Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)

The aim of insulin treatment is to balance the diet eaten, with the correct dose of insulin, so that it burns up the excess body sugar that occurs in diabetics and keeps the blood sugar at the correct balance. It may from time to time happen that the correct balance is upset, that is to say too much of the blood sugar is burned up, making the patient feel queer / uncomfortable for a short while. This condition is known as hypoglycaemia (to low of blood sugar) and below are some circumstances where this might happen

• Too much insulin is injected by mistake causing an insulin overdose.
• When enough of the usual carbohydrates (starch/sugar) of the diet are not eaten causing your normal insulin intake to be too much. It is important not to let this mistake occur, always be careful to make sure the usual diet is eaten at regular hours to balance the dose of insulin
• When your diabetic condition is improving and you need less insulin, this may be because your own pancreas gland is producing more insulin of its own. Doctors could look upon this as an encouraging sign and shows that the dose of insulin can be reduced.

When an unusual amount of exercise is taken, more blood sugar is burnt up. With your usual diet and insulin the blood sugar levels may become to low, this would then lead to an insulin overdose. However having said this, most people have day to day routine habits and often in most elderly patients excessive exercise would not be attempted, so this scenario would be less likely occur. The same can not be said about the younger generation. People that lead active lives may have to take a few units less of insulin or more food, when exercising more than usual.

This would be regulated by your doctor, or clinic who would advise you on this matter