Glucose or sugar is one of the primary fuels of the human brain. Hypoglycemia is defined as having an abnormally low level of glucose in an individuals’ blood. This is basically a person with a deficiency in their sugar (glucose) levels, and can be a serious condition. Generally this occurs when too much insulin goes into the bloodstream or when the glucose release rate decreases below tissue demands. Unfortunately this can even happen despite the amount of food intake.
The main cause of a drug-induced hypoglycemia happens when there is insulin over dosage with a diabetic patient. This will develop when a meal is missed or because of too much exercise that will trigger hypoglycemia in an insulin-dependent diabetic. Additionally, an individual with a high blood alcohol level can experience alcoholic hypoglycemia. The non-drug induced hypoglycemia can come on due to fasting, slowed or excessive output of insulin by the pancreas.
Some of the symptoms the individual may experience are: sweating, weakness, dizziness, hunger, trembling, headache, and heart palpitations. A glucometer can be used as a quick screening tool with patients that are displaying symptoms of hypoglycemia. Once confirmed, the further testing will include a glucose tolerance test. Typically, a diagnosis of hypoglycemia is a sugar level as low as 50 mg/dl after a period of fasting.
To prevent the occasional episode of hypoglycemia is to proper diet, insulin, and exercise in a diabetic individual. It is important for the insulin-dependent diabetics to be prepared for a counter attack of a hypoglycemic issue. A good idea is to carry glucose tablets with them at all times to take at the onset of an attack.