Drug-induced hypoglycemia - Treatment

Treatment:

You will be given glucose. The doctor will review your diabetes treatment plan to help prevent future problems.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outlook is good if the hypoglycemia is promptly detected and treated. However, long-term and repeated episodes of hypoglycemia may damage the brain and nerves.

Complications:

Complications of severe or long-term hypoglycemia include:

Brain and nervous system (neurologic) damage
Coma
Convulsions

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of hypoglycemia. Be sure to mention any medications you believe may be affecting the condition.

Food and insulin release

Reviewed last on: 5/10/2010
Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Guettier JM. Hypoglycemia. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. Dec 2006; 35(4): 753-66, viii-ix.

Goldman L, Ausiello D. Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 22nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2004:1444-1445.

Cryer, PE. Glucose Homeostasis and Hypoglycemia. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2008:chap 33.

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