Hypoglycemia is a term used to refer to extremely low blood sugar. It is most often associated with people who have diabetes, but hypoglycemia can affect anyone. Hypoglycemia is not itself a disease but instead operates like a fever in that it lets you know of an underlying problem.
For people who do not have diabetes, hypoglycemia is defined as a fasting blood glucose level below 50 mg/dL.
Some underlying causes include certain medications, excessive alcohol consumption, liver problems, kidney failure, heart failure, certain hormone disorders including Addison's disease and hypopituitarism, anorexia nervosa (self-starvation) and tumors. One such tumor, called a beta cell tumor or insulinoma, can cause the pancreas to produce more insulin than your body needs. Insulin is the hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in your blood. If a beta cell tumor causes an overproduction of insulin, your blood sugar levels can become extremely low.
Common symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
- heart palpitations
- tremors
- anxiety
- sweating
- hunger
Other, more serious symptoms can result from an insufficient supply of glucose to the brain. Because your brain cannot store or manufacture its own energy supply, it needs glucose to function properly. When hypoglycemia severely affects your brain, the follow symptoms can occur:
- Confusion
- Abnormal behavior, such as being unable to complete a routine task
- Double vision or blurred vision
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
Talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Hypoglycemia can be an indicator of a serious illness or condition.
