Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It IsHow It FeelsDiabetic HypoglycemiaNon-Diabetic HypoglycemiaTips
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Is
How It Feels
Diabetic Hypoglycemia
Non-Diabetic Hypoglycemia
Tips
A blood sugar crash refers to a sudden drop in blood sugar (glucose) levels. Known medically ashypoglycemia, a blood sugar crash can make you feel anxious, irritable, dizzy, or shaky. While anyone can experience hypoglycemia, it’s more common in people withdiabetes.
This article explains what a blood sugar crash is. It discusses the different causes of blood sugar crashes, what a blood sugar crash feels like, and how to prevent and treat hypoglycemia.
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What Is a Blood Sugar Crash?
A blood sugar crash, or hypoglycemia, occurs when blood glucose levels go below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). It typically occurs in response to an imbalance ofinsulinand glucose. Insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas, transports glucose from the bloodstream into cells to be used for energy.
When working properly, the pancreas releases the right amount of insulin in response to sugar and carbohydrate intake. However, this process can go awry.
In some cases, consuming carbohydrates triggers the release of too much insulin, causing what is known as reactive hypoglycemia. In people with diabetes, taking insulin or medications that stimulate insulin production can also cause a blood sugar crash.
A low blood sugar level triggers the release ofepinephrine, also known as adrenaline, the fight-or-flight hormone. It is what can cause the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
What Does a Blood Sugar Crash Feel Like?
Each person may react to hypoglycemia differently. The symptoms of a blood sugar crash can be mild to severe and include the following:
If your blood sugar level is low and continues to drop, your brain does not get enough glucose and stops functioning as it should. This can lead to blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, confusion, slurred speech, numbness, and drowsiness.
If blood sugar stays low for too long, starving the brain of glucose, it may lead to seizures, coma, and very rarely death.
Diabetic Blood Sugar Crash
People with diabetes have to check their blood sugar levels often and practice healthy habits to keep their blood sugar levels in check. Unfortunately, blood sugar crashes can happen for reasons out of your control.
Causes
Low blood sugar is common in people living withtype 1 diabetes, but it can also occur in people with type 2 diabetes who are taking insulin or certain medications. The average person with type 1 diabetes may experience up to two symptomatic episodes of mild low blood sugar per week.
Common causes of blood sugar crashes in people with diabetes include too much insulin or an unbalanced diet:
Why People With Diabetes Should Avoid Meal Skipping
Treatment
The main treatment for a mild sugar crash is the 15-15 rule. It helps slowly bring blood sugar levels up.
Instead, according to the 15-15 rule, you should eat 15 grams of carbohydrates to raise your blood sugar and check your blood sugar level 15 minutes after. If it’s still below 70 mg/dL, have another serving.
Food or supplements that contain 15 mg of carbohydrates include:
Complex carbohydrates or foods that contain fats along with carbs (like chocolate) can slow the absorption of glucose and should not be used to treat an emergency low.
Keep track of your symptoms and low blood sugar episodes and tell your healthcare provider. If you’re experiencing severe symptoms or symptoms aren’t improving with treatment, you should call your healthcare provider or 911 immediately.
Prevention
Monitoring your blood sugar is the tried and true method for preventing hypoglycemia. The more a person checks blood sugar, the lower their risk of hypoglycemia.This is because you can see when blood sugar levels are dropping and treat it before it gets too low.
If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar at the following times:
You should check your blood sugar more often if you made certain changes, such as a new insulin routine, a different work schedule, an increase in physical activity, or travel across time zones.
What Is a Continuous Glucose Monitor?Besides a glucometer, you can also monitor your blood sugar with a continuous glucose monitor. These monitors are devices connected to the body all day, allowing quick access to information anytime you need it. These monitors help prevent surprise highs or lows in blood sugar and address them quickly.
What Is a Continuous Glucose Monitor?
Besides a glucometer, you can also monitor your blood sugar with a continuous glucose monitor. These monitors are devices connected to the body all day, allowing quick access to information anytime you need it. These monitors help prevent surprise highs or lows in blood sugar and address them quickly.
Other things you can do to avoid a blood sugar crash if you have diabetes include:
How to Use a Glucometer
Non-Diabetic Blood Sugar Crash
Non-diabetic blood sugar crashes are considered much rarer than diabetic blood sugar crashes. They may occur for various reasons.
