Hypoglycemia - Functional

General Information on Hypoglycemia - Functional

Hypoglycemia is a condition in which the blood sugar levels, the amount of glucose in the blood, are abnormally low. Glucose is the body’s main energy source. Hypoglycemia is not so much a disease as it is an indicator of other health problems. Many people with hypoglycemia also have diabetes or another health condition. The low blood sugar levels in the body that occur in hypoglycemia affect many different organs of the body. The organ mostly affected by hypoglycemia is the brain. The brain’s main energy source is glucose and when the glucose levels are too low, the brain stimulates the pancreas to produce glucagon, the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline, and the pituitary gland to produce the growth hormone which will all cause the liver to produce sugar. There are many different causes of hypoglycemia. Drugs are the main cause of hypoglycemia. This is due to the fact that many people with diabetes take insulin to lower the blood sugar levels which causes the blood sugar levels to drop too low. Also, those who take insulin when they do not have diabetes will likely develop hypoglycemia. There are other drugs/medications that also cause the blood sugar levels to drop; some of which include quinine and pentamidine. Quinine is used to treat muscle cramps and pentamidine is used to treat pneumonia. Another cause of hypoglycemia is diet. Those fasting do not consume foods to allow the body to produce glucose and therefore the blood sugar levels drop. In those that eat too many carbohydrates, which the body turns into sugar, the body may have a reaction to the excessive amounts of sugar and produce too much insulin causing low blood sugar levels. Excessive consumption of alcohol can also block the liver from releasing stored glucose into the blood when the body needs it and causes blood sugar levels to drop. Other causes of hypoglycemia include stomach surgery, specific tumors such as pancreatic tumors, and disorders of the pituitary and adrenal glands. The symptoms of hypoglycemia vary from cases to cases. The symptoms range from mild to severe and may not even be noticed until the blood sugar levels are extremely low. The more mild the case, less symptoms are noticeable and the more severe the case, more symptoms are noticeable.

Symptoms of Hypoglycemia - Functional

Some of the symptoms of hypoglycemia may be:

Anxiety
Sweating
Trembling
Hunger
Heart palpitations
Faintness
Dizziness
Fatigue
Weakness
Headaches
Lack of concentration
Slurred speech
Blurred vision
Inappropriate behavior
Confusion
Seizures
Coma

Treatments For Hypoglycemia - Functional

The treatment for hypoglycemia is to raise the blood sugar levels and to figure out why the blood sugar levels dropped in the first place. Most of the symptoms can be treated by consuming sugar. Foods such as candy, sweet drinks, and glucose tablets will all raise the blood sugar levels quickly. In severe cases, glucose may need to be given intravenously. Once the doctor figures out the cause of the hypoglycemia, different treatments may take place to prevent other episodes. Should the cause be drugs, the doctor will likely change the medications used. Should the cause be diet, the doctor will likely change the diet. Should the cause be a tumor, it will likely be surgically removed. Should the cause be a pituitary or adrenal gland disorder, the doctor will treat the disorder. Hypoglycemia is easily treated and managed and is not life threatening.

Personal Experience

Hypoglycemia - Functional - personal experiences