Low blood sugar – Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia, also called low blood glucose or low blood sugar, occurs when blood glucose level drops below required normal levels, it is dangerous if untreated.

Hypoglycemia can produce an inadequate supply of glucose as fuel to the brain, resulting in impairment of brain function. Low blood glucose effects can range from feeling bad to seizures, unconsciousness, and rarely may cause brain damage or death.

Hypoglycemia can produce a variety of symptoms and effects but the principal problems arise from an inadequate supply of glucose as fuel to the brain, resulting in impairment of function (neuroglycopenia). Effects can range from vaguely “feeling bad” to seizures, unconsciousness, and (rarely) permanent brain damage or death.

The most common forms of moderate and severe hypoglycemia occur as a complication of treatment of diabetes mellitus with insulin or oral medications. Hypoglycemia is less common in non-diabetic persons, but can occur at any age, from many causes. Among the causes are excessive insulin produced in the body, inborn errors of carbohydrate, fat, amino acid or organic acid metabolism, medications and poisons, alcohol, hormone deficiencies, certain tumors, prolonged starvation, and alterations of metabolism associated with infection or failures of various organ systems.

Hypoglycemia Symptoms
Symptoms of hypoglycemia low blood glucose may vary because low blood glucose can be mild, moderate, or severe. But most of the hypoglycemia symptoms are annoying for the patients and their well wishers.

• Shakiness
• Nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort
• Palpitations
• Headache
• Feeling of numbness
• impaired judgment, anxiety, moodiness, depression, crying
• Fatigue, weakness
• Difficulty speaking, slurred speech
• Stupor, coma, abnormal breathing

Hypoglycemia Causes
Hypoglycemia occurs due to number of reasons, the most common being a side effect of drugs used for the treatment of diabetes.

• Diabetes medications – Insulin or oral medication that increases insulin production causing excess insulin production and lower the blood glucose level below normal.
• Fasting or small meal or delayed meal.
• Too much of physical activity than normal.
• Have excess alcohol beverage.

Hypoglycemia Test
If you experience the symptoms of hypoglycemia, then confirm it by measuring the glucose level in blood. If it is lower than 70 mg/dl it is an indication for hypoglycemia.

Every diabetic patient should know the symptoms of hypoglycemia, particularly once they experience hypoglycemia episode. They should note down their symptom and if they came across beginning of those symptoms, then immediately should test their blood glucose level using blood glucose monitor.

If the blood glucose level is lower than 70 mg/dl, then it indicates hypoglycemia and need immediate hypoglycemia treatment.

Hypoglycemia Treatment
Low blood glucose level called hypoglycemia; treatment is to increase the blood glucose level back to normal by consuming glucose rich food.

Once the symptoms and blood test confirm hypoglycemia, then the blood glucose level should be brought to normal by rising it by consuming glucose tablets or any other food rich is sugar or glucose.

Hypoglycemia Prevention
Hypoglycemia prevention is possible if one is strict in their diabetes care or management, also should know the symptoms of hypoglycemia to correct it at mild hypoglycemia stage. Hypotension prevention is better than treating it.

Diabetes Resources
Hypoglycemia Sign & Symptoms
Hypoglycemia | Low blood glucose

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