Low blood sugar, also known as Hypoglycemia, occurs when the level of glucose in the blood drops below normal. Glucose is the source of energy for the body. Insufficient levels of glucose in the blood cause the body to feel unwell. Hypoglycemia is most commonly experienced by people with diabetes. However some rare conditions cause hypoglycemia in people who don’t have diabetes. Hypoglycemia isn’t a disease, it's an indicator of a health problem.
3D Medical Animation still showing low blood sugar
Symptoms
The symptoms of low blood sugar come suddenly, and vary from person to person, ranging from mild to severe. Some people do not get any symptoms at all. The most common symptoms are fatigue, blurry vision, rapid heartbeat, sudden nervousness, mood swings, headache, hunger, dizziness, sweating and irritability. More severe symptoms can include loss of consciousness, seizures and coma.
Causes
Low blood sugar is usually caused as a side effect of diabetes treatment. Imbalance between timing of medication like insulin and diet such as eating less than usual or eating later than usual are the most common causes of hypoglycemia. Unplanned excessive physical activity and drinking alcohol while on diabetic medication can also cause hypoglycemia.
Other than diabetes, causes of hypoglycemia include: kidney disease, certain tumours, liver disease, hypothyroidism, excessive alcohol consumption and a number of drugs.
Treatment
In people with diabetes, hypoglycemia can be prevented by constantly monitoring glucose levels. Knowing the blood glucose level can help one decide how much medicine to take, what type of food to eat, and how much physical activity to do. Eating meals and snacks at regular intervals and exercising within moderate levels are also important.
In people without diabetes ,the underlying cause of hypoglycemia must be diagnosed. A healthy diet and eating at regular intervals also helps prevent hypoglycemia.
Low blood sugaris a very dangerous condition if not treated properly and immediately. However, once diagnosed it is largely manageable.
Disclaimer: The information in no way constitutes, or should be construed as medical advice. Nor is the above article an endorsement of any research findings discussed in the article an endorsement for any of the source publications.
References:
- Hypoglycemia- Wikipedia
- Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
- Hypoglycemia: When Your Blood Sugar Gets Too Low
- What Is Non-Diabetic Hypoglycemia?
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