Hypoglycemia- Low Blood Sugar

Hypoglycemia is extremely low blood sugar levels, typically less than 60 mg/dl. Some organs like Brain and Kidneys do not have their own stores of glucose hence they utilize only the glucose present in blood. Brain uses glucose as its main source of energy- it cannot function without glucose even for few minutes. If the level of glucose in blood falls there are inbuilt mechanisms in the body which make glucose rise- they are responsible for the initial symptoms of Hypoglycemia - but even if they fail to raise blood glucose levels, brain stops functioning properly and this is manifested as incoherent speech actions or emotions- seizure and coma, these may cause irreparable damage to the Brain.

 Symptoms 

Sudden Hunger

Weakness

Tremors 

Perspirations

Palpitations 

Incoherent speech

Incoordinated movements

Headache

Seizures

Coma 

Hypoglycemia unawareness 

In long standing diabetes, due to damage caused to the autonomic nervous system, the blood glucose raising mechanism may not work efficiently, as a result the hypoglycemic patient does not feel any symptoms despite very low glucose symptoms, the only signs of hypoglycemia may be evident to relatives or accompanying persons- these may be talking or behaving non sense, sleepiness which may progress to seizures or coma. These symptoms generally occur when the blood glucose levels are less than 30 mg/dl. This condition is called hypoglycemia unawareness, to read more about hypoglycemia unawareness please click here....

 Treatment 

Initial treatment of moderate hypoglycemia is giving table sugar candies, fruit juices, sweetened beverages or bread by mouth. If despite these measures hypoglycemia is not corrected patient should be urgently admited to hospital for intravenous glucose administration and finding out the cause of hypoglycemia and its management.

Causes 

Hypoglycemia may be caused due to overdose of insulin or hypoglycemic drugs, due to skipping of meals or as a result of Liver or Kidney disease, which either decrease the storage and release of glucose reserves or prolong the actions of sugar lowering drugs or insulin.