Hypoglycemia is a condition that happens when your blood sugar levels go down. It happens because blood sugar is the main energy source of your body and when it goes down you have very less energy for proper functioning of different systems in your body. In general hypoglycaemia is related to the treatment of diabetes. However, different conditions can result in low blood sugar even though you may not have diabetes. It is not a disease, rather it's an indicator of a health problem.

If the blood sugar level reaches70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or lower than that, then immediate treatment is necessary. You should immediately do something to get your blood sugar level back into a normal range and that can be done with a high sugar food or drink or using medicines. However, long-term treatment of low blood sugar should be treated by treating the underlying cause of hypoglycaemia.

Symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms of low blood sugar are-

• An irregular heart rhythm
• Fatigue
• Pale skin
• Shakiness
• Anxiety
• Sweating
• Hunger
• Irritability
• Tingling sensation around the mouth
• Crying out during sleep

If the condition worsens, you may see some other signs and symptoms. Such signs and symptoms include

• confusion
• abnormal behaviour like inability to complete routine tasks
• visual disturbance like blurred vision
• Seizures
• loss of consciousness

People who are suffering from severe hypoglycaemia may appear as if they are intoxicated. They may slur their words and move clumsily.

Do you need to see a doctor?

You should see a doctor immediately if you are able to see the symptoms of hypoglycaemia but you don't have diabetes. If you have diabetes and hypoglycaemia both and they are not responding to treatment, then you should immediately go to your doctor. The immediate and initial treatment of hypoglycaemia can be drinking juice or regular soft drinks, eating candy are taking glucose tablets.

Causes of hypoglycaemia

There may be several reasons why the blood sugar levels have gone down in your case.

Causes with diabetes

If you're suffering from diabetes, your body is not be able to make enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or may be less responsive to it (type 2 diabetes). As a result of that goals will start to build up in the bloodstream and it may reach a dangerous high level. You will lead to lower your blood sugar levels and that can be done by taking insulin or other drugs. But if you're using too much insulin or other diabetes medicines, they can cause your blood sugar levels to drop too low and as a result of that hypoglycaemia may happen. It can also happen if you do not eat as much food as usual after you take diabetes medication. It may also happen if you are exercising more than you normally do.

Causes without diabetes

If you are suffering from hypoglycaemia but you do not have diabetes, there may be several causes which can result in hypoglycaemia in your case.

Medicines- if you take someone else's oral diabetes medicine, it can cause hypoglycaemia. Some other medicines may cause hypoglycaemia in children and some others may cause it in case of people who are suffering from kidney failure.

Too much alcohol-Too much alcohol consumption can also result in hypoglycaemia because it will block your liver from releasing stored glucose into your bloodstream.

Critical illnesses-in case of some critical illnesses also you may suffer from hypoglycaemia if you're suffering from any severe illness of the liver, kidney problem, severe hepatitis or any other critical illnesses, they can also result in hypoglycaemia.

References

1. Hypoglycemia Ebook
2. Low Blood Glucose (Hypoglycemia)
3. Hypoglycemia