Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar symptoms are commonly seen in individuals suffering from type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The clinical syndrome occurs when the cells do not produce adequate amount of insulin to maintain the energy or physiological needs of the body. During this situation, the serum glucose drops below the normal 70 mg/dl level.
Hypoglycemia increasingly exists owing to improper diet, alcohol consumption or complications that arise while using diabetic medications like Glimepride, Tolzamide, Repaglinide, Acarbose, Glyburide etc. In addition, injectable medications such as Pramlintide and Exenatide, when used along with insulin, also trigger low blood sugar count. The symptoms effect all age-groups and generally vary from moderate, severe to mild. As a result, diabetic patients need to immediately seek the assistance of a specialist if they face hypoglycemia, as the disorder if untreated could lead to serious ailments. The treatment basically involves short-term procedures that aid to raise the blood sugar to the normal level.
2 Types of Hypoglycemia Symptoms
The different signs of hypoglycemia are primarily categorized into two:
- neurogenic
- neuroglycopenic
Neurogenic symptoms
Neurogenic symptoms occur due to reduced serum concentrations in the blood. The symptoms, largely generated from the autonomic nervous system, lead to erratic physiological changes like dizziness, anxiety, excessive sweating, headache, severe heartbeat, shakiness, dry mouth, palpitations, pupil dilation, and mood swings. In addition, few moderate signs can be experienced such as clammy skin, numbness, irritability, hunger, heat flashes, irregular heartbeat, hallucinations, and general discomfort. The existence of these indicators helps patients to easily detect episodes of hypoglycemia.
Neuroglycopenic Symptoms
Neuroglycopenic symptoms occur due to reduced brain neuronal glucose levels. This leads to symptoms that include confusion, paralysis, decreased alertness, unconsciousness, vomiting, personality changes, abnormal breathing, mental illness, temporary vision loss, difficulty to speak, convulsions, clumsiness, muscle weakness, etc. These signs can be effortlessly recognized by the sufferer’s family and friends. In most cases, the vast majority of episodes can be ideally treated by raising serum glucose to the ideal range. While prolonged hypoglycemia especially in unobserved diabetic patients could lead to hazardous conditions such as brain death.
On the other hand, few patients also suffer from nocturnal or night hypoglycemia wherein the normal blood sugar levels become extremely low during sleep. The key indicators of this problem include crying out in the middle of sleep, having nightmares, sleeping disorders, intense perspiration that dampen sheets and bed clothes, aggression, unusual tiredness, headache or confused feeling upon waking. It is therefore essential for diabetic patients to take adequate treatment on noticing any low blood sugar symptoms.
If you have ever had some of the above symptoms, it is possible that you have experienced a hypoglycemic episode. It is important to consult with your physician for blood work and an exam if you suspect that you suffer from low blood sugar.
