around the mouth • Headaches • Hunger • Incoherent • Slurred speech • Loss of consciousness Diabetic people normally check their blood glucose several times each day using a small device called a glucometer. The glucometer requires a small droplet of blood for each glucose evaluation. Family members and friends of people with diabetes should learn how to recognize and treat hypoglycemia, including the use of glucagon (an injected medication to raise blood glucose). Find out more about diabetes and treatment at the following informational websites: American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org) Diabetes Youth Foundation (www.dyf.org) Lifescan Diabetes Care (www.lifescan.com)
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