User:Mr. Ibrahem/Hypoglycemia
Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, is a fall in blood sugar to levels below normal.[1] This may result in a variety of symptoms including clumsiness, trouble talking, confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures or death.[1] A feeling of hunger, sweating, shakiness and weakness may also be present.[1] Symptoms typically come on quickly.[1]
Hypoglycemia | |
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Other names | Hypoglycaemia, hypoglycæmia, low blood glucose |
Glucose meter | |
Specialty | Endocrinology |
Symptoms | Clumsiness, difficulty talking, confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures[1] |
Usual onset | Rapid[1] |
Causes | Medications (insulin and sulfonylureas), sepsis, kidney failure, certain tumors, liver disease[1][2][3] |
Diagnostic method | Blood sugar level < 3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL) in a diabetic[1] |
Treatment | Eating foods high in simple sugars, dextrose, glucagon[1] |
The most common cause of hypoglycemia is medications used to treat diabetes mellitus such as insulin and sulfonylureas.[2][3] Risk is greater in diabetics who have eaten less than usual, exercised more than usual or drunk alcohol.[1] Other causes of hypoglycemia include kidney failure, certain tumors (such as insulinoma), liver disease, hypothyroidism, starvation, inborn error of metabolism, severe infections, reactive hypoglycemia and a number of drugs including alcohol.[1][3] Low blood sugar may occur in otherwise healthy babies who have not eaten for a few hours.[4]
The glucose level that defines hypoglycemia is variable.[1] In people with diabetes, levels below 3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL) are diagnostic.[1] In adults without diabetes, symptoms related to low blood sugar, low blood sugar at the time of symptoms and improvement when blood sugar is restored to normal confirm the diagnosis.[5] Otherwise, a level below 2.8 mmol/L (50 mg/dL) after not eating or following exercise may be used.[1] In newborns, a level below 2.2 mmol/L (40 mg/dL), or less than 3.3 mmol/L (60 mg/dL) if symptoms are present, indicates hypoglycemia.[4] Other tests that may be useful in determining the cause include insulin and C peptide levels in the blood.[3]
Among people with diabetes, prevention is by matching the foods eaten with the amount of exercise and the medications used.[1] When people feel their blood sugar is low, testing with a glucose monitor is recommended.[1] Some people have few initial symptoms of low blood sugar, and frequent routine testing in this group is recommended.[1] Treatment of hypoglycemia is by eating foods high in simple sugars or taking dextrose.[1] If a person is not able to take food by mouth, glucagon by injection or in the nose may help.[1][6] The treatment of hypoglycemia unrelated to diabetes includes treating the underlying problem as well and a healthy diet.[1] The term "hypoglycemia" is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to idiopathic postprandial syndrome, a controversial condition with similar symptoms that occur following eating but with normal blood sugar levels.[7][8]