Hypoglycemia

What is Hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia is a condition characterized by an abnormally low level of blood sugar (glucose), your body's main energy source. Hypoglycemia is commonly associated with the treatment of diabetes. However, a variety of conditions, many of them rare, can cause low blood sugar in people without diabetes. Like fever, hypoglycemia isn't a disease itself — it's an indicator of a health problem.

Symptoms

The symptoms or signs of hypoglycemia are:

  • Heart palpitations
  • Fatigue
  • Pale skin
  • Shakiness
  • Anxiety
  • Sweating
  • Hunger
  • Irritability
  • Tingling sensation around the mouth
  • Crying out during sleep

Causes

Some of the reasons behind hypoglycemia are:

  • Having diabetes
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Insulin overproduction
  • Hormone deficiencies
  • Some critical illness

Prevention

The disease can be prevented if you:

  • Exercise regularly
  • Eat frequent small meals
  • If you have diabetes than always carry fast-acting carbohydrates with you

How is it diagnosed?

The doctors mostly use three criteria for diagnosing hypoglycemia, which are often referred to as Whipple’s triad. This triad includes:



  • Signs and s...

How is it treated?

Treatment of hypoglycemia involves immediate initial treatment to raise your blood sugar level and treatment of the underlying condition that's causing your hypoglycemia to prevent it from recurring.

..

  • Tumor treatment

    A tumor in your pancreas is treated by surgical removal of the tumor. In some cases, partial removal of the pancreas is necessary.

  • Medications

    If a medication is the cause of your hypoglycemia, your doctor will likely suggest changing the medication or adjusting the dosage.

When do I contact the doctor?

If your blood sugar levels mostly stay below the average blood sugar levels than you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

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How does Medanta provide care?

The Endocrinology &Diabetology division offers expert care for various metabolic, pituitary, thyroid and diabetes-related conditions. The institute gives access to a multi-disciplinary team including endocrinologists, diabetic educators, dieti..

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