Causes Of Hypoglycemia
By Tracy Ma
If a low-blood-glucose episode (also known as hypoglycemia) occurs, it is generally easy to treat, and within a short amount of time you can resume your normal activities. The causes of hypoglycemia are usually related to changes in your food intake, activity, or medication.
When your blood glucose level drops below 70mg/dl, the brain is not getting enough sugar to keep your body active and alert. This will cause a variety of feelings and reactions that you and others may notice, such as sweating, confusion, and slurred speech. Not everyone has the same symptoms, and the causes of hypoglycemia vary from person to person.
Causes of hypoglycemia may include:
Related to food/eating
- Did not eat enough food
- Skipped or delayed a meal or snack
- Had alcohol without food
- Lost weight and didn't decrease diabetes medicine dosage
- Have gastroparesis (delayed emptying of the stomach)
Related to activity
- Increased physical activity more than usual
- Had more intense activity than usual
Related to diabetes medication
- Took too much diabetes medication
- Took diabetes medication too early or too late
- Took other medications that had side effects
Other medicines that you may take for different medical conditions may also be the causes of hypoglycemia. When you begin to take a new medicine, ask your pharmacist or others on your diabetes care team if it might lower your blood glucose. Try not to take any new medicine without any advices. You can check your levels of blood glucose more often to see if it does.
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