Hypoglycemia Causes and Symptoms

Glucose, or blood sugar, is the body’s major source of energy; it is also the only form of energy that the brain can use effectively. During digestion and metabolism, the liver converts all of the carbohydrates and about half of the protein in a meal into glucose, which is released into the blood stream. In response to the rising blood glucose levels, the pancreas secretes extra insulin, the hormone that enables cells to use the sugar to produce energy.

Lower blood sugar or hypoglycemia, occurs when the amount of insulin in the blood exceeds that needed to metabolize the available glucose. It is seen often when a person with diabetes takes too much insulin, but it can also occur in other circumstances, such as over consumption of alcohol; taking large amounts of aspirin or acetaminophen, beta blockers or some antipsychotic drugs, or when tumors develop that secretes insulin.

REACTIVE HYPOGLYCEMIA
This condition occurs when blood sugar levels plummet 1 to 2 hours after a meal.Symptoms include dizziness, headaches,hunger, trembling, palpitations, and irritability. Many people who experience vague, unexplained symptoms assumed that they have reactive hypoglycemia but the condition is not common. This is because the body has a very sensitive feedback system that controls insulin secretion. Reactive hypoglycemia can only be diagnosed by monitoring blood glucose levels after ingestion of a known dose of glucose.

Consume small meals that provide a balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats.

Limit carbohydrate-only(especially sugary)
Avoid consuming alcohol without food.

Did you know?
Hypoglycemia caused by binge drinking can be fatal.
Excessive alcohol consumption, especially binge drinking, can cause hypoglycemia because the body’s breakdown of alcohol interferes with the liver’s efforts to raise blood glucose which can be very serious or even fatal.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 11th, 2010 at 2:56 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.