Nursing Teaching on Signs and Symptoms of Hypoglycemia

Nurse educated the patient and caregiver regarding signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia as follows:

Glucose is the major source of nutrition supply to the brain and nervous system. Consequently, the effects of hypoglycemia with lowered blood sugar levels mainly show on the brain and nervous system with the following signs and symptoms.

  1. Reduced blood sugar leads to reduced nourishment to brain, resulting in feelings of dizziness, clouding of consciousness, confusion, sleepy state, and headaches.
  2. Reduced blood supply to the brain and nervous system leads to blurred and impaired vision, contributing to increased risk for falls & accidents.
  3. As blood sugar is the first and most readily available source of energy supply, reduced blood sugar leads to reduced energy levels, weakness, and feeling clumsy.
  4. Reduced blood sugars lead to triggering some hormonal protective responses. Low blood sugar levels trigger release of the hormones glucagon and adrenaline, which help breakdown the stored glucose in the body (glycogen) to more readily available form of glucose, for the body to use.
  5. Increased release of adrenaline can have other side-effects, such as, increased sweating, clamminess, abruptly increased heartbeat, palpitations, and experiencing feelings of nervousness, anxiety, & irritability.
  6. Also, as a compensatory measure, reduced blood sugar levels can lead to the individual experiencing hunger, which can promote nutrition intake thus helping to raising the blood sugars to safer limits.
  7. Grossly lowered blood sugar levels can also result in serious complications, such as, experiencing seizures and in severe cases, even a coma.