Diabetes: Dealing With Low Blood Sugar From Medicines

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Introduction

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) occurs when the sugar (glucose) level in the blood drops below what the body needs to function normally. Some pills for diabetes can cause low blood sugar. If you want to know how to deal with low blood sugar caused by insulin, see:

Dealing with low blood sugar from insulin.

Key points

• Low blood sugar as a side effect of oral diabetes medicines usually causes mild symptoms, such as sweating, shakiness, and hunger.
• Taking too many of your diabetes pills in one day, not eating enough food, or doing strenuous physical activity also can cause your blood sugar level to drop below the safe range.
• If your blood sugar is low and you don't eat anything, it may drop to a very low level. Keep some hard candy, raisins, or other quick sugar foods with you at all times. Eat some at the first sign of low blood sugar.
• Test your blood sugar often so you do not have to guess when it is low.
• Teach your friends and coworkers what to do if your blood sugar is very low.

 What is a low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) emergency?

 Why do I need to deal with low blood sugar emergencies?

 How to deal with low blood sugar emergencies

 Where to go from here

More information about diabetes can be found in these topics:

• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed
• Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease
• Type 2 Diabetes: Living With Complications
• Type 2 Diabetes in Children
• Gestational Diabetes

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Last updated:	August 14, 2007
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC