People without diabetes can also develop low blood sugar, but it isn\u2019t as common as in people with diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nocturnal hypoglycemia <\/strong>is when your blood sugar level drops at night, usually when you\u2019re sleeping (1<\/a>). Nocturnal hypoglycemia can be more dangerous than hypoglycemia during the day because you might not be awake or aware of the symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the more common hypoglycemia symptoms<\/a> include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since you might not be awake or alert enough to notice the typical hypoglycemia symptoms, there are specific symptoms of nocturnal hypoglycemia<\/a> to watch out for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might wonder how you can find out if you have nocturnal hypoglycemia if you\u2019re asleep. If you suspect you might be getting nocturnal hypoglycemia, try waking up and checking your blood sugar in the middle of the night, such as 2:00 or 3:00 AM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM)<\/a> is especially helpful in identifying low blood sugar overnight. You can set alarms on a CGM so it will notify you when your blood sugar falls below a certain threshold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re taking insulin to treat your diabetes, you have a higher risk of developing low blood sugar overnight than those who take other diabetes medications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Basal insulin, or long-acting insulin<\/a>, is usually taken once or twice per day. Examples of basal insulin include Levemir, Lantus and Semglee<\/a>. If you take insulin at bedtime, you might develop low blood sugar at night if your dose is too high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carbohydrates are one of three main nutrients you get from food (the others are protein and fat). Carbs break down into glucose, which raises your blood sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t eat enough carbohydrates throughout the day and take a diabetes medication (especially insulin), you might develop nocturnal hypoglycemia. The carbohydrate content of your last meal or snack of the day plays the largest impact on nighttime blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exercising helps lower your blood sugar levels. Both cardiovascular\/aerobic and weight lifting exercises can lower blood sugar<\/a>, which can occur up to 24 hours after you finish your exercise routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you exercise in the evening, you might develop low blood sugar overnight as your body replenishes depleted glycogen (stored sugar) in your liver. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Drinking alcohol depletes your body\u2019s glycogen stores and can lead to hypoglycemia. You\u2019re at a greater risk of developing nocturnal hypoglycemia if you drink excessive amounts of alcohol before bedtime, especially if you also take insulin or blood sugar-lowering medications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hypoglycemia can be a sign of a serious infection, such as sepsis<\/a>. If you\u2019re experiencing nocturnal hypoglycemia and are also ill, it could be related.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your blood sugar levels drop while you\u2019re sleeping, you might not be able to correct them as soon as you would in the daytime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Left untreated, hypoglycemia can become dangerous and cause symptoms like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you become dizzy from hypoglycemia, you could lose consciousness and could fall and injure yourself. Without the ability to communicate (such as slurred speech, confusion, etc.) and being alone, your low blood sugar could become severe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Checking your blood sugar before bedtime will give you an idea of your blood sugar before you sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your blood sugar is on the lower side (such as below 100 mg\/dL), you might be instructed by your healthcare provider to eat a carbohydrate-containing snack or reduce or omit your nightly insulin dose, if applicable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re taking insulin, you might need to adjust your dose if you repeatedly experience nocturnal hypoglycemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should check your blood sugar before bed if you\u2019re taking short-acting insulin (such as Humalog or Novolog) with your last meal. If it\u2019s on the lower side, you might need to reduce your dinnertime insulin dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Long-acting insulin<\/a> doses at bedtime might also need to be reduced for persistent nocturnal hypoglycemia. You can adjust your insulin doses under the guidance of your healthcare provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you use an insulin pump<\/a>, the settings can be adjusted so that your background\/basal insulin delivery rate is lower while you\u2019re sleeping to prevent low blood sugar overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might consider experimenting with morning exercise instead of exercising before bed. If you\u2019re exercising before bed, the timing of your blood sugar lowering can fall at nighttime and cause nocturnal hypoglycemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eating a bedtime snack containing carbohydrates (15-30 grams) can help prevent nocturnal hypoglycemia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A piece of toast, several crackers, a glass of regular (cow\u2019s) milk, or a small cup of fruit all provide carbohydrates that can help raise your blood sugar before bedtime and potentially prevent low blood sugar overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you catch nocturnal hypoglycemia in its early stages, you can help prevent it from becoming severe. If your blood glucose is below 70 mg\/dL, consume 15 grams of carbohydrates and then recheck your blood sugar in 15 minutes. You should repeat this process until your blood glucose is above 70 mg\/dL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can get 15 grams of carbohydrates from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having these types of items at your bedside can help you treat low blood sugar<\/a> more quickly if it occurs at nighttime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a history of low blood sugar, you might be prescribed glucagon, an injectable hormone that raises your blood sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eating enough carbohydrates throughout the day can help keep your blood sugar levels more stable<\/a>. If you skip meals or snacks, you might develop low blood sugar later in the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is especially important if you\u2019re taking insulin or another diabetes medication<\/a> that can cause hypoglycemia, such as sulfonylureas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have repeated hypoglycemia (nocturnal or otherwise) despite lifestyle and medication changes, you might be a good candidate for a continuous glucose monitor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A CGM is also beneficial for other blood sugar problems like the Dawn Phenomenon, which is when morning blood sugar levels are high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CGMs continually measure your blood sugar levels every minute to every few minutes. CGMs can alert you if your blood sugar is trending downward or if it falls below a determined threshold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using a CGM gives you more feedback in real-time compared to checking your blood sugar with a standard glucometer. A CGM can help you make adjustments to avoid nighttime lows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nocturnal hypoglycemia is when you develop hypoglycemia at night, usually when you\u2019re asleep. Nocturnal hypoglycemia can be more dangerous than daytime hypoglycemia because you might not be awake to notice the symptoms of low blood sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best ways to avoid nocturnal hypoglycemia are to check your blood sugar levels before bedtime, make any necessary medication changes, eat carbohydrates consistently (especially in the evening), and avoid exercising before bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A continuous glucose monitor can also be a useful tool in identifying blood sugar trends like nighttime low blood sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have persistent nocturnal hypoglycemia, you should seek advice from your healthcare provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSigns of low blood sugar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"how](\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/HTRD-3-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat causes blood sugar to drop at night?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1) Too much insulin at bedtime <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"using-long-acting-insulin\"](\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Long-acting-Insulins-1024x256.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2) Not eating enough carbohydrates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3) Exercising<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"diabetes-exercise\"](\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/dIABETES-AND-EXERCISE-blog-header-image-1024x256.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4) Drinking alcohol<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5) Severe infections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What happens if blood sugar gets too low while sleeping?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u200b\u200bHow to prevent low blood sugar overnight: 7 tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1) Check your blood sugar before bedtime<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"diabetes-test\"](\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/large-Diabetes-Tests-and-Checkups.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2) Adjust your insulin regimen (if applicable\/necessary)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3) Avoiding nighttime exercise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4) Eat a carbohydrate-based bedtime snack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"refined-carbs-diabetes\"](\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Refined-carbs-What-they-are-and-how-to-avoid-them-1024x256.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5) Be ready to treat low blood sugar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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6) Eat regular meals and snacks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7) Consider a continuous glucose monitor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Explore More<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"hypoglycemia](\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/large-The-Best-Diet-for-Hypoglycemia.jpg\")
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