1. Have a Physical Exam
Hypoglycemia is the body's inability to produce sufficient energy when the blood glucose, or sugar level, drops too low. It is a difficult condition to diagnose. Doctors typically use a combination of methods to test for it. One important test is a physical examination. Since several things could be responsible for hypoglycemia, your doctor will do a full exam to look for signs of liver disease, swelling or excess urea in the kidneys, disease in the adrenal glands and low blood pressure. Your physician will then have to confirm any signs of hypoglycemia with lab tests.
2. Check for Problems With Lab Tests
The most common lab tests for hypoglycemia are the glucose and insulin tests. Both are generally performed while you are fasting, either after an overnight fast or after 48 to 72 hours of supervised fasting. The doctor will draw blood at the end of the fast to see how low your blood sugar level is. This blood will be taken to a lab and tested to see how much glucose and insulin is present. Your doctor may also call for a urine sample as an additional test to see if your body is producing surplus insulin. Too much glucose means that your body is not doing its job of converting extra sugar into fats that can be used later as energy. On the other hand, too much insulin is also a problem. Insulin is a hormone created by the pancreas, and it is an essential component for cells to be able to turn glucose into energy. If the cells become insulin-resistant, the pancreas will keep making insulin, thinking there must not be enough if the cells are letting glucose build up in the bloodstream. This circular process can lead to the onset of diabetes if not treated.
3. An MRI Can Detect Tumors and Other Internal Errors
Hypoglycemia can sometimes be the result of tumors in the pancreas which prevent the organ from doing its job of regulating blood sugar. It may also be caused by defects in the stomach, leading food to be hastily emptied after meals. Doctors may test for these problems by ordering an MRI or ultrasound CT scan. These tests will produce images of the internal organs that can be used to locate any possible tumors or disorders.
