Hypoglycemia is the medical term used to describe low levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood, says the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Glucose is broken down from the foods you eat; mostly carbohydrates. The cells in the body use that glucose to power all of its many functions.
Hypoglycemia is a blood glucose level of below 70mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), says the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. It's typically a minor condition that can be quickly remedied with a snack or a sugary drink. There are a number of different causes for hypoglycemia in children.
Diabetes
Diabetes is the most common cause of hypoglycemia in children, although it can happen to children who aren't diabetic. Taking too much insulin can cause blood glucose levels to drop to unsafe levels, leading to symptoms such as shaking and feeling weak and dizzy.
Missing Meals
Your child's body needs food to provide glucose to the cells. Without regular meals and snacks, the body is deprived and blood glucose levels fall. If your child goes too long without eating--particularly if she has been really active--it could cause hypoglycemia.
Overexertion
When your child is playing hard or getting a lot of exercise, he's using up the glucose stored in his body. With too much exertion and not enough food coming in, hypoglycemia can result. This can happen in people with or without diabetes.
Medications
A number of medications can lead to hypoglycemia, particularly insulin and other medications used to manage diabetes. Diabinase, GluCotrol, Glynase, Januvia, Amaryl and Starlix are just a few of the diabetes medications that can cause hypoglycemia, says the NDIC.
Hyperinsulinism
In addition to diabetes, hyperinsulinism is another possible cause of hypoglycemia in children. Hyperinsulinism, or excess insulin production, is caused by an abnormality in the pancreas that causes it to produce too much insulin or create an abnormal mass in the pancreas. Excess insulin uses up glucose in the blood, leading to low blood sugar.
Abnormalities in Children
A metabolic disorder may be another cause of hypoglycemia in children, says Children's Hospital Boston. Newborn babies may suffer from hypoglycemia caused by poor nutrition of the mother during pregnancy, being born to a diabetic mother, hemolytic diseases and liver disease.
