What makes low blood sugar

However, this approach isn't advised as a long-term strategy. Work with your doctor to identify and treat the cause of hypoglycemia. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version.

This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Hypoglycemia is a condition in which your blood sugar glucose level is lower than normal. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Continuous glucose monitor Open pop-up dialog box Close. Continuous glucose monitor A continuous glucose monitor CGM is a device that measures your blood sugar every few minutes using a sensor inserted under the skin.

Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Jameson JL, et al. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. The McGraw-Hill Companies; Accessed Jan.

Low blood glucose hypoglycemia. Unexplained hypoglycemia in a nondiabetic. Mayo Clinic; Cryer PE. Each person's reaction to low blood sugar is different.

Learn your own signs and symptoms of when your blood sugar is low. Taking time to write these symptoms down may help you learn your own symptoms of when your blood sugar is low. From milder, more common indicators to most severe, signs and symptoms of low blood sugar include:. The only sure way to know whether you are experiencing low blood sugar is to check your blood sugar, if possible. If you are experiencing symptoms and you are unable to check your blood sugar for any reason, treat the hypoglycemia.

Epinephrine is what can cause the symptoms of hypoglycemia such as thumping heart, sweating, tingling and anxiety. If the blood sugar level continues to drop, the brain does not get enough glucose and stops functioning as it should.

This can lead to blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, confused thinking, slurred speech, numbness, and drowsiness. If blood sugar stays low for too long, starving the brain of glucose, it may lead to seizures, coma and very rarely death. The rule—have 15 grams of carbohydrate to raise your blood sugar and check it after 15 minutes.

This may be:. Make a note about any episodes of low blood sugar and talk with your health care team about why it happened. They can suggest ways to avoid low blood sugar in the future. Many people tend to want to eat as much as they can until they feel better. This can cause blood sugar levels to shoot way up. Using the step-wise approach of the " Rule" can help you avoid this, preventing high blood sugar levels. Glucagon is a hormone produced in the pancreas that stimulates your liver to release stored glucose into your bloodstream when your blood sugar levels are too low.

Glucagon is used to treat someone with diabetes when their blood sugar is too low to treat using the rule. Glucagon is available by prescription and is either injected or administered or puffed into the nostril.

For those who are familiar with injectable glucagon, there are now two injectable glucagon products on the market—one that comes in a kit and one that is pre-mixed and ready to use.

Speak with your doctor about whether you should buy a glucagon product, and how and when to use it. The people you are in frequent contact with for example, friends, family members and coworkers should be instructed on how to give you glucagon to treat severe hypoglycemia. If you have needed glucagon, let your doctor know so you can discuss ways to prevent severe hypoglycemia in the future.

Find products for dealing with low blood glucose. If someone is unconscious and glucagon is not available or someone does not know how to use it, call immediately. Do NOT:. Glucagon tells the liver to break down stored energy. The liver then releases glucose back into the bloodstream to normalize blood sugar levels. Drinking too much alcohol can make it difficult for the liver to function. It may no longer be able to release glucose back into the bloodstream, which can cause temporary hypoglycemia.

Some groups have an increased risk of medication-induced hypoglycemia, including children and people with kidney failure. A person with the eating disorder anorexia may not be consuming enough food for their body to produce sufficient glucose. Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the liver. Having hepatitis can prevent the liver from working properly. If the liver cannot produce or release enough glucose, this can cause problems with blood sugar levels and lead to hypoglycemia.

Problems with the pituitary gland or adrenal glands can cause hypoglycemia because these parts of the body affect the hormones that control glucose production.

If a person has a problem with their kidneys, medication can build up in their bloodstream. This type of buildup can change blood sugar levels and lead to hypoglycemia. Tumors in the pancreas can cause the organ to produce too much insulin. If insulin levels are too high, blood sugar levels will drop. A person with hypoglycemia may develop a headache or pass out lose consciousness. If a person has hypoglycemia often, they may stop experiencing symptoms.

This is called hypoglycemia unawareness. Who is more likely to develop low blood glucose? What are the symptoms of low blood glucose? What are the complications of low blood glucose? What causes low blood glucose in people with diabetes? How can I prevent low blood glucose if I have diabetes?

How do I treat low blood glucose? You are more likely to develop low blood glucose if you 4 have type 1 diabetes take insulin or some other diabetes medicines are age 65 or older 5 had low blood glucose before have other health problems, such as kidney disease , heart disease , or cognitive impairment What are the symptoms of low blood glucose? Table 1. You may lose consciousness have a seizure Severe hypoglycemia is dangerous and needs to be treated right away.

Low blood glucose during sleep Your blood glucose level can drop while you sleep and stay low for several hours, causing serious problems. Two types of diabetes pills can cause low blood glucose sulfonylureas, usually taken once or twice per day, which increase insulin over several hours meglitinides, taken before meals to promote a short-term increase in insulin Insulin and some other diabetes medicines can lower your blood glucose level.