Gipoglikemiâ – Low levels of blood glucose – Low blood sugar

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Glucose; Low Blood Sugar)

What is hypoglycemia?

Glucose is a type of sugar. This is the primary source of your energy for the body. Гипогликемия – заболевание, wherein the blood glucose level becomes low enough, and causes disease symptoms. When blood glucose drops sharply, body does not get sufficient energy, and it does not function properly.

Causes of hypoglycemia

Medication for diabetes is the most common cause of hypoglycemia, especially in conjunction with the following factors:

• Receiving too many medications to reduce blood sugar levels;
• Irregular meals, eating small amounts of food;
• Too much exercise.

Reactive hypoglycemia can occur in people without diabetes. It is now considered quite rare.

Other causes of hypoglycemia include:

• Alcohol abuse, especially drinking combined with a small meal;
• Starvation;
• Early pregnancy;
• Certain diseases of the pituitary or adrenal glands;
• Certain diseases of the liver;
• Kidney disease;
• Some types of gastric surgery;
• Tumor, which produces a large amount of insulin;
• Insufficient production of certain enzymes, or hormones;
• Serious illness or infection.

Risk factors for hypoglycemia

Factors, that may increase the risk of hypoglycemia include:

• Having diabetes;
• Medication, which reduce blood sugar level;
• Alcohol abuse;
• Starvation, especially in combination with physical exertion.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia

Symptoms may begin gradually or suddenly. Hypoglycemia can cause the following symptoms:

• Sweating;
• Nervousness;
• Dizziness;
• Heartbeat;
• Hunger;
• Headache;
• Tingling around the mouth.

As hypoglycemia progresses, this can cause:

• Fatigue;
• Weakness;
• Inappropriate behavior or severe confusion;
• Poor control of movements;
• Convulsions;
• Loss of consciousness.

If you have frequent episodes of hypoglycemia, many of the early symptoms may be absent, and there is a risk of sudden loss of consciousness, convulsions or strange behavior. This may affect the ability to drive a car or machinery.

Diagnosis of hypoglycemia

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination. If it is suspected hypoglycemia, doctor determines, How low is the level of sugar in the blood. Blood glucose will be measured during hypoglycemia symptoms.

If you do not have diabetes, and you do not take drugs, which reduce blood sugar level, your doctor may conduct other tests, to determine the cause of the low blood sugar level. These tests may include blood tests after periods of fasting.

Treatment of hypoglycemia

Treatments include hypoglycemia:

Sugar consumption in hypoglycemia

Symptoms of low blood sugar can be removed using the following methods::

• Acceptance of sugar in the form of fast-digesting foods:
  • Fruit juice;
  • Sugary soft drinks;
  • A solution of sugar in water;
  • Honey or corn syrup;
• Admission glucose tablets;
• Intravenous glucose (in severe cases, hypoglycemia).

Medication during hypoglycemia

Some patients, who have prolonged or severe hypoglycemia, You should take glucagon. Glucagon yavlyaetsya inaektsionnыm gormonom, which increases the blood sugar level.

Operation hypoglycemia

Some cases of hypoglycemia may be caused by a tumor. In this case, the tumor, perhaps, It should be removed.

Prevention of hypoglycemia

To reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia, follow these steps::

• For people with diabetes:
  • Kontrolyruyte pryem of drugs. Take them, it as directed by your doctor;
  • Follow the diet and to exercise, which recommended the doctor;
  • Avoid excess alcohol consumption;
• People without diabetes, prone to hypoglycemia:
  • Avoid excess alcohol consumption;
  • Eat often, small portions;
  • Eat enough food before exercise;

If you are prone to severe hypoglycemia:

• Wear a medical bracelet or use a different method to inform others, that you have hypoglycemia;
• Learn to recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia, and take quick corrective measures.