Usually with experience comes the ability to recognize the risk of hypoglycemia by feeling. But not everyone has such a sixth sense. Moreover, in some, a decrease in sugar occurs without symptoms, precursors. Asymptomatic hypoglycemia significantly increases the risk of severe episodes. How to correct the situation and what factors can affect the sensitivity?
Usually, in people who are prone to frequent drops in blood sugar levels, the threshold when they begin to feel hypoglycemia is greatly reduced. Therefore, it becomes much more difficult to react in time and take the necessary actions.
There is a study in children and adolescents showing that 37% of pediatric patients are unaware of all episodes of hypoglycemia that have happened to them. The phenomenon turned out to be not so rare.
If you’re having trouble lowering your glucose threshold, which triggers
warning symptoms, keep your
average sugar levels a little higher. Try to avoid a decrease in glycemia to
3.5-4.0 for a couple of weeks. This will help your body readjust and you will
be better able to recognize when a danger line is approaching. In fact, the
goal is to raise the glucose threshold for the body’s adrenal response. If this
threshold is lowered for you, then you will feel pretty good even at critical
values, when the reaction speed decreases and pathological changes start.
Certain chemicals can increase or decrease sensitivity. For example, caffeine can heighten sensation. This means that the symptoms of hypoglycemia will appear at a higher concentration of glucose than usual. But taking beta-blockers to lower blood pressure can play the opposite role and the symptoms of an impending storm will be less noticeable. The same goes for some antidepressants.