Hypoglycemia

ptnurse · Jul 22, 2003

Generally a patient may have a decreased level of consciousness, c/o not feeling well, be clammy to touch. My FIL gets a whiteish coloring around his mouth when his sugar is low, but that is a symptom that I have only seen in him.

gizzy76 · Jul 22, 2003

A nurse I work with has very fragile sugar levels and can bottom out quite quickly. She became very pale, slightly combative when we tried to give her instagluc so that was interesting. She also started bawling when she began to come around.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 22, 2003

For me: ( I have glycemic issues):

early signs are: shakiness/hot-cold flashes/clamminess on my skin/inablity to think clearly/irritibility/ nausea.

I never let it get past that. The idea is to TX EARLY!!!!!!!!

sharann, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2003

Signs and Symtoms of hypoglycemia are similar to those of adrenalin release:

Shakiness

Tachycardia

palpitations

restlessness

diaphoresis

irritable

Also, confusion,lethargy,slurred speech, seizures, and coma.

NOTE: If patient on Beta-blockers(Inderal...) the signs of adrenalin release (palpitations, tachy..) are not present.

nurstudnt546, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2003

A little rhyme one of my instructors always stated:

"Cold and clammy, needs some candy!"

Of course this doesn't sum up all of the possible signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia but it's a start. I think sharann stated the most common S&S's.

jenac · Jul 23, 2003

Add to all this-extreme hunger. It seems the body knows what we have to guess at. Who would have thought :)

I had an instructor once compare it to an apple-the outside is red, hot and dry (hypergyclemia) inside is pale, cool and moist (hypoglycemia). It doesn't always work this way-but it's a good start.