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Hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) occurs when blood glucose levels fall below 4 mmol/L. It is commonly referred to as a 'hypo'.

Although exercise lowers the blood glucose level, it will normally not cause hypoglycaemic episodes in otherwise healthy people.

Symptoms of hypoglycaemia

Hypoglycaemia can make you feel:

- tired
- pale
- clammy/sweaty
- weak/faint
- hungry
- agitated

Diabetes-Related Hypoglycaemia
If you think your blood glucose is low, check it and treat the problem right away.
To treat hypoglycaemia, have a serving of a quick-fix food, wait 15 minutes, and check your blood glucose. Repeat the treatment until your blood glucose is above 4 mmol/L.
Keep quick-fix foods in the car, at work—anywhere you spend time.
Be careful when you are driving. Check your blood glucose frequently and snack as needed to keep your level above 4 mmol/L.

Insulin is the first line treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus. The aim of insulin treatment is to control blood glucose levels.

Insulin is also used in diabetes type 2 when diet and/or oral therapy have failed to achieve control.

There are 3 main types of insulin preparations, classed by their duration of action.

*Short-acting insulins:

- Soluble insulin (eg. Hypurin Bovine Neutral, Humulin S, Actrapid, Insuman Rapid)
- Insulin aspart (NovoRapid)
- Insulin lispro (Humalog)

*Intermediate-acting insulins:

- Insulin demetir (Levimir)
- Insulin gargine (Lantus)
- Insulin zinc suspension (eg. Hypurin Bovine Lente, Monotard)
- Isophane insulin (eg. Insulatard, Humulin I, Insuman Basal)

*Long-acting insulins:

- Insulin zinc suspension, crystalline (Ultratard)
- Protamine zinc insulin (Hypurin Bovine Protamine Zinc)

A combination of short-acting and intermediate-acting insulins may be used to control blood glucose in diabetic patients -- duration of action varies considerably from one patient to another and needs to be assessed individually.

Meningitis is an inflammatory disease of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord and are caused by bacterial or viral infections.

Viral meningitis is sometimes called aseptic meningitis to indicate it is not the result of bacterial infection and cannot be treated with antibiotics.

Symptoms of meningitis, which may appear suddenly, often include high fever, severe and persistent headache, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting. Changes in behaviour such as confusion, sleepiness, and difficulty waking up may also occur.

In infants, symptoms of meningitis may include irritability or fatigue, lack of appetite, and fever.

Viral meningitis usually resolves in 10 days or less, but other types of meningitis can be deadly if not treated promptly. The most serious infections are caused by bacterial meningitis.

Impetigo is a bacterial infection of the top layers of the skin and is most common among children ages 2 to 6 years.

It causes blistering and sores. It usually starts when the bacteria get into a cut, scratch, or insect bite.

Impetigo is caused by staphylococcus (staph) or group A streptococcus. Skin infections are usually caused by different types (strains) of strep bacteria than those that cause strep throat.

Symptoms of impetigo

Symptoms start with red or pimple-like lesions (sores) surrounded by reddened skin. These lesions can be anywhere on your body, but mostly on your face, arms, and legs. Lesions fill with pus, then break open after a few days and form a thick crust. Itching is common. Your health care provider can diagnose the infection by looking at the skin lesions.

Transmission of impetigo

The infection is spread by direct contact with wounds or sores or nasal discharge from an infected person. Scratching may spread the lesions. From the time of infection until you show symptoms is usually 1 to 3 days. If your skin doesn't have breaks in it, you can't be infected by dried streptococci in the air.

Treatment for impetigo

Your health care provider will prescribe oral antibiotics, as with strep throat. This treatment may also include an antibiotic ointment to be used on your skin.

Condoms are used for contraception and to prevent infection with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). In most cases, condoms are the only effective way to prevent the spread of STDs.

Methods of birth control

* Barrier methods, such as condoms, the diaphragm, and the cervical cap, designed to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg for fertilization.

* Intrauterine device, or IUD, is a small device that is inserted into the uterus by a health care provider. The IUD prevents a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. An IUD can stay in the uterus for up to 10 years until it is removed by a health care provider.

* Hormonal birth control, such as birth control pills, injections, skin patches, and vaginal rings, release hormones into a woman’s body that interfere with fertility by preventing ovulation, fertilization, or implantation.

* Sterilization is a method that permanently prevents a woman from getting pregnant or a man from being able to get a woman pregnant. Sterilization involves surgical procedures that must be done by a health care provider and usually cannot be reversed.

The choice of birth control depends on factors such as a person's overall health, age, frequency of sexual activity, number of sexual partners, desire to have children in the future, and family history of certain diseases.

It is important to remember that although all these methods can prevent pregnancy, condoms are the only method that can protect against sexually transmitted diseases or HIV.