What does irritability feel like with hypoglycaemia?

Low blood glucose can affect the brain and trigger the body's alarm response. Irritability may come on quickly, with sweating, trembling, hunger, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, weakness, headache, blurred vision, or difficulty thinking. A person may seem argumentative, unusually quiet, clumsy, or confused before recognising what is happening. Hypoglycaemia is more likely in people using certain diabetes treatments, but the cause varies. Irritability by itself cannot confirm low blood glucose, so note the timing, meals, activity, medicines, and any glucose reading available.

If you have diabetes and have been given a personal plan for low blood glucose, follow it. Check your glucose if you can do so safely, and use the fast-acting carbohydrate recommended in your plan. Recheck as instructed and eat a longer-lasting snack or meal when advised. Do not drive or operate machinery while symptoms continue. Tell someone nearby what is happening. If episodes recur, contact your diabetes team to review medicines, meals, activity, and monitoring.

Treat severe confusion, seizure, loss of consciousness, inability to swallow, or failure to improve as an emergency. A person who is unconscious or unable to swallow must not be given food or drink; place them safely on their side and contact local emergency services. Get medical advice for repeated episodes, unexplained symptoms, or a low reading without a clear reason.

Ask what symptoms should trigger a check, how to adjust your personal treatment plan, whether medicines or meals need review, and how family members should respond to severe symptoms.