Better known as low blood sugar, hypoglycemia occurs when blood glucose levels drop below their normal levels, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC). It can happen quickly and in most cases, is mild and can be treated easily. When left untreated, it can lead to confusion and fainting. In severe cases, seizures, death and coma may occur.
Too Much Insulin
Those with diabetes may need insulin to regulate their blood sugar levels. As the Mayo Clinic explains, sometimes you may take more insulin than you need, and hypoglycemia occurs.
The site also states that if you do not eat enough after taking your medication, or exercise more than you usually do, hypoglycemia may result. In these cases, your doctor may need to adjust your dose to fit your lifestyle.
Taking Someone Else's Medication
The Mayo Clinic states that accidentally taking another person's oral diabetes medication when you are not diabetic can cause a drop in your blood sugar levels. Diabetes medication is not the only medication responsible for this, however. Quinine, a medication used to treat leg cramps in people with malaria, may cause hypoglycemia in children and those with kidney failure.
Tumors and Conditions
Insulinoma is a rare tumor of the pancreas, the organ responsible for insulin production. When a tumor develops in the pancreas, an excess amount of insulin results, as does hypoglycemia.
Another condition known as nesidioblastosis causes an enlargement of beta cells in the pancreas, resulting in the overproduction of insulin as well. These are the cells that produce the insulin; when this condition occurs, so too can hypoglycemia. As the Mayo Clinic states, those who have had gastric bypass surgery are at risk for this.
Illnesses
Illnesses such as hepatitis can cause low blood sugar, as can kidney disorders that prevent the body from excreting medications properly. The buildup of medications leads to hypoglycemia, as they affect blood sugar levels. The Mayo Clinic adds that starvation over a long period of time, or the eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, both deprive the body of the nutrients it needs. This affects glucose levels, thus resulting in hypoglycemia.
Drinking Heavily
Alcohol contains sugar, and when you drink excessively on an empty stomach, your liver is unable to release the glucose it has stored in your liver into your bloodstream. This results in hypoglycemia, according to the Mayo Clinic.
