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Hypoglycemia Introduction |
Hypoglycemia
is a condition caused by an
abnormally low level of blood sugar.
Glucose is broken down from the
digestion of carbohydrates and is
the main energy source of the body.
Glucose is absorbed into the
bloodstream but can't enter the
cells of the body without the
assistance of insulin. If the
pancreas, an organ located behind
the stomach that manufactures
insulin, is working improperly and
is not releasing adequate amounts of
insulin, hypoglycemia can
result. Hypoglycemia affects about
one out of every 1,000 people in the
U.S., many of whom have diabetes. [1]
However, other conditions may cause
low blood sugar levels. Among
the contributing factors of hypoglycemia in people without
diabetes are; medications,
alcohol, certain cancers, critical
illnesses, hormonal deficiencies and
hormonal disorders that result in
the overproduction of insulin.
Hypoglycemia
is divided into two main categories:
reactive hypoglycemia and
fasting hypoglycemia.
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Reactive
hypoglycemia is the
development of symptoms about 3-5
hours after a meal, or can occur
from an overdose in medications
such as insulin.
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Fasting
hypoglycemia is usually
due to missing meals or more
serious conditions such as various
cancers, liver damage, and
pancreatic tumors that change
insulin secretion.
Symptoms of low blood
sugar can be early signs of diabetes
(high blood sugar). The standard
American diet that is high in simple
carbohydrates, processed foods , and
sugar-laden snacks is often the main
culprit in the development of
hypoglycemia. Sudden increases in
blood sugar levels cause rapid
changes in brain chemistry, which
may also result in the signs and symptoms
of the condition.
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Hypoglycemia Signs & Symptoms |
Because glucose is the
main fuel for the brain, many of the signs and
symptoms associated with
hypoglycemia are related to
brain chemistry. Symptoms can vary
from mild to severe, and are constantly changing. The most common
symptoms are fatigue, dizziness
(especially with sudden changes in
position), headache, irritability,
cravings for sweets, depression,
anxiety, excessive sweating, and
development of bizarre behaviors. The onset and
severity of the symptoms can be
related to the timing and type of
foods that were last eaten.
Testing for
hypoglycemia involves checking
normal fasting blood glucose levels. A
normal fasting glucose is between
70-110 mg/dl, with levels above this
being indicative of diabetes. [2] Levels below 50 mg/dl are considered
hypoglycemic. Another test that is
superior to a general fasting blood
glucose is the oral glucose
tolerance test, or GTT. [3] This test involves the consumption
of a sugar drink that allows the
physician to monitor the change in
glucose over a five-hour period.
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Learn More About Hypoglycemia |
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