When to worry about tremor with hypoglycaemia

When blood glucose falls, the body releases stress hormones to restore energy. Shaking may come with sweating, hunger, a fast heartbeat, tingling, irritability, dizziness or difficulty concentrating. Causes include diabetes medicines, delayed meals, illness, alcohol or increased activity, and repeated episodes need a review of the trigger.

If you can swallow safely, check your glucose if a meter is available and take the fast-acting carbohydrate recommended in your personal plan. Recheck as directed by your clinician, then have a longer-lasting snack or meal when recovered. Sit down, avoid driving, and tell someone nearby. Never put food or drink into the mouth of a person who is drowsy or unconscious.

Call emergency services for confusion, seizure, loss of consciousness, inability to swallow, severe weakness or symptoms that do not improve after your prescribed rescue plan. Get urgent advice for repeated episodes, unexplained shaking, or low glucose after a medicine change. Do not stay alone if symptoms are progressing.

Ask how to recognise your early warning signs, which rescue treatment to carry, whether medicines or meals need adjustment, and when recurrent episodes require further testing.