There are two types of non-diabetic hypoglycemia: reactive hypoglycemia and fasting hypoglycemia. Reactive hypoglycemia, also called postprandial hypoglycemia, happens after a meal, typically a few hours later.
Possible causes of reactive hypoglycemia include:
For people without diabetes, treatment depends on the cause of the hypoglycemia. For example, if you have a tumor that is causing your hypoglycemia, you may need surgery.
If a medicine is the cause, switching to a different medication can help. To treat your symptoms immediately, eat or drink 15 grams of carbohydrates.
A reactive hypoglycemia episode may be a sign the person has or may develop diabetes. You should discuss it with your healthcare provider to determine your next steps.
How to Stop Prediabetes From Turning Into Diabetes
By making small tweaks to your diet, you can help avoid hypoglycemia. These changes include eating a balanced diet, eating less sugar and carbs, and eating more protein and fiber.
Another prevention tip is carrying a snack with you that can be used to raise your blood sugar. These snacks can include a handful of nuts, a hardboiled egg, or air-popped popcorn.
Tips for Keeping Blood Sugar Steady
The best way to address your personal concerns and needs is to discuss your diet, medication, and lifestyle with your healthcare team. They can diagnose any underlying conditions, adjust or change your medications, and advise you on the best ways to prevent hypoglycemia.
Tips that apply across the board to keep blood sugar stable include:
People with diabetes may face more challenges when managing blood sugar levels, but it is possible to stay healthy.
Summary
People with diabetes and those without can both experience sugar crashes, but for different reasons. Monitoring your blood sugar is your best bet at preventing a sugar crash if you have been diagnosed with diabetes. If you don’t have diabetes, talk to your healthcare provider to find out what may be causing your sugar crash and what changes you need to make.
A Word From VerywellSome people may not experience symptoms when they have low blood sugar, which can put them at higher risk of more dangerous reactions like passing out, seizures, or coma. It’s especially important for these people to continuously check their blood sugars to make sure it does not fall below 70 mg/dL and so they can treat it quickly if it does.—JAMIE JOHNSON, RDN, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Some people may not experience symptoms when they have low blood sugar, which can put them at higher risk of more dangerous reactions like passing out, seizures, or coma. It’s especially important for these people to continuously check their blood sugars to make sure it does not fall below 70 mg/dL and so they can treat it quickly if it does.—JAMIE JOHNSON, RDN, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Some people may not experience symptoms when they have low blood sugar, which can put them at higher risk of more dangerous reactions like passing out, seizures, or coma. It’s especially important for these people to continuously check their blood sugars to make sure it does not fall below 70 mg/dL and so they can treat it quickly if it does.
—JAMIE JOHNSON, RDN, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Diabetes Association.Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).Östenson CG, Geelhoed-Duijvestijn P, Lahtela J, Weitgasser R, Markert Jensen M, Pedersen-Bjergaard U.Self-reported non-severe hypoglycaemic events in Europe.Diabet Med. 2014;31(1):92-101. doi:10.1111/dme.12261Hormone Health Network.Non-diabetic hypoglycemia.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Diabetes Association.Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).Östenson CG, Geelhoed-Duijvestijn P, Lahtela J, Weitgasser R, Markert Jensen M, Pedersen-Bjergaard U.Self-reported non-severe hypoglycaemic events in Europe.Diabet Med. 2014;31(1):92-101. doi:10.1111/dme.12261Hormone Health Network.Non-diabetic hypoglycemia.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Diabetes Association.Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).Östenson CG, Geelhoed-Duijvestijn P, Lahtela J, Weitgasser R, Markert Jensen M, Pedersen-Bjergaard U.Self-reported non-severe hypoglycaemic events in Europe.Diabet Med. 2014;31(1):92-101. doi:10.1111/dme.12261Hormone Health Network.Non-diabetic hypoglycemia.
American Diabetes Association.Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Östenson CG, Geelhoed-Duijvestijn P, Lahtela J, Weitgasser R, Markert Jensen M, Pedersen-Bjergaard U.Self-reported non-severe hypoglycaemic events in Europe.Diabet Med. 2014;31(1):92-101. doi:10.1111/dme.12261
Hormone Health Network.Non-diabetic hypoglycemia.
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