Hypoglycaemic
| Hypoglycemia | |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Hypoglycaemia, low blood glucose |
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| Glucose meter | |
| Specialty | Endocrinology |
| Symptoms | Clumsiness, trouble talking, confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures |
| Usual onset | Rapid |
| Causes | Medications (insulin and sulfonylureas), sepsis, kidney failure, certain tumors, liver disease |
| Diagnostic method | Blood sugar level < 3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL) |
| Treatment | Eating foods high in simple sugars, dextrose, glucagon |
| Classification | |
|---|---|
| External resources |
Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, is when blood sugar decreases to below normal levels. This may result in a variety of symptoms including clumsiness, trouble talking, confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, or death. A feeling of hunger, sweating, shakiness, and weakness may also be present. Symptoms typically come on quickly.
The most common cause of hypoglycemia is medications used to treat diabetes mellitus such as insulin and sulfonylureas. Risk is greater in diabetics who have eaten less than usual, exercised more than usual, or have drunk alcohol. Other causes of hypoglycemia include kidney failure, certain tumors, such as insulinoma, liver disease, hypothyroidism, starvation, inborn error of metabolism, severe infections, reactive hypoglycemia, and a number of drugs including alcohol. Low blood sugar may occur in otherwise healthy babies who have not eaten for a few hours.
The glucose level that defines hypoglycemia is variable. In people with diabetes levels below 3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL) is diagnostic. In adults without diabetes, symptoms related to low blood sugar, low blood sugar at the time of symptoms, and improvement when blood sugar is restored to normal confirm the diagnosis. Otherwise a level below 2.8 mmol/L (50 mg/dL) after not eating or following exercise may be used. In newborns a level below 2.2 mmol/L (40 mg/dL) or less than 3.3 mmol/L (60 mg/dL) if symptoms are present indicates hypoglycemia. Other tests that may be useful in determining the cause include insulin and C peptide levels in the blood.Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) is the opposite condition.
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Wikipedia