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Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) in People Without Diabetes - Home Treatment
If you are at risk for hypoglycemia, you need to know about health conditions or situations that may lead to low blood sugar and how to deal with them. Proper attention to your health and lifestyle can help you prevent hypoglycemia.
Learn to recognize the early symptoms of hypoglycemia and to take steps to deal with low blood sugar immediately.
When your blood sugar drops too low, drink fruit juice or sugared (non-diet) soda pop. Or eat sugar in the form of candy, cubes, or tablets. Or eat other quick-sugar foods.
Members of your
household, close friends, and coworkers also should know the symptoms of low
blood sugar and learn about emergency care. Wear medical information on a badge
or bracelet
if you are at risk for moderate or severe
hypoglycemia, in case an episode occurs when you are away from family, friends,
or caregivers.
Emergency care
Emergency care for low blood sugar for people who are not taking insulin includes consuming some kind of quick-sugar food, such as fruit juice, as long as you are able to swallow. (Use this information if you do not know whether a person with hypoglycemia takes insulin.)
Health and lifestyle management to avoid hypoglycemia
When hypoglycemia occurs because of an isolated, short-term cause such as prolonged fasting or strenuous exercise, further medical treatment is usually not needed. You may simply need to talk with your doctor about how to avoid such behaviors or situations.
When hypoglycemia has a chronic cause that is not curable, treatment of the condition often can prevent episodes of low blood sugar. Talk with your doctor about:
- Modifying your diet with a long-term meal plan (what, when, and how much you eat).
- Changing the dosage or types of medicines you take.
- Modifying the timing and level of physical activity (such as when and how hard you exercise).
- Keeping a diary of low blood sugar symptoms (when they occur and what and when you last ate).
Managing your diet to prevent hypoglycemia is especially important if you have diabetes, inherited enzyme or hormone deficiencies, or nonfasting (postprandial) hypoglycemia.
Your doctor will want to see you for a physical exam every year (annual) or more often if your symptoms become frequent. You and your doctor will discuss your home blood sugar monitoring records and your diary of your symptoms.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) in People Without Diabetes Topics
Indication
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) is an alpha1-blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH.
Important Safety Information
Do not take UROXATRAL if you have liver problems or if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole, or HIV drugs like ritonavir.
UROXATRAL can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when starting treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activity until you know how UROXATRAL will affect you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure. There may be an increased risk of low blood pressure and fainting when taking UROXATRAL in combination with blood pressure medication or nitrates, or erectile dysfunction medication.
If considering cataract surgery (clouding of the eyes), tell your eye surgeon that you are currently taking UROXATRAL or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.
Before taking UROXATRAL, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Also, tell your doctor if you or any family member(s) have or take medications for a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
BPH and prostate cancer can cause the same symptoms. However, UROXATRAL is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
The most common side effects with UROXATRAL are dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and tiredness.
Please see UROXATRAL full prescribing information.
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