INSULIN SHOCK

If your blood sugar drops a bit below normal, you may experience mild to moderate symptoms, including:

• dizziness
• shaking
• sweating or clamminess
• hunger
• nervousness or anxiety
• irritability
• rapid pulse

If you’re experiencing insulin shock, you may have some of the above symptoms, but they will progress more quickly. Plummeting blood sugar can also cause:

• headaches
• confusion
• fainting
• poor coordination; tripping and falling
• muscle tremors
• seizures
• coma

Insulin shock can also happen in the middle of the night. In that case, the symptoms may include:

• nightmares
• crying out in your sleep
• waking up confused or very irritable
• very heavy sweating
• aggressive behavior

TREATMENT

Mild to moderate hypoglycemia can normally be treated by eating sugar. More aggressive treatments are needed if you start experiencing the symptoms of severe hypoglycemia.

If you or someone near you begins to experience insulin shock, take these steps:

• Call emergency hotline, especially if the person is unconscious.
• Get sugar into the body immediately. You might eat 15 grams of a quick acting carbohydrate, such as some glucose tablets or high-sugar options like fruit juice, raisins, honey, or candy. The idea is to give insulin something to work with, which will help stabilize your blood sugar and reduce symptoms. If you feel better within 15 minutes, you’re likely on your way to a full recovery.  If not, you would continue to treat with 15 grams of carbohydrate until your blood sugar is up and then be sure to eat a meal.
• Administer an injection of glucagon if the person is unconscious. Do not give an unconscious person something to swallow as they may choke on it. If you don’t have glucagon, emergency personnel will have some.