6 steps before bed to avoid hypoglycemia at night

Doctor Le Minh Quang, City International Hospital (HCMC) saidNocturnal high blood sugar is common in diabetics.This condition is caused by many factors, from exercising too close to bedtime to drinking alcohol at night.If left untreated, hypoglycemia at night can lead to headaches, insomnia, seizures, and even death.

CYou can prevent low blood sugar while sleeping with these 6 simple steps:

Check blood sugar before bed

All diabetics at risk of hypoglycemia should check their blood sugar before going to bed. Depending on the level of low blood sugar, supplement with appropriate food. If using an insulin pump, consider temporarily reducing the insulin dose.

Recognize the signs of low blood sugar

Symptoms of hypoglycemia appear when blood sugar levels fall below 70 mg/dl, including shakiness, sweating, confusion, erratic behavior, and headache.Some patients with "hypoglycemia unawareness" will not feel the symptoms of low blood sugar.

Low blood sugar without symptoms can put you in danger.

Don't skip dinner

Skipping dinner or eating too little is one of the causes of low blood sugar at night. Have a healthy, balanced dinner and pay attention to the amount of food.

Avoid excessive exercise late at night

Regular exercise is beneficial for diabetics. However, heavy exercise close to bedtime may cause low blood sugar during the night. Avoid exercise within two hours of bedtime. If your blood sugar level is below 100 mg/dl after exercise, eat twice as much food before bed.

Limit drinking alcohol at night

Regular consumption of alcoholic drinks such as beer and wine can increase the risk of hypoglycaemia at night. Drink in moderation, no more than one unit of alcohol a day for women and two units a day for men. One unit is equivalent to a bottle of beer or a glass of wine. If you drink alcohol in the evening, eat food.

Get food and drinks ready

If you often wake up with symptoms of hypoglycemia, it's a good idea to have something next to your bed, like a soft drink or juice, that you can have without having to get out of bed.