Can an extreme low blood sugar episode cause damage?

A fellow caregiver asked...

What should I do after an EXTREME low blood sugar episode? Should a check up be made by a doctor to make sure there is no damage?

Expert Answer

Theresa Garnero is clinical nurse manager of Diabetes Services at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.

If your glucose has dropped to an extremely low level (hypoglycemia is less than 70 mg/dL) ,yes, you need to call your doctor to problem solve why it occurred so you can reduce the risk of it happening again. Your doctor would consider adjusting medication. Neurological damage is possible with repeated or a single prolonged episode of hypogycemia. Remember, once you have had a low, you are at higher risk for another low. Go make that call!