Low blood sugar complications
But I've had problems with low blood sugars. I've had over 20 seizures. I have trouble even sensing low blood sugar nowadays. I have checked my sugar on many occasions where I'm in the 30's and a few times 20's, and not even realizing I had a low blood sugar. I know my brain is being sugar deprived half the time without me realizing it so my question is, are there long term complications to continual low sugars? I'm mainley concerned with brain function and IQ. Thank you. ANSWER: Hi Brad, Yes, there are some long-term complications related to persistent low blood sugar levels as well as short-term ones. Amongst the short-term complications, "hypoglycemic coma" is the most serious, leading to death. With regards to long-term ones, you are right, all your body cells will suffer from low blood sugar supply; especially brain cells, which use only "glucose" as their main fuel provider. Your seizures episodes might indicate any "epilepsia" onset. Talk to your doctor to perform EEG or any other test, in order to see what is happening. Although you will find these effects very "negative" or "horrible"; why don't you start preventing their onset? For example, you say that "have type 1 diabetes and are taking insulin". Of course, you are conducting a strict diet and other lifestyle habits. Now, since you are having persistent low blood sugar, that means that all your efforts to keep your blood sugar under control are succeeding. Therefore, you should adjust insulin dose. Talk to your doctor how you should do it according to your body needs. Recently, emphasis is put on "individually adjustment of blood sugar". In other words, you should draw your own targets for blood sugar according to your body needs (together with your doctor). ADA (American Diabetes Association) and AACE (American Association for Clinical Endocrinologists) are advising physicians with the new guidelines of treating each diabetic "individually" as long as their blood sugar will not cause hypoglycemia. So, try to adjust insulin dose with your doctor to avoid hypoglycemic episodes. Dr.Alba
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