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  • The formal medical term for low blood sugar, also called low blood glucose, is hypoglycemia. According to the American Diabetes Association, all diabetics develop the condition occasionally, even if they're managing their diabetes effectively.

    Significance

    Glucose is found in food and it's the body's primary source of energy. When blood glucose levels become too low in diabetics, the brain and body are unable to function properly. This may lead to confusion, hunger, sweating and problems seeing.

    Medication

    Blood sugar may become low when diabetics take certain injectable drugs or medications that increase the body's production of insulin. Some drugs taken in combination, such as glimepiride with pioglitazone or rosiglitazone, can also cause hypoglycemia.

    Other Causes

    Eating too little, too late or too infrequently may cause blood sugar to decrease in diabetics. Hypoglycemia can also result from drinking alcohol or increasing one's level of physical activity.

    Warning

    Treating hypoglycemia promptly is imperative. Although rare, potential symptoms of the condition include seizures, unconsciousness and death.

    Considerations

    Non-diabetics may develop two types of hypoglycemia, which produce symptoms similar to diabetes-related hypoglycemia. Reactive (or postprandial) hypoglycemia occurs four hours after eating, and fasting (or postabsorptive) hypoglycemia usually occurs as a side effect of an existing medical condition.

    Source:

    American Diabetes Association: Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Glucose)

    MayoClinic.com: Hypoglycemia

    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Hypoglycemia

    More Information:

    American Diabetes Association

    American Diabetes Association: Checking Your Blood Glucose

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