Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is when your blood sugar drops too low. Blood sugar is your body's main source of fuel, so low blood sugar causes problems.

• Hypoglycemia causes hunger, sweating, shakiness, and weakness, and makes it hard to think clearly

• If you have diabetes, you're more likely to get hypoglycemia—it can happen if you take too much medicine, don’t eat enough, or exercise too much

• To treat hypoglycemia, eat or drink something with sugar (like juice or candy) to raise your blood sugar level

Most often, hypoglycemia is:

• A complication of drugs used to treat diabetes, particularly if you don't eat the right amounts at the right time

If you don't have diabetes, you're not likely to get hypoglycemia. However, sometimes you may get hypoglycemia if you:

• Have a tumor in your pancreas

• Have severe health problems, such as kidney failure, heart failure, cancer, or shock (a dangerously low drop in blood pressure)

• Drink too much alcohol

• Have liver problems like cirrhosis

At first, you may have these symptoms:

• Sweating

• Shaking

• Feeling lightheaded

• Hunger

Later, if you have severe hypoglycemia, you may have these symptoms:

• Dizziness

• Confusion and trouble concentrating

• Slurred speech

• Passing out

Sometimes, hypoglycemia makes it seem like you're drunk.

If not treated, severe hypoglycemia can cause seizures, coma, and brain damage.

Doctors diagnose hypoglycemia based on your blood sugar level while you're actually having symptoms.

Doctors will tell you to treat your symptoms at home. If you're having symptoms, eat or drink sugar, such as:

• Candy

• Glucose (sugar) tablets

• Sugary drink, such as a glass of fruit juice

Doctors will treat the cause of your hypoglycemia:

• If a medicine is causing hypoglycemia, doctors will change the amount you take

• If you have a tumor in your pancreas, doctors will do surgery to remove the tumor

If you have diabetes or are otherwise at risk for hypoglycemia, your doctor may suggest you:

• Eat small meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals

• Limit the carbohydrates you eat

• Carry or wear medical identification to let other doctors know you have diabetes in case of a medical emergency