Recognizing the Indicators of Low Blood Sugar

Hypoglycemia, a potentially severe condition, occurs when the glucose amount in your blood is excessively low, causing symptoms such as dizziness, trembling, lightheadedness, and a fast heartbeat. Glucose is a sugar type that the body uses for energy. The body absorbs glucose during meals and stores extra glucose in your muscles and liver. This stored glucose acts as a backup energy source for your blood when needed.

A person is considered to have hypoglycemia if their blood glucose level falls below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Testing blood glucose levels is necessary to identify the condition.

Those living with diabetes are acquainted with the process of testing their blood glucose levels, either being too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia). While hypoglycemia is more prevalent in type 1 diabetes patients, type 2 diabetic patients can also develop it. Individuals administering insulin, or on other diabetes medications, need to be cautious of low blood glucose levels.

Compared to individuals with diabetes, low blood sugar is less common in those without diabetes. However, factors such as diet, physical activity, and the weather can impact your blood sugar levels.

Risks of hypoglycemia are amplified for individuals over 65 years or those who have previously experienced hypoglycemia. Other health issues such as kidney disease, heart disease, or cognitive impairment might also heighten the risk.>

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar is crucial, as hypoglycemia might lead to severe consequences if left untreated.

The body identifies low blood glucose levels as a threat and activates the sympathoadrenal system in response. Specifically, the adrenal glands positioned over the kidneys release a hormone called norepinephrine, causing a rapid heartbeat.

The accelerated heart rate enhances blood flow through your body, allowing cells to absorb more glucose, the vital energy source that's currently in low supply.

The same mechanism that causes your heart to beat faster can also trigger shaking and jitteriness. Norepinephrine functions as a neurotransmitter, or a chemical messenger, aiding in nerve communications making you physically active, capable of thought, and overall functioning.

Norepinephrine is also responsible for feelings of anxiety. If you begin to feel uneasy, remaining calm is advised. You should also try to identify any other symptoms that may be present.

A sufficient amount of blood glucose is required for our organs to function efficiently. A lack of glucose affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain, leading to behavioral changes.

These changes can manifest through confusion and irritability. Increased agitation, particularly if it deviates from a person's usual behavior, might indicate low blood sugar. This situation is sometimes humorously referred to as being "hangry," a fusion of the words "hungry" and "angry."

Insufficient blood glucose can lead to dizziness or a sense of wooziness. This feeling usually arises from inadequate glucose supply to your brain.

Care must be taken as hypoglycemia induced dizziness can lead to fainting, which might result in injuries such as head trauma.

Headaches can be another symptom of low blood glucose. The brain uses a substantial amount of glucose, and a deficiency can disrupt its activities, leading to headaches.

Hunger is another symptom of low blood sugar due to its reliance on consuming carbohydrates, which increases blood glucose levels.

In response to low blood sugar, your blood releases acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. This transmission initiates a sequence of events that makes you feel hungry.

Luckily, grabbing a snack or a quick bite should help you feel better. People with diabetes know not to eat too much if their blood glucose is low. Often, they follow the '15-15 Rule,' which means having 15 grams of carbohydrates and then waiting 15 minutes to see if their blood glucose has gone up.

This symptom is also the result of the central nervous system not getting enough glucose from the bloodstream. When your brain is deprived of this key energy source, it's not uncommon to feel drained. If you're feeling more tired than normal and have other symptoms, a simple blood glucose test can let you know if low glucose is the cause.

Speaking is controlled in the brain. If your brain is not getting the energy it needs to function, speech may suffer as a result.

As a word of caution, difficulties speaking can also be a sign of other neurological conditions, including a stroke. Make sure you know how to spot a stroke so you can tell it apart from hypoglycemia.

Another sign that blood glucose levels are getting low is sweating. Sweating is also caused by the release of acetylcholine. Sweating that is more excessive than normal and is accompanied by any of these other symptoms may tip you off to low blood sugar. Sweating can happen during the day, but it can also happen at night in your sleep.

When you're sleeping, your blood glucose can get low and stay low for hours. It's not good when this happens because a number of problems can occur.

Whether you notice them or someone sleeping near you does, these symptoms can happen while you're asleep:

From the above signs and symptoms, you may have noticed that your body goes into a sort of crisis-response mode if your blood glucose levels drop too low. There is a very good reason for this: Hypoglycemia can be very dangerous and needs to be treated right away.

If blood glucose drops below 54 milligrams per deciliter it is severely low. With levels that low, the brain isn't getting nearly enough fuel. This can cause you to have problems walking or seeing clearly.

If deprived of fuel long enough, the brain may stop working. In extreme situations, loss of consciousness or seizure can occur. Blood glucose can even get so low it can cause death.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia need to be treated immediately. If you're experiencing these symptoms and think you may have low blood glucose, talk to a healthcare provider. Once you determine what's causing your low glucose levels, you can work out a treatment plan.

If you have diabetes, especially if you're taking insulin or certain other diabetes medications, you probably know the importance of having glucose sources on you at all times. Fruit juices are a good source of readily available carbohydrates. Glucose gel, glucose tablets, and hard candy are also effective.

If these fixes aren't keeping your blood glucose levels high enough, you may need glucagon. Glucagon is a hormone that healthcare providers can prescribe to treat severely low blood glucose. If your blood glucose is persistently low, your healthcare provider may even prescribe an emergency glucagon kit that you can keep with you.

Low blood sugar needs to be treated immediately. Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia must be taken very seriously. This condition can be deadly if it is not treated right away.

Be aware of hypoglycemia unawareness. This is when you have symptoms but fail to recognize them. If you don't notice the symptoms when they start, your blood glucose can drop dangerously low.

If you're at risk of hypoglycemia, especially if you don't easily recognize the symptoms, get into a habit of checking your blood glucose often. You may want to test your levels in certain situations, too, like before you get behind the wheel. Also, see a healthcare provider if you're experiencing low blood sugar on a regular basis so you can get the right treatment for your unique needs.