Hypoglycemic unawareness

Hypoglycemic unawareness means not being able to recognize low blood sugar until the symptoms are serious. Most people have symptoms if their blood sugar drops below 70 mg/dL. But if you have hypoglycemic unawareness, the only symptom you may have is confusion. Or you may become unconscious before anyone realizes you have low blood sugar.

You may have hypoglycemic unawareness if you:

• Can't feel when your blood sugar is low.
• Have had low blood sugar many times.
• Have had diabetes for a long time.

There is no cure for hypoglycemic unawareness. Sometimes you can regain some ability to feel that your blood sugar is low.

To do this, you need to avoid having low blood sugar levels for a few weeks. This helps teach your body how to react to low blood sugar again with warning signs like sweating, feeling shaky or weak, being very hungry, and feeling dizzy.

Your doctor may raise your target blood sugar level during this time to help keep it from dropping too low. Do not change your target blood sugar levels on your own. Talk to your doctor first.