Hypoglycemia: What happens
when your blood glucose level drops suddenly?
Hypoglycemia
could be a side effect of drugs used to treat diabetes. People who don't have
diabetes may also experience sudden drop in their glucose level due to various
reasons. Read on to know the causes and symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Glucose is a type of sugar that comes from the food
you eat, and it is your body’s main source of energy. Having blood sugar or
glucose levels higher or lower than normal range may indicate an underlying
health condition that require medical attention. Also Read - Feels hungry all the
time? You may be suffering from one of these medical conditions
For adults without diabetes, a normal blood glucose
level after fasting (not eaten anything for at least eight hours) should be
less than 100 mg/dL. When taken two hours after eating, a normal blood glucose
level is 90 to 110 mg/dL. Also Read - Sugar Crash: Low blood
sugar can even affect those without diabetes; Here's how to prevent it
High blood sugar or hyperglycemia is a hallmark sign
of diabetes.
Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, is also often related to diabetes
treatment. People who don’t have diabetes may also experience sudden drop in
their glucose level due to a variety of medical conditions. For many people, a
fasting blood sugar of 70 mg/dL or below could signal hypoglycemia, which needs
immediate treatment. Also Read - Blood-sugar drug
metformin can cut Covid-19 death risk: Is it true? Let’s find out
Causes Of Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia could be a side effect of drugs used to
treat diabetes, specifically medications that increase insulin levels in the
body. Insulin — a hormone secreted by your pancreas — enables the glucose to
enter the cells and provide the fuel your cells need. But too much insulin may
cause your blood sugar level to
drop too low. Hypoglycemia can also occur if you skip meals, eating less than
normal, or exercising more than usual while taking diabetes medication.
Hypoglycemia is less common in people without
diabetes. You may get it if you accidentally take someone else’s oral diabetes
medication. Quinin, a prescription drug used to treat malaria, may also cause
hypoglycemia, especially in children or in people with kidney failure. Other
causes of low blood sugar in people without diabetes include:
·
Excessive alcohol drinking without eating
·
Severe liver illnesses such as severe hepatitis or
cirrhosis
·
Kidney disorders that can affect your body’s ability
to excrete medications
·
Long-term starvation due to eating disorders like
anorexia nervosa
·
Insulinoma, a rare tumor of the pancreas, and other
tumors that can cause overproduction of insulin
·
Deficiency of key hormones that regulate glucose
production. For example, too little growth hormone can lead to hypoglycemia in
children. Certain adrenal gland and pituitary tumor disorders can also result
in hormone deficiencies.
Although, hypoglycemia usually occurs when you haven’t
eaten for long, sometimes it may occur after eating certain meals high in
sugar. This is because your body produces more insulin than you need. Called
reactive hypoglycemia or postprandial hypoglycemia, it commonly occurs in
people who have had stomach bypass surgery.
Symptoms Of Hypoglycemia
If you have low blood sugar, you may experience symptoms
like blurry vision, rapid heartbeat, sudden mood changes, sudden nervousness,
unexplained fatigue, headache, pale skin, hunger, shaking, dizziness, sweating,
difficulty sleeping, skin tingling, and trouble thinking clearly or
concentrating.
In people with hypoglycemic unawareness, their blood
sugar can drop without them noticing it. If not given immediate treatment, they
can faint, experience a seizure, or even go into a coma.
You may be required to eat high-sugar foods or drinks
or take medications to quickly bring your blood sugar back to normal. For
long-term relief, identifying and treating the cause of hypoglycemia is
important.
Source: https://www.thehealthsite.com/
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