Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia or low blood glucose, happens when the levels of glucose drop below normal in your blood. Glucose is used as a source of energy in the body and comes from foods that contain sugar and carbohydrates. Foods like bread, fruit, rice and potatoes are all good sources of carbohydrates which can raise glucose levels in the bloodstream. Keeping glucose levels normal is the only way to avoid low blood sugar levels.
When you eat food, the carbohydrates and sugars are converted into glucose in the body. This glucose is then injected into the bloodstream to help provide energy to all parts of your body. A hormone created in your pancreas called insulin is used to help cells metabolize the glucose and use it as fuel. If you happen to take in more glucose than you need at any given time, your body will store the excess glucose in your muscles and in your liver in a form known as glycogen. This glycogen is a short term supply of glucose your body can use in between meals for extra energy.
Excess glucose can also be converted into fat in the body. This fat is then stored in fat cells to be used for energy in the future. This is important to understand, as you may think you can avoid getting fat by not eating foods that contain a lot of fat. In reality, sugary foods and foods that contain lots of carbohydrates can also be used and stored as fat.
Typically, when blood glucose levels fall your pancreas will send a signal to your liver using a hormone called glucagon. Your liver will then in turn begin releasing additional glucose back into your bloodstream, effectively raising your blood glucose level. Glucagon response may be impaired in people with diabetes. Other hormones like epinephrine and adrenaline can also raise blood glucose levels in the body.
The danger of hypoglycemia is that it can happen very quickly. Most cases of low blood sugar are mild in nature. They can usually be treated by eating or drinking foods with sugars or carbohydrates. If hypoglycemia is allowed to persist without correction, it can lead to more serious symptoms and consequences. The most severe cases of hypoglycemia can even lead to coma or death, so it’s important to know the warning signs and take action immediately if you believe you may be suffering from hypoglycemia.
Most of the time hypoglycemia is uncommon in people who don’t suffer from diabetes. Diabetes treatment, such as the use of too much insulin, can cause low blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar is also possible for diabetics if they haven’t eaten recently and haven’t been monitoring their blood sugar levels. Their pancreas may be unable to trigger the liver to release additional stored glucose back into the bloodstream.
People who use insulin regularly or take other medicines for diabetes should always be prepared for low blood sugar. The best way to be prepared is to know what triggers hypoglycemia. Regular blood sugar tests can help prevent blood sugar levels from getting dangerously low. Having easy access to foods or drinks that contain sugars and carbohydrates is essential for any diabetic to help treat low blood sugar levels. It’s important for friends and co-workers to know about the possibility of hypoglycemia as advanced stages of hypoglycemia may impair your ability to communicate.
Glucose levels below 70mg/dL are considered to be hypoglycemic for diabetics. A good number to shoot for would be right around 100 mg/dL. High blood sugar can also be damaging to the body. You should avoid raising blood sugar levels drastically, even when suffering from hypoglycemia.