Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a condition in which the glucose level in the blood is too low to properly provide the body with adequate energy. A normal glucose level is between 70mg/dL and 150mg/dL, according to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Hypoglycemia can happen suddenly or can result from an underlying disease or condition. Hypoglycemia is most often associated with diabetes, but there are a number of other causes as well.
Medication
Too much medication or certain types of medication can cause blood sugar levels to fall. Quinine, which is a medication used to treat chronic leg cramps, is commonly associated with hypoglycemia. The use of other medications, such as aspirin or drugs used to treat pneumonia, can also cause hypoglycemia. Medication-induced hypoglycemia is most often seen in children or those with kidney failure.
Excessive Alcohol Consumption
The liver is responsible for the storage and proper release of glucose into the bloodstream. Excessive drinking can impair the function of the liver and result in improper release of stored glucose. If the glucose is not released into the bloodstream, hypoglycemia will result. Hypoglycemia caused by excess alcohol intake is a serious condition and can be fatal, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse.
Illness
Other diseases that affect the liver can also result in low blood sugar. Hepatitis, which is an inflammation and swelling of the liver, impairs liver function resulting in improper release of glucose. Kidney diseases can also cause hypoglycemia. The kidney is the body's filtering mechanism. If the kidneys are not working properly, it can result in decreased filtration and excretion of medications, according to MayoClinic.com. As a result, the medications will build in the bloodstream and can cause hypoglycemia. The eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, can also cause hypoglycemia as well. A long period of fasting, as is characteristic of anorexia, causes depletion of glucose stores along with impairment of gluconeogenesis, which is the metabolic process that creates glucose.
Tumors
Although rare, a pancreatic tumor called an insulinoma can be the underlying cause of hypoglycemia. An insulinoma triggers the production of too much insulin, which works to decrease blood glucose, according to the Center for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases. Other tumors in the body may deplete glucose stores by demanding the use of glucose for their growth.
Endocrine Disorders
The adrenal and pituitary glands are responsible for releasing the hormones that control blood glucose regulation, according to MayoClinic.com. Deficiencies in these glands can result in decreased amounts of necessary hormones such as cortisol, growth hormone, glucagon and epinephrine. Shortages of these hormones can result in hypoglycemia.
