Low Blood Sugar
Low Blood Sugar in People Without Diabetes
Hypoglycemia is condition wherein the level of glucose with in the blood drops below the normal levels. Hypoglycemia is a common problem faced by people having diabetes. But it may also affect other people having no diabetes. Carbohydrate rich foods are the main source of glucose. In certain cases the amount of glucose that is formed in the blood becomes less than the required amount and thus causes low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. When the level of glucose falls below 70 mg per deciliter of blood then it leads to hypoglycemia.
Your body produces hormones to break down food in to glucose. The glucose is further broken down to energy with the help of insulin which in turn is produced by the pancreas. Pancreas produce another hormone called glucagon which in turn breaks down the stored glucose called glycogen and thus release it in to the blood. When these hormonal levels get imbalanced then you may have hypoglycemia.
Causes of Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia can be caused by a number of reasons. Drinking too much of alcohol may reduce your blood sugar by disturbing the hormonal levels. Use of certain medications like beta blockers, trimethoprim, pantamidine etc may also cause low blood sugar. Certain diseases like kidney failure, liver failure, pancreas disorder, diseases affecting adrenal glands, cancer affecting the liver, tumors that are responsible for the production of insulin like substances etc may leads to hypoglycemia. Stomach surgery may at times cause low blood sugar.
Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
Symptoms of hypoglycemia are different for different people. When you have mild hypoglycemia, you may feel hungry and sometimes have vomiting sensation, nervousness etc. Your heart beat may raise and there may be sweating too. Sometimes the skin becomes clammy or cold. In case of moderate hypoglycemia the affected person may become short tempered, confused, afraid and nervous. You may lack steadiness and at times have blurred vision. In case of sever hypoglycemia you have seizures which in turn may leads to death.
Treatment for Hypoglycemia
Whenever you have hypoglycemia you need to drink or eat something that is rich in sugar. Once you have hypoglycemia then consult your doctor and find out the reason. This may help you to avoid the further occurrence of hypoglycemia.
