Hypoglycemia (patient information)
For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editor-in-Chief: Meagan E. Doherty
Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
What is Hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia is a condition that occurs when your blood sugar (glucose) is too low.
What are the symptoms of Hypoglycemia?
- 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
What are the causes of Hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia occurs when:
- Your body's sugar (glucose) is used up too quickly
- Glucose is released into the bloodstream too slowly
- Too much insulin is released into the bloodstream
Insulin is a hormone that reduces blood sugar. It is produced by the pancreas in response to increased glucose levels in the blood.
Hypoglycemia is relatively common in persons with diabetes. It occurs when
- You take too much insulin or diabetes medicine
- You don't eat enough food
- You suddenly increase your exercise without increasing the amount of food you eat
Relative hypoglycemia is a fairly common condition in which a newborn's blood sugar is low. Babies born to mothers with diabetes may have severe hypoglycemia.
Idiopathic hypoglycemia is hypoglycemia that occurs without a known cause. People with this type of hypoglycemia do not have diabetes.
Hypoglycemia may also be caused by:
- Ingestion of alcohol
- Insulin-secreting tumor of the pancreas
- Liver disease
Who is at risk for Hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia is relatively common in persons with diabetes.
How to know you have Hypoglycemia?
When to seek urgent medical care
Treatment options
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for Hypoglycemia
Directions to Hospitals Treating Hypoglycemia
Prevention of Hypoglycemia
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)
Sources
Template:SIB Template:WH Template:WS Bold text