Nicole Richie: Hypoglycaemia can attack anyone

Low blood-sugar levels are dangerous

Friday, 22 June 2007

When Nicole Richie collapsed on the set of her hit TV show The Simple Life, those close to the star were understandably anxious about the state of her health.

The star's experience sounded very dramatic, but Nicole’s spokesman later confirmed that she was in fact suffering from hypoglycaemia or low blood-sugar levels.

Although those most likely to suffer from a hypoglycaemic attack are untreated diabetics or diabetics with an incorrect dose of insulin, non-diabetics are also at risk.

Symptoms to look out for

According to Cathy Moulton, a care advisor for Diabetes UK, anyone can suffer from hypoglycaemic episodes and the main cause is going for a period of time without eating.

This will cause the sufferer to start to feel shaky, lose their concentration and, in severe cases, lose consciousness.

‘Everyone needs food to fuel their systems,’ says Cathy. ‘While one person can feel weak after skipping a couple of meals, another person might start to feel wobbly within just a couple of hours of not eating.

'It’s down to the individual as to how prone you might be to an attack.’

The best thing to do is to eat something

Singer and actress Toyah Wilcox, says she has a history of episodes dating back years. When she appeared on the reality TV show I’m A Celebrity – Get Me Out Of Here! in 2003, she struggled to cope without her usual five meals a day.

‘My vision was blurred and all I wanted to do was sleep,’ she says. ‘We were all hungry, but because of my condition I felt it more than the others. I was completely spaced out and had to lie down.’

Fortunately, each episode is relatively easy to treat.

‘Provided you’re not diabetic, the best thing to do is to eat or drink something,’ says Cathy. ‘Sugary drinks will take effect fastest because fluids enter the bloodstream quickly. But just eating an apple or a sandwich will have the same effect, if slightly slower.’

Even if the worst happens and you do lose consciousness during an attack, it’s unlikely you’ll be unconscious for long.

‘Your liver will be able to produce enough glucose to counteract the dip in sugar levels,’ Cathy explains. ‘But it doesn’t mean that it can’t be very dangerous if an attack happens while you’re in the middle of an activity, such as driving.

It's dangerous to pass out

People are also more susceptible to episodes if they’ve been binge drinking because the excess alcohol can interfere with glucose metabolism. This could put you in a very risky position if you passed out on your way home from a night out.’

The best way to avoid suffering from hypoglycaemia is to eat regularly, not skip meals and avoid drinking a lot of alcohol.

If, however, you still seem to be having hypoglycaemic episodes, Cathy says it’s important to see your GP because there are some conditions that can make you more susceptible to it. For example, low blood-sugar levels can be a side effect of problems with the liver or pituitary gland.

Fortunately, it now seems that Nicole has her hypoglycaemia under control. Her spokesman has said she’s taking steps to manage the problem.

HYPOGLYCAEMIA EXPLAINED

What is it?
An abnormally low level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. This can be dangerous because the brain is dependent on a constant supply of glucose to fuel it.

What are the symptoms?
Lack of concentration, tiredness, dizziness and generally feeling weak.

What treatments are available?
Eating something sugary should soon perk you up, but if you have persistent attacks you should seek medical advice because it could be a symptom of something more serious.

More information
Contact Diabetes UK on 0845 1202960 or visit www.diabetes.org.uk

Emily Attwood

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