Endocrinology Health Guide

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)

What is hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia is the condition of having a glucose (blood sugar) level that is too low to effectively fuel the body's blood cells. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body. The normal range of blood sugar is approximately 60 to 120 mg/dl (milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood). When the level is below 45 mg/dl, a serious condition is suspected.

Hypoglycemia may be a condition by itself, or may be a complication of diabetes or other disorders. It is most often seen as a complication of diabetes, which is sometimes referred to as insulin reaction.

What causes hypoglycemia?
There are many different possible causes of hypoglycemia, including:

diabetics taking too much insulin to lower the blood sugar
other drugs used to treat diseases such as AIDS-related pneumonia
psychological disturbances
alcohol consumption without eating adequately
diabetics who miss a meal or exercise too strenuously
insulin-producing tumor in the pancreas

What are symptoms of hypoglycemia?
The following are the most common symptoms. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

shakiness
dizziness
sweating
hunger
headache
irritability
pale skin color
sudden moodiness or behavior changes, such as crying for no apparent reason
clumsy or jerky movements
difficulty paying attention, or confusion
tingling sensations around the mouth

Extremely low blood sugar can induce a coma. The symptoms of hypoglycemia may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult a physician for diagnosis.

How is hypoglycemia diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and medical examination, diagnostic procedures for hypoglycemia may include blood tests to measure blood sugar levels and insulin levels.

Treatment for hypoglycemia:
Consuming sugar when experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia usually provides relief. Specific treatment for hypoglycemia will be determined by your physician based on:

your overall health and medical history
extent of the disease
your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the disease
your opinion or preference

Treatment may also include taking glucagon, a protein hormone secreted by the pancreas to stimulate the liver to produce glucose. If the hypoglycemia is a result of an insulin-producing tumor in the pancreas, the tumor is usually removed surgically. Chronic hypoglycemia in persons without diabetes may benefit from eating frequent, small meals.

This page was last updated on: May 23, 2006.

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