Hypoglycemia - Causes And Symptoms Of Hypoglycemia

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Causes and symptoms of hypoglycemia

What is hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia is a pathological condition characterized by low blood glucose levels (below 3.3 mmol / l).

How does a certain level of sugar form in our blood in general, and why can it fall to a critical level? After we eat a food containing carbohydrates, glucose is extracted from them, and it is distributed to all nooks and crannies of the body. This is the fuel we cannot live without. In response to the entry of glucose into the blood, the pancreas synthesizes a special hormone - insulin, which allows the cells of our body to receive energy from glucose.

A sharp drop in blood sugar is dangerous, as a person can be lost in literally 30 minutes. Among diabetics, the phrase “insulin is a medicine for the smart” is walking. Why do they say that? Because the victims of hypoglycemia are almost always inattentive and irresponsible people who neglect the advice of a doctor and inject themselves with incorrect doses of insulin at the very first signs of feeling unwell. Don't panic. You can always avoid danger if you act correctly and consistently.

Hypoglycemia can occur both due to an insufficient amount of sugar consumed in food, and due to the increased production of the hormone insulin by the body, which is responsible for processing glucose.

Causes of hypoglycemia

Diabetes mellitus is of several types. Let's simplify our story and say that there is an insulin-dependent form of diabetes, and there is an insulin-independent one. So, people with the first type of disease are forced to inject themselves with insulin in such a way that it is enough to process exactly that amount of glucose (in XE - grain units) that is obtained from food. Injections are given at regular intervals, they are correlated with meals, and the dosage is determined by the attending endocrinologist.

If the patient has injected himself with more insulin than is required to break down the glucose that has entered the body, the liver begins to save the day and injects into the blood a strategic supply of starch - glycogen. But when the bins are empty, an attack of hypoglycemia cannot be avoided.

That's the trouble, because diabetics have nowhere to get a large, or even standard, glycogen store. These people consume very few starchy foods, they literally have every carbohydrate in their account (moreover, on a bad count).

Let's list in order all the possible causes of hypoglycemia:

• Incorrect insulin dosage;
• A long period of time without food at all (more than 6 hours);
• Intense physical activity, resulting in the complete emptying of the body from glucose (including the glycogen store in the liver);
• A decrease in blood sugar can also be associated with alcohol consumption.
• Hypoglycemia can occur due to an improper diet or the use of certain medications that are poorly combined with antidiabetic drugs (aspirin, warfarin, allopurinol, probenecid, etc.), which enhance the effect of insulin. It can be not only specialized means, such as DiaBeta, Glinaz, Prandin, Starlix, Januvia or Diabenez. There are medications that do not belong to the group of glucose-lowering drugs, but still come into dangerous interaction with insulin.

A critical drop in blood glucose levels can provoke hypoglycemic syndrome, not only in people with diabetes. Here's an example from ordinary life: an elderly man suffering from obesity, under pressure from his wife, decided to lose weight. And I couldn't find anything better than to heed the well-known advice: burst less, stomp more. For a long time he refused the usual food served on the table in the family: potatoes, pasta, cereals. He was practically starving and often complained of headaches.

The crisis hit when he went fishing with friends all weekend. The men froze for two days, hauled tackle, rowed boats and ate almost nothing but fish (that is, carbohydrate-free food). And to maintain a fighting spirit, they drank vodka. As a result, our hero lost consciousness and was miraculously taken to the hospital on time, where he finally learned that he had a low blood sugar level.

If a person does not have diabetes, hypoglycemia may be a symptom of another endocrine system disorder. To establish an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination and start treating the disease that caused this pathological condition.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia

Symptoms of hypoglycemia begin to appear when a person's blood sugar falls below the normal level of 3 mmol / L.

In all patients, the disease manifests itself in different ways, so you should know what symptoms you need to pay attention to first.

