Hypoglycemia: More Sugar, Please!

Hypoglycemia: More Sugar, Please!

Do you regularly have headaches? Does your heart race? Are you irritable before meals? Do you feel confused or unable to make a decision? Are you constantly hungry? Are you always tired? If so, chances are you are suffering from hypoglycemia, popularly known as “low blood sugar.”

Medical science points out that our body normally maintains the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood within a range of about 70 to 11o milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dl). Glucose, a form of sugar, is an important  fuel for our body. Carbohydrates are the main dietary sources of glucose. Rice, potatoes, bread, milk, fruit, and sweets are all carbohydrates-rich foods

Is it another form of diabetes? In hypoglycemia, the sugar levels in the blood become too low, while in diabetes the sugar level s in the blood become too high, a condition called hyperglycemia. Although diabetes is characterized by high levels of sugar in the blood, many people with diabetes periodically experience hypoglycemia.

SIGNS and SYMPTOMS

Sing and symptoms of hypoglycemia can vary from person to person. Common signs and symptoms includes: shakiness, dizziness, sweating, hunger, headache, pale skin color, sudden moodiness or behavior changes (such as crying for no apparent reason,), clumsy or jerky movements, seizure, difficulty paying attention or confusion, and tingling sensation around the mouth.

Hypoglycemia can also happen while you are sleeping. You might cry out or have nightmares, find that your pajamas or sheets are damp from perspiration and feel tired, irritable, or confused when you wake up.
Take note, though, these symptoms aren’t necessarily specific to hypoglycemia, because other conditions can produce the same feelings and malfunction! To find out if hypoglycemia is the cause of your symptoms, have your blood sugar measured when the symptoms are present.

Probable Cause:

Hypoglycemia can occur in people with diabetes who take insulin and other drugs to keep their blood sugar glucose levels in control. Usually hypoglycemia is mild and can easily be treated by eating or drinking something with carbohydrates. But left untreated, hypoglycemia can lead to loss of consciousness.

People who are losing weight or who develop kidney failure are more likely to have hypoglycemia. Older people are more susceptible  than younger people to hypoglycemia resulting from sulfonylurea drugs. Many drugs other than those for diabetes, most notably pentamidine and quinine - used to treat pneumonia and muscle cramps, respectively - can cause hypoglycemia.

Non-diabetics:

Two types of hypoglycemia can occur in people who do not have diabetes: reactive and fasting. Symptoms of both types resemble the symptoms that people with diabetes and hypoglycemia experience.

Reactive hypoglycemia occurs in about 2-3 out of every 10 young women, more often in obese women and less often in people over age 45. Generally, reactive hypoglycemia occur as a reaction to eating, usually carbohydrates. doctors point out that “the body’s response to food is excessive, so the body produces more insulin than is needed”.

Fasting hypoglycemia is the rarest and most serious form. In fasting hypoglycemia, the body is not able to maintain adequate levels of blood sugar in the blood after a period without food. Prolonged fasting and prolonged strenuous exercise are unlikely to cause hypoglycemia among healthy people but they can do so occasionally.

Several diseases or conditions cause fasting hypoglycemia. In people who drink heavily without eating, alcohol can block the release of stored sugar from the liver.

Treatment:

The trick is to learn to recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia. This way, you can treat hypoglycemia before it gets worse. If you think you have the condition, be sure to consult your doctor immediately.

The symptoms of hypoglycemia are relieved within minutes of consuming sugar in any form, such as candy or of drinking a sweet drink. Expert suggest that both diabetic and non-diabetic people with hypoglycemia may benefit from consuming sugar followed by a food that provides longer-lasting carbohydrates.

Prevention of hypoglycemia while you are driving a vehicle is especially important. Checking blood glucose frequently and snacking as needed to keep your blood glucose above 70 mg/dl will help prevent accidents.