What is Low blood sugar(hypoglycemia)? Causes and symptoms of hypoglycemia.

What is Low blood sugar(hypoglycemia)? 

Causes and symptoms of hypoglycemia.

What is low blood sugar?

Low blood sugar terms as hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar can happen to the people having diabetes due to taking medications which increase insulin level in the body.

Blood sugar means glucose plays a very important role in terms of energy source. And carbohydrates the basic food such as rice, bread, cereals, milk, veggies, fruits are main source of glucose.

After eating food, Body’s blood sugar level rises, and in pancreas, beta cells signal to release insulin into bloodstream. Insulin then reaches to the cells and allow them to use blood sugar to produce energy.

If body have more sugar than it needs, insulin helps store sugar in liver and releases it when body’s blood sugar level is low or when it needs more sugar like in between meals or during physical activities. Insulin helps to keep blood sugar in normal range and balance its level. As blood sugar level rises, pancreas secrets more insulin in bloodstream.

Our body can’t perform its normal functions without enough sugar. In short, non-diabetic people who are not on insulin increasing medication, have enough glucose to maintain blood sugar level.

For those taking specific medication, however, short term low blood sugar can cause a lot of problems. If blood sugar drops below 70 mg/dl, it considered low. Immediate treatment for low blood sugar is important to prevent serious symptoms from developing.

Causes of low blood sugar

As we discuss above, non-diabetic people who are not on insulin increasing medication, have enough glucose to maintain blood sugar level. Low blood sugar is common in people with diabetes. There are some common causes of low blood sugar in diabetic people.

     1.   Alcohol

     2.   Too much insulin

     3.   Skipping meal

     4.    Lots of exercise than usual

     5.   Aspirin and other drugs

     Symptoms of low blood sugar

    Symptoms of hypoglycemia can occur suddenly.

     1.   Pale skin

     2.   Blurry vision

     3.   Dizziness

     4.   Pounding heart

     5.   Unusual tiredness

     6.   Loosing concentration

     7.   Sudden nervousness

     8.   Sudden mood change

     9.   Feeling shaky

     10. Sweating

     11. Difficulty in sleeping

     12. Loss of consciousness

      Many people are not aware of the symptoms of low blood sugar. Sometime blood sugar drops without noticing these symptoms. Without immediate counteract, you can pass out or go into coma.

      It’s a medical emergency. To prevent this, a person having these symptoms should react quickly and should have 15-20 gm of carbs instantly before passing out. People around the person should be trained to manage and act towards the person. To prevent sudden symptoms you can have  juices, glucose tablets, a spoon of sugar, a spoon of honey, sweet candies or any thing which contain carbs.