National resource for Hypo Week. Graphic of two silhouetted superheroes. Text reads: Hypo Heroes Assemble. Spot the signs. Know the treatments. Learn the symptoms

This week is Hypo Awareness Week which is an opportunity to increase awareness of hypoglycaemia and to ensure that each crash trolly has a correctly stocked HypoBox.

Hypoglycaemia (or hypo) is where blood sugar (glucose) is low - below 4mmol/L. When this happens it needs to be treated quickly to stop it from getting worse. Low blood sugar usually affects people with diabetes who take insulin or other diabetes medication. It can still occur in people without diabetes, but this is rare.

Symptoms of low blood sugar can include:

  • feeling hungry
  • feeling dizzy
  • feeling anxious or irritable
  • sweating
  • shaking
  • tingling lips
  • heart palpitations
  • feeling tired or weak
  • changes in your vision such as blurred vision
  • feeling confused

If severe, low blood sugar symptoms may include:

  • have a seizure or fit
  • become unconscious

Our Diabetes Team will be holding information stands in the main entrances at both HRI and CRH this week to discuss more about hypoglycaemia - what the signs, symptoms and treatments are.