Low sugar in the blood, medically referred to as hypoglycemia, occurs when the levels of glucose in your blood decrease to abnormal levels. Normal blood glucose usually does not fall below 70 mg/dL. If your glucose levels fall below this level, your brain loses its energy source and a variety of physical symptoms may develop.
Symptoms
Some of the most common symptoms of hypoglycemia include confusion, abnormal behavior and visual problems, such as blurred vision and double vision. Someone with hypoglycemia may also experience increased sweating, hunger, anxiety, tremor and heart palpitations. A severe drop in blood sugar can lead to seizures and loss of consciousness.
Causes
Hypoglycemia may occur in diabetics due to over-administration of insulin medication, skipping meals, excess exercise and consumption of alcoholic beverages. People without diabetes may also develop hypoglycemia as a result of certain medications, hormonal deficiencies, tumors on the pancreas that cause excess insulin production, excess alcohol consumption and critical medical conditions, such as the blood infection sepsis.
A specific type of hypoglycemia, called reactive hypoglycemia, occurs within four hours after eating in non-diabetics. The cause of this type of hypoglycemia is unclear, but it is believed to develop as a result of an abnormal physiological response to the hormone epinephrine.
Treatment
The goal of initial treatment of hypoglycemia is to restore glucose levels to normal ranges. The best way to do this to consume a rapid-acting carbohydrate, such as honey, sugar, hard candy, soda or fruit juice that contains around 15 g of carbohydrates. The glucose from these types of carbohydrates moves through your digestive system rapidly and enters your bloodstream almost immediately, increasing your blood glucose levels.
Once blood glucose levels reach normal ranges, further treatment depends on the underlying cause of hypoglycemia. If it is medication, your dosage may be changed. If it is an underlying tumor or illness, medical treatment may be necessary.
Considerations
If you are diabetic, it is important that you do not eat too many rapid-acting carbohydrates to treat your hypoglycemia. This can lead to a potentially dangerous increase in blood sugar levels called hyperglycemia. You should work with your health care provider to educate yourself on the best ways to treat decreases and increases in blood sugar levels.
