Evidence Based

16 Symptoms of low blood sugar [hypoglycemia]

Franklin

Managing Editor

Symptoms of low blood sugar include fatigue, dizziness, headache, weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, and ringing in the ears. The most common symptom is excessive thirst.

It generally affects people that have diabetes, principally if they take insulin.

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and aids in regulating blood sugar levels. 

Besides, insulin helps with the absorption of glucose (sugar) from the blood into the cells. It also helps lower blood pressure and thereby lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.

If your blood sugar is low, you should treat it quickly to prevent dangerous complications.

Increasing your body’s supply of insulin can treat low blood sugar.

Symptoms of low blood sugar level

Everyone reacts differently to low levels of blood sugar. However, many symptoms are associated with low blood sugar.

Early symptoms of hypoglycemia (low sugar in the blood) include:

  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded,
  • Sweating
  • Turning pale
  • Becoming tired
  • Feeling hungry
  • Tingly lips
  • A fast heart rate (palpitations)
  • Being easily irritated or downhearted.
  • weakness
  • Strange behavior
  • Blurry vision
  • Difficult to focus or confusion
  • Awkwardness
  • feeling sleepy
  • Convulsions or fits
  • Collapsing

What causes a low blood sugar level

Hypoglycemia is a condition in which you lose your blood sugar levels and are unable to maintain them. It is one of the most common symptoms of diabetes.

It occurs when you begin to produce less insulin, the hormone that keeps blood sugar levels stable.

Furthermore, insulin is the hormone that tells your body to let sugar enter your blood. 

Glucose is a molecule made up of a sugar molecule and an oxygen atom. 

Glucose is the form of glucose that your body uses to create energy. In this form, it’s called “sugar.” 

In the simplest terms, glucose and insulin are essential chemicals in our bodies.

Glucose is sometimes referred to as blood sugar, but it also refers to the total amount of sugar in your body.

There are multiple reasons why you may have low blood sugar, including:

  • taking certain medications
  • have a medical condition like diabetes
  • not eating well enough.
  • drinking alcohol
  • intense exercise
  • Going through puberty.
  • Menstruation
  • skipping or delaying a meal
  • consuming too much sugar
  • Hot and humid weather.
  • Taking too much insulin.
  • Spending time at a high altitude.

The low blood sugar level is a possible side effect of consuming too much sugar. 

How to prevent low blood sugar level

We’ve all experienced that “sweet” feeling after eating a particular food or drink.

What causes that feeling? Is it because of sugar? Fat? By itself?

When it comes to blood sugars, there is no one single factor. The best way to combat low blood glucose (sugar), according to nutritionists, is to eat a varied diet full of healthy foods, choose carbohydrates from whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and potatoes and choose foods high in fiber and low in sugar.

Foods high in sugar usually cause a spike in blood sugar level and a sharp drop (you should avoid that).

A low blood sugar level without diabetes

A low blood sugar level is unusual in somebody who doesn’t have diabetes.

For people without diabetes, probable causes of low blood sugar levels include:

  • When you eat, your body releases too much insulin.
  • Not eating regularly or malnutrition
  • A pregnancy complication
  • Bariatric surgery
  • Hormonal problems
  • Taking some medications

If you experience symptoms of a low blood sugar level, see a doctor.

He can help identify the cause and perform some tests to determine if further treatment is required.

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