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 (15-20 g), repeated, if necessary, after 15 minutes.
|
Oral glucose |
|
|
up to 5 years |
5 g, repeated after 15 minutes if necessary |
|
5–11 years |
10 g, repeated after 15 minutes if necessary |
|
12-17 years |
15 g, repeated after 15 minutes if necessary |
For adults:
Administer oral glucose (15-20 g), repeated, if necessary, after 15 minutes.
For children:
|
Oral glucose |
|
|
up to 5 years |
5 g, repeated after 15 minutes if necessary |
|
5–11 years |
10 g, repeated after 15 minutes if necessary |
|
12-17 years |
15 g, repeated after 15 minutes if necessary |
If the patient is unconscious or uncooperative:
Administer glucagon, 1 mg, i.m. injection.
|
Glucagon, i.m. injection |
|
|
2–8 years |
0.5 mg |
|
9–17 years |
1 mg |
For adults:
Administer glucagon, 1 mg, i.m. injection.
For children:
|
Glucagon, i.m. injection |
|
|
2–8 years |
0.5 mg |
|
9–17 years |
1 mg |
and
Administer oral glucose (15-20 g) when the patient regains consciousness.
|
Oral glucose |
|
|
up to 5 years |
5 g when the patient regains consciousness |
|
5–11 years |
10 g when the patient regains consciousness |
|
12-17 years |
15 g when the patient regains consciousness |
For adults:
Administer oral glucose (15-20 g) when the patient regains consciousness.
For children:
|
Oral glucose |
|
|
up to 5 years |
5 g when the patient regains consciousness |
|
5–11 years |
10 g when the patient regains consciousness |
|
12-17 years |
15 g when the patient regains consciousness |
- If the patient does not respond or any difficulty is experienced, call for an ambulance.