“Hypoglycemia” is a drop in blood glucose levels, which results in visible signs and symptoms. In addition to symptoms, an individual is considered hypoglycemic if levels are below 60 mg/dL, and the condition is reversed after administering glucose. The potential implications of hypoglycemia for life and health make it an important condition to understand.
How the Body Regulates Blood Glucose Concentration
Blood glucose control is a complex process involving the nervous system, several hormones, and many metabolic reactions. The liver, pancreas, kidneys and pituitary gland work together to ensure that blood glucose remain within the normal range of 80 to120 mg/dL. When blood sugar levels drop, the first thing the body must be able to do is to decrease insulin levels, to prevent a further drop in blood glucose concentration. Simultaneously, the hormones glucagon and epinephrine need to be released, to quickly stimulate the production of glucose from the body’s energy reserves. If hypoglycemia is prolonged over days or weeks, different hormones must come into play, to help regulate blood sugar levels
If the above-described machinery fails to work for a period of time and the body is unable to regulate blood glucose, the individual’s health may be at risk. To illustrate, at blood glucose levels lower than 50 mg/dL, the human brain no longer operates normally because, unlike other organs, it requires carbohydrate fuel to function well.
Causes of Low Blood Glucose Concentration
Many individuals who experience hypoglycemia also have a history of diabetes. However, hypoglycemic episodes can have many causes, medical or lifestyle-related. Major medical causes include: hormone deficiencies; improper use of insulin or anti-diabetic drugs; diseases of the pancreas, kidney, or liver; drug overdose; severe infection; gastric surgery; inherited metabolic disorders; and insulinomas.
A low concentration of blood glucose can also result from alimentary problems, that is, a person’s inability to properly absorb or digest food. Additional causes include: alcoholism, fasting, starvation, changes in activity, or ingestion of toxic substances.
Signs & Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
Initial signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia include: hunger, a pounding heartbeat, anxiety, tremors, clammy skin, sweating, nervousness and irritability. With time, the hypoglycemic may also experience weight loss, fatigue, somnolence, nausea and vomiting.
Some symptoms are considered more serious, because they indicate that the brain is not receiving enough glucose. These symptoms include: headaches, mental confusion, personality changes, seizures, fainting, and coma. Without intervention, death can ultimately follow.
How to Prevent and Treat Low Blood Glucose
Patient education is the key to hypoglycemia prevention. This is especially important because such factors as age, medications, and certain medical conditions, can affect the body’s ability to detect and react to falling blood sugar levels. One can help prevent hypoglycemia by paying close attention to mealtimes, nutrition, lifestyle, and by using medications properly (especially diabetic medications). Lifestyle-related recommendations include limiting one’s consumption of alcohol, and eating enough food for one’s level of exercise.
The treatment of hypoglycemia revolves around glucose, unless another medical condition is causing the symptoms. In the hospital setting, glucose supplements and glucose-elevating agents are often used. At home, a hypoglycemic episode can be resolved in the short-term by taking fruit juice, quick-sugar foods, or non-diet soda pop.
Timely Intervention Is Important in Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia has such varied causes that even otherwise healthy individuals may be affected. Whether a person is diabetic or not, knowing the causes of low blood sugar and being able to recognize early symptoms, is essential to prevention and timely care. This is all the more important that prolonged, unrecognized hypoglycemia can result in permanent neurologic deficit or death.
For More Information
A Comprehensive Look at Low Blood Sugar
References
Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide; Hypoglycemia (Chapter 210); Judith E. Tintinalli, MD; 2006
eMedicine: Hypoglycemia. Vasudevan A Raghavan, MD, et al. Updated August 18, 2009
 |
 |