People with hypoglycemic syndrome often experience dizziness, loss of consciousness, nervousness, hunger, headache, and chills. The patient's pulse quickens, the skin becomes pale, sweating appears, coordination of movements and concentration are disturbed. The person may lose consciousness or even fall into a coma.

It is important to know that hypoglycemia has three degrees of severity: mild, moderate, and severe. The lower the blood sugar level, the more pronounced the symptoms.

With mild hypoglycemia, the meter reading drops below 2.8 mmol / L. The patient feels unexplained anxiety, nervousness, nausea, hunger, chills, numb fingertips or lips; tachycardia may occur.

Hypoglycemia of moderate severity is manifested by a deterioration in consciousness and mood: a person is anxious, irritable, has difficulty concentrating or thinking. Vision is blurred, dizzy and headaches. Due to weakness and impaired coordination of movements, a person walks and talks with difficulty.

If the blood sugar level falls below 2.2 mmol / L, this is a sign of severe hypoglycemia. This condition can lead to epileptic seizures, seizures, loss of consciousness, and coma. The body temperature drops significantly.

People suffering from severe hypoglycemia for a long time are susceptible to diseases of the cardiovascular system and brain damage.

Do not forget that the symptoms of hypoglycemia can be similar to the symptoms of other diseases, so the patient must consult a doctor.

Complications and consequences of hypoglycemia

The danger of hypoglycemic syndrome, as such, we have already discussed. But often repeated "crashes" in blood sugar levels are fraught with serious problems. Small peripheral vessels are destroyed, and this, first of all, affects the eyes and legs. A person may develop angiopathy and blindness over time.

Low glucose levels are extremely dangerous for the brain. This organ is the most voracious in our body, and as soon as it lacks sugar, it desperately starts honking and demanding food. The brain physically cannot do without sugar for a long time, which is why when the blood glucose level is below 2 mmol / l, a person develops a hypoglycemic coma. If the patient is not resuscitated in time, the brain cells will die, which means death.

Other organs of our body also constantly need glucose and react very painfully to its deficiency. It would take a lot of time to list all the syndromes and diseases that affect a person with low blood sugar. Let's just say that this state is best avoided. How to do it? Read on.

Hypoglycemia treatment

People who are at risk of hypoglycemic syndrome must carefully monitor their condition and regularly measure blood sugar: situations that can lead to a decrease in it should be given close attention.

It is very important to notice the first symptoms of hypoglycemia in time and take measures to eliminate them.

If your blood sugar drops below normal, you need to drink fruit juice, eat a sugar cube, candy, or other carbohydrate-rich foods.

People from the patient's close circle are also required to know the symptoms of hypoglycemia and be able to provide first aid in case of deterioration of health. It is important to always have your medical card or leaflet with you in case a hypoglycemic attack occurs far from home.

In patients with diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia can occur due to alcohol consumption or missed meals, therefore, it is necessary to constantly maintain a balanced diet, take antidiabetic medications on time, avoid heavy physical exertion and stressful conditions.

With hypoglycemia, it is better for the patient to refrain from eating simple carbohydrates, but to eat protein foods or complex carbohydrates. During an attack of hypoglycemia, you should also have glucose tablets or glucose gel with you.

Here is a list of foods that you can take in case of deterioration:

• sweet candy;
• fruit juice;
• milk;
• honey;
• sugar;
• corn syrup

A quarter of an hour after taking a sugar-containing product, you need to check your blood sugar level. If it does not rise above 3.8 mmol / l, it is worth eating something else from the above products.

If hypoglycemic reactions occur more often than a couple of times a week, you should definitely contact your doctor.

People with hypoglycemia often lose consciousness. Best of all, in this case, an injection of glucagon, which increases blood sugar levels, will help. The dosages and features of the use of this drug should be discussed in advance with your doctor.

To avoid the onset of symptoms of severe hypoglycemia, the patient should always carry sugar, candy and other foods containing carbohydrates (crackers, cheese, fruit juice, etc.)

The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).