Diabetes is a common chronic metabolic disease that causes elevated blood sugar levels and poses a serious threat to human health. However, in some cases, people with diabetes may experience hypoglycemia at night, which is a more problematic problem for them. This article will combine the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, quote ancient and modern famous prescriptions, and introduce the causes of nocturnal hypoglycemia in some diabetic patients and the corresponding countermeasures.
Nocturnal hypoglycemia is when a person's blood sugar levels drop to an abnormally low level during nighttime sleep. There are many causes of nocturnal hypoglycemia, one of which is an irregular diet. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes "eating sparingly", and a reasonable diet plays an important role in controlling blood sugar levels. People with diabetes eat too little at night, or if their diet lacks complex carbohydrates, which can cause blood sugar levels to drop, resulting in nocturnal hypoglycemia. Therefore, a regular diet and reasonable nutrient intake are very important to prevent hypoglycemia at night.
Another cause of nocturnal hypoglycemia is improper exercise. Moderate exercise can help diabetics control their blood sugar levels, but if you exercise too much at night, especially if you don't refuel in time, it can cause blood sugar levels to drop rapidly, triggering hypoglycemia. Therefore, after exercising at night, diabetics should pay attention to eating some carbohydrates properly to replenish the energy needed by the body.
In addition to diet and exercise, medication use in people with diabetes can also cause nocturnal hypoglycemia. Some diabetes medications, particularly insulin and certain oral hypoglycemic drugs, have a blood sugar-lowering effect. If the patient does not take the drug at the right time or dose, it can trigger hypoglycemia at night. Therefore, diabetic patients need to use their medications rationally according to their doctor's advice and monitor their blood sugar regularly to ensure that their blood sugar levels are within the normal range.
There are many countermeasures against nocturnal hypoglycemia, and Chinese medicine provides some ancient prescriptions for reference. For example, when hypoglycemia occurs at night, you can use the TCM massage technique to massage the Shenmen acupoint, which is located in the hollow of the palm of the hand** and helps to raise blood sugar levels. In addition, TCM believes that foods with tonic effects such as pollen, honey, and royal jelly can play a role in increasing blood sugar. Of course, these TCM methods should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor to avoid adverse consequences.
In general, there are various reasons for nocturnal hypoglycemia in diabetic patients, including irregular diet, improper exercise, improper use of medications, etc. In order to avoid the occurrence of nocturnal hypoglycemia, diabetics need to eat a reasonable diet, exercise moderately, and use medications correctly according to their doctor's recommendations. In addition, some TCM methods can also be used as adjuncts, but they need to be done under the guidance of a doctor. It is hoped that through the introduction of this article, we can increase everyone's understanding of nocturnal hypoglycemia in diabetes and provide some coping strategies to help people with diabetes better manage the disease.
References: 1 liu j, sempos c, donahue r, et al. joint distribution of non-hdl and ldl cholesterol and coronary heart disease risk prediction among individuals with and without diabetes. diabetologia, 2018.