What Does Low Blood Sugar Feel Like?
February 19, 2024
Content created for the Bezzy community and sponsored by our partners. Learn More
Photography by MamiGibbs/Getty Images
We asked the community what hypoglycemia feels like and how they manage it. Here’s what was shared.
You’ve probably been there before — you’re going about your day when it suddenly hits. You’re sweating, shaking, and feeling a bit out of sorts.
Or maybe you haven’t felt any warning signs, but your continuous glucose monitoring system alerts you to an issue.
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, happens when your glucose levels drop.
What causes low blood sugar?
In the diabetes community, it’s long been known that this is more common among people who use insulin. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases lists the following causes of hypoglycemia in people living with type 2 diabetes:
- medication
- not eating enough carbs
- skipping or postponing meals
- increasing physical activity
- being sick
- drinking alcohol
What does low blood sugar feel like?
Symptoms are different for everyone. Some people have no symptoms, while others have noticeable, sudden symptoms.
We asked the Bezzy T2D community what hypoglycemia feels like and their strategies for managing it. Here’s what they shared:
I know my sugar is low when I feel dizzy and very shaky.
Erica, diagnosed 2023
Yes, enough times that now I use the feeling as a tell for when I’m experiencing a low, and the same for a spike! Yes, I double-checked with a finger stick to make sure!
Bob S, diagnosed 2022
Thankfully, that doesn’t happen very often. But shakiness and jitters are my way of noticing low blood sugar.
Anniegirl, diagnosed 1990
I can tell when I’m getting low, so I always have a measured baggy of candy close by. If I can see with my Dexcom that it’s going down fast, I eat a spoonful of peanut butter or a cheese stick to stabilize it.
Lilygirl72, diagnosed 1989
I get a headache, feel nauseous, and shaky. I eat some yogurt or soup. It’s a pain, but that’s the downside of this disease.
nadyne irish20, diagnosed 2016
It starts with feeling a little nauseous, then I get extremely dizzy and feel as if I may pass out.
Ole, diagnosed 2023
Takeaway
Monitoring your blood sugar is the best way to stay on top of those icky feelings of low blood sugar. It’s also a great way to spot patterns and learn lessons about your individual experience with type 2 diabetes.
Join the discussion in our Bezzy T2D forums, and let us know how you deal with low blood sugar.
Medically reviewed on February 19, 2024
1 Source
Like the story? React, bookmark, or share below:
Have thoughts or suggestions about this article? Email us at article-feedback@bezzy.com.
About the author