Low blood sugar symptoms can vary and depend on the severity of the hypoglycemia. The lower the blood sugar gets, the more severe the effects of hypoglycemia become. In healthy people, normal blood sugar levels are approximately 70 to 100 mg/dL. Levels lower than 70 can be considered the first stage of hypoglycemia.
Low blood sugar symptoms begin when a person’s blood sugar goes below 70 mg/dL. The first symptoms a person may feel is extreme hunger. After the extreme hunger nausea might be next. You may even become a little nervous or fidgety and experience excessive sweating or cold, clammy skin. As hypoglycemia progresses you may even begin to feel a slight tingling in the fingertips or toes. You may also begin to notice your heart racing and possibly even some trembling.
Once your blood sugar has dipped below 55 mg/dL you begin to notice some new symptoms as moderate hypoglycemia sets in. In moderate hypoglycemia, the nervous system begins to become effected, causing more widespread symptoms. Mood changes including anger and irritability are extremely common at this stage. Confusion and inability to concentrate may also accompany the irritability. As your blood sugar continues to dive, you may notice more serious symptoms such as diminished motor skills and difficulty speaking.
If your blood sugar gets below 40 mg/dL your body will begin to succumb to severe hypoglycemia. At this stage, it begins to become a life or death situation. Seizures may occur along with other symptoms like low body temperature or even loss of consciousness. Sever hypoglycemia can actually induce a coma if not treated. Long periods of severe hypoglycemia have been known to cause serious irreversible damage to the body including brain damage and heart diseases, especially in those already prone to heart disease. When medical attention is not given to severe hypoglycemia, it can even be fatal.