When your blood glucose levels drop below the normal range on a consistent basis, you may be diagnosed with hypoglycemia. Isolated incidences of low blood glucose may be related to improper diet or too much insulin released into the bloodstream. When glucose levels are low, your potassium may also be affected. Prompt medical care should be instituted if you have low blood glucose and low potassium.
Potassium
Potassium plays a major role in your body’s cell function. It is an electrolyte and works along with sodium, chloride, magnesium and calcium to help conduct electricity throughout your body. The normal range for potassium levels is between 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L. If you are diabetic and your blood glucose levels are high, you may secrete potassium and other electrolytes out through your urine – this can cause a drop in potassium levels. When your blood glucose drops due to insulin release or injection, potassium levels will begin to return to the normal range after your blood glucose is under control, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Blood Glucose
Blood glucose is important because it is your body’s main source of energy. When levels drop too low, your body begins to set off symptoms to let you know energy levels are quickly draining. Signs of low blood glucose include extreme hunger, sweating, nervousness, sleepiness, weakness, dizziness and, in some cases, difficulty speaking, explains the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Low blood glucose occurs when levels drop below 70 mg/dl.
Causes
There are several causes of low potassium and low blood glucose levels. Diabetes is one of the main causes because when your blood glucose fluctuates or rises before it is regulated, your body loses vital electrolytes in the process. Once insulin levels are regulated through diet or the balance of insulin levels are maintained through medication or naturally, symptoms disappear. Lower potassium levels can be caused from extreme dieting, low blood glucose, high blood glucose, kidney failure, vomiting and diarrhea.
Precaution
If levels of either blood glucose or potassium get too low, medical intervention needs to take place. You can go into shock if your potassium levels get too low – you may also experience seizures and dangerous heartbeats or heart failure, notes the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Low blood glucose levels can lead to organ failure and cause coma if sugar levels in the bloodstream do not rise safely.
