diabetes

What are the signs of low blood sugar?

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia can be defined as a drop in blood sugar levels below the normal limit. It should be noted that the value at which blood sugar is considered low may vary from one person to another, but in general it can be said that a sugar level lower than 70 mg/ D is considered a drop below the acceptable limit.

 

Signs of low blood sugar

In fact, the symptoms and signs that appear on people who suffer from low sugar levels vary, but it can be said that all symptoms and signs occur as a result of two factors: The first is to stimulate the secretion of the hormone adrenaline (in English: Adrenaline), also known as epinephrine, and the second factor that appears when the condition of hypoglycemia worsens, which is a decrease in the levels of sugar reaching the brain. It should be noted that these symptoms and signs are not conclusive evidence of Suffering from low blood sugar levels, but checking the sugar level is the surest solution to know the condition of the affected person. In the event that it is not possible to check the sugar level and there is doubt about the possibility of suffering from low blood sugar, the correct solution is to treat the problem as a drop in the sugar level, and returning to the conversation. Regarding the symptoms and signs, the most important and common ones can be described as follows:

  • Feeling anxious or stressed.
  • confusion.
  • Feeling nauseous.
  • feeling hungry
  • Pale skin color.
  • Feeling sleepy.
  • Weakness and lack of energy.
  • headache;
  • Nightmares or crying during sleep.
  • Sweating, chills, and a feeling of cold skin.
  • Increased heart rate.
  • Feeling dizzy, heavy-headed, or lightheaded.
  • Blurred vision or blurred vision.
  • Feeling of numbness or tingling in the tongue, lips, or cheeks.
  • Slurred speech and difficulties in concentrating.
  • Seizures, if you suffer from an advanced stage of low blood sugar.
  • Coma, and the matter may even reach the point of death, but it should be noted that these cases are rare, and if they do occur, this is usually in cases in which the infected person suffers from what is known as asymptomatic hypoglycemic unawareness (in English: hypoglycemic unawareness), in such a case the blood sugar level decreases. Diabetes without the patient noticing any of its symptoms.

 

Read also:How do I reduce cumulative blood sugar?

Causes of low blood sugar

The reasons leading to low blood sugar can be classified according to the person’s condition, that is, whether he suffers from diabetes or not, and this is explained as follows:

  • Causes of low blood sugar in diabetes: Diabetes is classified into two main types: Type 1 Diabetes, which occurs as a result of the body’s inability to produce the insulin it needs, and Type 2 Diabetes, which is characterized by high blood sugar levels. Also, but it is often due to the weak response of the body’s cells to secreted insulin. In any case, both types need treatment, and insulin is usually adopted as the main medication option in cases of type XNUMX diabetes, while other medications are usually dispensed to patients with type XNUMX diabetes. If the patient takes a dose of any of these medications that exceeds his need, this can cause blood sugar levels to fall. On the other hand, diabetics can suffer from a drop in blood sugar levels despite taking the specified dose of the prescribed medication, but without taking it. The equivalent amount of food, or because they exercised.
  • Causes of low blood sugar without diabetes: Hypoglycemia in the absence of diabetes is not a common occurrence, but there are still some factors that may cause it, including the following:
    • Taking some medications: Some medications can cause, as side effects, a drop in blood sugar levels, especially in children and patients with kidney failure. Examples of these medications include quinine, and it should be noted that Taking blood sugar-lowering medications given to diabetics can cause hypoglycemia if taken by a non-diabetic person.
    • Drinking alcohol: This can inhibit the liver’s production of glucose that the body needs.
    • Suffering from some diseases: Some health problems can cause low blood sugar levels, such as: kidney disease, because they cause the kidneys to be unable to get rid of some of the medications that people take, and the accumulation of some medications in the body may result in a drop in blood sugar levels. Other health problems that cause low blood sugar include liver diseases such as advanced hepatitis. It has been shown that people who suffer from anorexia nervosa (in English: Anorexia Nervosa) lack the basic elements necessary to manufacture sugar molecules, and therefore they may suffer from diabetes. Low blood sugar from time to time.
    • Increased insulin secretion: There are a number of health conditions that cause increased insulin secretion in the body, including: Insulinoma, which is a type of rare tumor that affects the cells of the pancreas that are responsible for insulin secretion.
    • Hormone deficiency: If the adrenal gland or pituitary gland is exposed to a health problem, it may cause an imbalance in the level of its hormones, and some of its hormones are responsible for regulating glucose production in the body, which causes suffering from low blood sugar.
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