Hypoglycemia Question

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Specializes in Acute Care.

I was taught in nursing school "Cold and clammy needs some candy" .

Why would a person possibly experiencing hypoglycemia complain of being hot/flushed but still clammy?

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Specializes in Cardiac/Tele/CVICU.

I am hypoglycemic, and many times I feel flushed and get sweaty and shaky. I can never recall feeling cool/cold anywhere when I've had an "attack".

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

It is possible that the patient subjectively feels hot and sweaty but when you touch them they feel cold to you. I've had hypoglycemic patients not even feel a thing but just get sweaty. I learned early on that if a diabetic patient is sweaty, just check the blood sugar to be on the safe side. Especially working night shift, sometimes people just sleep through a blood sugar of 40 :uhoh3:

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