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Hypoglycemia - Symptom

Alternative Names

Insulin shock; Low blood sugar

Symptoms:

Cold sweats
Confusion
Convulsions
Coma
Double vision or blurry vision
Fatigue
General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
Headache
Hunger
Irritability (possible aggression)
Nervousness
Rapid heart rate
Trembling

Other symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Decreased alertness
Different size pupils
Dizziness
Excessive sweating
Fainting
Hallucinations
Memory loss
Muscle pain
Paleness
Pounding heartbeat (heartbeat sensations)
Sleeping difficulty

Signs and tests:

Home monitoring of blood glucose levels will show readings lower than 50 mg/dL.

Serum glucose test will be low.

Food and insulin release

Reviewed last on: 6/17/2008
Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Cryer PE, Davis SN, Shamoon H. Hypoglycemia in diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2003; 26(6): 1902-1912.

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

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