Hypoglycaemia

Key signs:

  • Aggression and confusion
  • Sweating
  • Tachycardia (heart rate >110 beats per minute)

Symptoms include:

  • Shaking and trembling
  • Difficulty in concentration/vagueness
  • Slurring of speech
  • Headache
  • Fitting
  • Unconsciousness

Management

  • Assess the patient.

Administer 100% oxygen

Flow rate: 15 litres/minute.

As for adults

For adults:

Administer 100% oxygen

Flow rate: 15 litres/minute.

For children:

As for adults


If the patient remains conscious and cooperative:

Administer oral glucose (10-20 g), repeated, if necessary, after 10-15 minutes.

As for adults

For adults:

Administer oral glucose (10-20 g), repeated, if necessary, after 10-15 minutes.

For children:

As for adults


If the patient is unconscious or uncooperative:

Administer glucagon, 1 mg, i.m. injection.

Glucagon, i.m. injection

2–8 years
body-weight <25 kg

0.5 mg

9–17 years
body-weight ≥25 kg

1 mg

For adults:

Administer glucagon, 1 mg, i.m. injection.

For children:

Glucagon, i.m. injection

2–8 years
body-weight <25 kg

0.5 mg

9–17 years
body-weight ≥25 kg

1 mg

and

Administer oral glucose (10-20 g) when the patient regains consciousness.

As for adults

For adults:

Administer oral glucose (10-20 g) when the patient regains consciousness.

For children:

As for adults


  • If the patient does not respond or any difficulty is experienced, call for an ambulance.