Your body tissues and organs burn sugar, or glucose, to fuel their functions. Fail-safe mechanisms typically prevent your blood sugar from dropping to an abnormally low level, a condition known as hypoglycemia. These mechanisms generally prove effective; hypoglycemia is uncommon among adults, with the exception of diabetic patients taking blood-sugar-lowering medications. These medicines occasionally trigger an episode of low blood sugar. Insufficient sugar disrupts the normal functions of your organs, leading to the characteristic signs of hypoglycemia.
Cold, Clammy Skin
If your blood sugar drops to an abnormally low level, your body may respond with a surge of the hormones norepinephrine and epinephrine from your adrenal glands. The hormones provoke several reactions throughout your body, including sweating and constriction of the blood vessels near the surface of the skin. The net effect is cold, clammy skin.
Confusion and Lack of Focus
Your brain is particularly sensitive to low blood sugar levels. Without sufficient glucose, higher thinking functions begin to deteriorate. You may exhibit confusion and an inability to maintain focus. The people around you are often better able to detect these changes than you are during a bout of hypoglycemia.
Speech Difficulties
When your blood sugar drops to a critically low level, you may experience difficulty assembling your thoughts to speak in a meaningful way and may slur your words. Wearing a diabetes medical identification bracelet or necklace alerts first responders and medical professionals to check you for hypoglycemia if you become temporarily incapacitated.
Rapid Heart Rate
During an episode of low blood sugar, your heart rate typically increases due to the surge of norepinephrine and epinephrine from your adrenal glands. You may notice your heart beating harder and faster than usual.
Seizures
You may experience a seizure if your blood sugar level drops to a critically low level. Lack of sufficient sugar in your brain and body trigger chemical abnormalities that may provoke a seizure. Antiseizure medication may be needed to control the convulsions until treatment raises your blood sugar level and corrects your body chemistry.
Loss of Consciousness
Although uncommon, a markedly low blood sugar level can cause you to lose consciousness. This is particularly dangerous when hypoglycemia occurs during sleep. Your diabetes care team will help you learn to manage your blood sugar during sleep to reduce the likelihood of nighttime hypoglycemia.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Hypoglycemia
- InteliHealth: Hypoglycemia
- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics: Hypoglycemia (Insulin Shock)
- The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Hypoglycemia
- Tufts Open Courseware: Hypoglycemia
- American Diabetes Association: Hypoglycemia Low Blood Glucose)
