Dorothy FarrarLow blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
When you have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) , the amount of glucose in your blood is too low, which can cause a variety of symptoms. Typically, hypoglycaemia occurs when diabetics overdose on their insulin , but there are other causes as well.
What is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)?
Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) occurs when the blood sugar level falls below a physiological value of around 3.3 mmol/l. If the glucose concentration in the blood is no longer within the normal range, the function of the cells is impaired, which can cause a cascade of symptoms.
A basic distinction is made between reactive hypoglycemia and fasting hypoglycemia. The latter occurs independently of any food intake, for example during physical activity. Reactive hypoglycemia occurs after eating.
causes
The most common cause of reactive hypoglycaemia is insulin overdose in diabetics or insufficient food intake after insulin administration.In healthy people, excessive physical work can lead to hypoglycaemia; Endurance and top athletes who do not supply their bodies with sufficient carbohydrates before and after exercise are particularly at risk .
Tumors in the pancreas , so-called insuliomas , can lead to an overproduction of insulin, which means that the glucose absorbed is overused, which in turn drives the blood sugar level into the basement. Excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to hypoglycaemia, because alcohol inhibits the formation of sugar in the liver, which means that the counter-regulation for insulin release only works to a limited extent.
Malnutrition , for example in the context of anorexia , can also lead to low blood sugar because not enough glucose can be built into the liver. In addition, metabolic diseases such as congenital fructose intolerance can also lead to low blood sugar levels.
symptoms and course
A dangerous drop in the blood sugar level (hypoglycaemia) in the blood leads to an increased release of adrenaline because this leads to an increase in the blood sugar level. Typical symptoms associated with such an adrenaline rush include:
- general feeling of weakness
In addition to these autonomic symptoms, neurological problems occur due to the lack of glucose in the brain. These include speech disorders or visual disturbances , drowsiness , personality changes up to seizures and coma . Hypoglycaemia , which occurs during physical exertion, for example, is not dangerous, but in the long run it can cause serious complications such as heart disease.
It is particularly dangerous if hypoglycaemia is not recognized and the symptoms are misinterpreted, because then a so-called hypoglycaemic shock can occur without warning, i.e. a life-threatening hypoglycaemia.
Diagnose
To diagnose hypoglycaemia, it is usually examined whether the so-called Whipple triad is fulfilled. The blood sugar level must be below about 2.5 mmol/l and there must be symptoms typical of hypoglycaemia, which disappear within a short time when glucose is administered.
If hypoglycaemia is suspected, the blood sugar level is first determined using a measuring device. If the value is below the guideline value of 2.5 mmol/l, there is hypoglycaemia. In addition, a detailed anamnesis must be drawn up in order to be able to determine possible causes. If a pancreatic tumor is suspected, the patient will be referred to the hospital for further testing after the blood glucose test.
treatment and therapy
When treating hypoglycemia, a distinction must be made between acute therapy and long-term therapy. In the case of acute therapy, quick action is required, ideally by administering carbohydrates such as glucose or sugary juices to compensate for the glucose deficiency.
The administration of glucose is also an important diagnostic tool; If this does not lead to a significant improvement within ten minutes, the cause of the symptoms can usually be found elsewhere. In an acute case, glucose should be administered immediately, even before the blood sugar is measured. This is important because a further drop in blood sugar can lead to unconsciousness and thus inability to act, which can ultimately lead to severe hypoglycemic shock syndrome and thus to life-threatening conditions, which could have been prevented by simply administering glucose.
If a person is unconscious, emergency services should be called and oral glucose should be avoided. In such cases, a glucose solution can be administered intravenously in the hospital or in the ambulance. In the long term, insulin-dependent diabetics must be adequately trained and properly adjusted with medication so that hypoglycaemia does not occur in the first place. In addition, it is important to give diabetics precise instructions on how to deal with hypoglycaemia. If the reason for the low blood sugar is not known, glucose is administered first and then the cause is sought.
prevention
The best prevention of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is of course the information and education of vulnerable people, such as insulin-dependent diabetics. For example, diabetics should measure their blood sugar levels several times a day with a blood sugar meter.The basic prerequisite for this is, of course, an optimal adjustment of the medication. Slight hypoglycemia, which can be caused by fasting or heavy physical work, is best prevented by a sufficient and continuous intake of carbohydrates. For endurance and competitive athletes, it is always worth having some glucose with you so that you can act as soon as the first symptoms of a slight hypoglycaemia occur.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.