Insulin shock, also called diabetic hypoglycemia, is a severe medical condition that can affect patients with diabetes. This condition is characterized by abnormally low blood sugar and can occur if a diabetes patient doesn't eat enough food, takes too much diabetes medication or insulin or abruptly begins exercising more often. Diabetic patients who develop any of the most common symptoms of insulin shock require prompt medical attention to avoid potentially life-threatening complications.
Weakness, Dizziness or Shakiness
Some of the most common symptoms of insulin shock, or low blood sugar, include weakness, dizziness or shakiness, University of Iowa health professionals report. Episodes of dizziness can cause affected patients to appear unstable while standing or walking around. A patient's hands or limbs may visibly shake or tremble due to low blood sugar levels. Certain diabetic patients can also appear unusually weak and can have difficulty lifting themselves out of a chair. Consequently, patients experiencing insulin shock can faint, lose consciousness of slip into a coma.
Sweating or Pale Skin
Insulin shock can commonly cause profuse sweating or unusually pale skin symptoms in affected patients, MedlinePlus reports. Low blood sugar can cause an affected person's skin to feel cool or clammy to the touch.
Hunger or Oral Tingling
Blood sugar levels that are below normal due to insulin shock commonly trigger the body's hunger response. Consequently, people with this medical condition can experience significant hunger sensations. These common sensations can persist until blood sugar levels are restored to normal. Certain people can also experience unusual tingling sensations around the lips or mouth as common symptoms of insulin shock, University of Iowa reports.
Headache or Blurred Vision
Headache pain or vision alterations can occur as common symptoms of insulin shock, reports MedlinePlus. Affected patients can develop severe, throbbing headache pain throughout the head. Vision changes, such as blurred or double vision, can also arise, which may exacerbate dizziness symptoms in certain people.
Confusion or Mood Changes
People experiencing insulin shock can commonly appear confused or may exhibit drastic, sudden or abnormal mood changes, University of Iowa health experts warn. Affected people can have difficulty paying attention and can become disoriented or forget where they are or what they are doing.
Increased Heart Rate
Low blood sugar levels can commonly cause an increased heart rate as a symptom of insulin shock. A rapid heart rate can contribute to sensations of shakiness, nervousness or dizziness in affected patients.
