Insulin is released in response to an increase in blood glucose levels. The role of insulin is to control blood glucose levels. It does this by signalling to the liver, muscle and fat cells to use glucose from the bloodstream for energy. If the body’s cells have enough energy then insulin signals to the liver to store the glucose as glycogen. How is reactive hypoglycaemia diagnosed? People with type 1 diabetes must inject insulin every day, often up to 4 or 5 times per day. They may use a pump to deliver insulin which means they insert a new cannula (very fine plastic tube) under the skin every 2 to 3 days. Sometimes, people with type 2 diabetes also need to begin using insulin when diet, physical activity and tablets no longer effectively control their blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes develops when the cells of the pancreas stop producing insulin. Without insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells of the muscles for energy. Instead the glucose rises in the blood causing a person to become extremely unwell. Type 1 diabetes is life-threatening if insulin is not replaced. People with type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin for the rest of their lives. If you used glucagon because of a severe low (54 mg/dL or below), immediately call your doctor for emergency medical treatment. If you have had lows several times close together (even if they’re not severe), you should also tell you doctor. They may want to change your diabetes plan. Know Your Numbers

A person who has had an overdose of glucose will have sugar in their urine. Too much glucose in the blood may cause dehydration, mental confusion, or death in severe cases. Ekwueme EC, et al. (2017). Prolotherapy induces an inflammatory response in human tenocytes in vitro. DOI:

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If the patient does not recover within 15 minutes, give a further dose of glucagon and call for an ambulance. How to store glucagon The insulin pump isn't suitable for everyone. If you're considering using one, you must discuss it first with your diabetes healthcare team. If these symptoms occur within 1-4 hours after eating, you may be experiencing reactive hypoglycaemia: Injectable glucagon is the best way to treat severely low blood sugar. A glucagon kit is available by prescription. Speak with your doctor to see if you should have a kit. Be sure to learn how and when to use it. Let family members and others close to you know where you keep the glucagon kit and make sure they’ve been trained in how to use it too. Over time, blood glucose levels above the normal range can damage your eyes, kidneys and nerves, and can also cause heart disease and stroke. An estimated 300 Australians develop diabetes every day.

Seek professional advice from your healthcare professional about how best to manage hypos. Targeted at diabeticsIn Australia, the strength of the above insulins is 100 units per ml. Some countries have different strengths. Before injecting a cloudy insulin, the pen or vial needs to be gently rolled between your hands to make sure the insulin is evenly mixed (until it looks milky). If your insulin is meant to be clear, don’t use if cloudy. Syringes are manufactured in 30-unit (0.3 ml), 50-unit (0.5 ml) and 100-unit (1.0 ml) measures. The size of the syringe needed will depend on the insulin dose. For example, it is easier to measure a 10 unit dose in a 30 unit syringe and 55 units in a 100 unit syringe.