Hypoglycemia — commonly called low blood sugar — typically occurs in people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Hypoglycemia can be caused by simply not eating enough, but strenuous exercise that burns up all the body’s energy reserves can also cause this condition, which, if left untreated, can result in some severe health problems.
Hypoglycemia
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, hypoglycemia occurs when the level of glucose in your blood drops to abnormally low levels. Under normal conditions, your body regulates the level of blood glucose through the coordinated functions of several organs, glands and associated hormones, such as glucagon and insulin. This serves to keep blood-sugar levels within a narrow range that keeps your body functioning efficiently. If the level of glucose in your blood drops, it’s important to bring it back up as quickly as possible, as hypoglycemia that remains untreated can cause permanent neurological damage and, ultimately, death.
Hypoglycemia and Exercise
Diabetics are prone to extreme shifts in glucose levels, and must be prepared to correct low blood sugar. Most people with diabetes will use glucose tablets or sugary fruit juice, both of which will quickly raise blood sugar levels. Exercise can be worrisome for diabetics and others prone to hypoglycemia, as many of the symptoms associated with low blood glucose are similar to the body’s reaction to exercise, such as sweating and fatigue. When exercising, anyone prone to hypoglycemia should check blood sugar levels with a meter to determine whether the blood glucose level is dropping or whether these symptoms are simply the normal result of a vigorous workout.
Symptoms
A variety of symptoms can occur during exercise that may be related to hypoglycemia. These include headaches, excessive perspiration, dizziness, blurred vision, shakiness, increased anxiety, mental confusion, irritability, heart palpitations, slurred speech and fatigue. At the first sign of any of these symptoms during exercise, you should check your blood glucose immediately. If hypoglycemia is untreated and glucose levels drop to dangerous levels, severe symptoms can include seizures and may ultimately cause you to lapse into a coma.
Tips
If you’re just beginning an exercise regime, start slowly and test your glucose level before, during and after the workout to determine the effect of exercise on your blood glucose, according to johnshopkinshealthalerts.com. In addition, you should always eat some type of carbohydrate prior to exercising, and always ensure you have a source of carbohydrate with you in case your blood sugar goes low. Exercise-related hypoglycemia can also occur up to 72 hours after exercising, so it’s important to monitor blood glucose levels regularly and be on the lookout for any symptoms of hypoglycemia.
