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Examples of what to give for a hypo reaction
On first sign of a hypo, give at once one of the following:
150ml Orange Juice
3 level teaspoons Sugar or 3 Sugar cubes
15g Barley sugar – i.e. 3 pieces
150ml Lemonade or other ordinary soft drink (not low calorie soft drink)
5 level teaspoons Glucose Powder e.g. Glucodin
3 level teaspoons Honey – may be especially useful for young children as it can be placed in the mouth and is difficult to refuse.
If the hypo did not occur just before a meal or snack it is sometimes a good idea to give an extra exchange of more complex carbohydrate, e.g. bread, biscuits, as well as the sugar. Otherwise the usual meal or snack should be taken promptly to prevent a recurrence of the hypo. The sugar you gave was an extra – don’t deduct an exchange from the usual diet allowance.
If the hypo is not improving in 10 minutes or so, or if it appears to be becoming worse, give further sugar as above.
An early or mild hypo reaction
The early signs (including the warning signs) of insulin hypoglycemic reaction may include one or more of the following:
Paleness, sweating, tremulousness
Dizziness and vagueness
Headache
Odd behaviour, bad temper, misery, crying
Drowsiness
The things to do are:
1. Give sugar quickly: 3 teaspoonful or equivalent.
2. Make a note on the test record of the hypo.
A late or severe hypo reaction
The late signs of an insulin reaction may include:
Intense sleepiness, uncooperative behaviour.
Loss of consciousness or ‘coma’.
Convulsion.
The things to do are:
1. Give sugar if you can: 6-8 teaspoonful or equivalent.
IF NOT:
2. Give a glucagon injection.
3. When he responds, give the sugar at once.
4. If no response, call your doctor at once.
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