Low blood sugar – also known as hypoglycemia is a condition that occurs when the glucose levels in your blood become too low. Many think of hypoglycemia as something that occurs only in people with diabetes.
However, according to experts, it can also happen in those who do not have diabetes. Doctors say in hypoglycemia your body produces too much insulin, which is a hormone that breaks down sugar so that you can use it for energy.
Can you get hypoglycemia without diabetes?
If you do not have diabetes, hypoglycemia happens when there is not enough sugar in your blood or if your body is not able to stabilize your blood sugar level. This occurs when your level drops below 55 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
Doctors say nondiabetic hypoglycemia results from using certain medications, consuming excessive alcohol, skipping meals, or an underlying health condition.
If you have not been eating properly or skipping food for longer hours, there can be a drop in blood sugar. However, ongoing problems with nondiabetic hypoglycemia can indicate a decrease in insulin production – causing reactive hypoglycemia.
According to studies, Hypoglycemia in people without diabetes is less common than hypoglycemia which occurs in people who have diabetes or related conditions. 1
Signs and symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia
Even though everyone reacts differently to fluctuations in their blood sugar levels, a few symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia may include:
- Dizziness
- Pale skin
- Tingling or numbness in the lips, cheeks, or tongue
- Seizures
- Extreme hunger
- Headache
- Confusion
- Sweating
- Not able to concentrate
- Blurred vision
- Shaking
- Changes in personality
What causes reactive hypoglycemia?
According to doctors, reactive hypoglycemia occurs within a few hours after a meal. An overproduction of insulin causes the condition, and it means you are at a high risk of developing diabetes.
Another cause can be the surgery you got done on your stomach to relieve symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease – which can put you at risk for a condition known as dumping syndrome. This also occurs in people who have had gastric bypass surgery.
In late dumping syndrome, the body releases excess insulin in response to carbohydrate-rich meals, resulting in hypoglycemia and related symptoms.
How to treat hypoglycemia?
According to doctors, identifying the cause of this condition can only determine the right treatment for you. Glucose helps boost your blood sugar levels in the short term and a way to get additional glucose is to consume 15 grams of carbohydrates.
Also, drinking fresh fruit juice helps get extra glucose into your bloodstream. These sources of glucose often briefly correct hypoglycemia, but then another drop in blood sugar follows.
You can also eat foods high in complex carbohydrates like pasta and whole grains, which help sustain blood sugar levels after a period of hypoglycemia.
Many times, doctors recommend carrying glucose tablets or injectable glucagon for those suffering from severe hypoglycemia.
Serious side effects
If left untreated, reactive hypoglycemia can have deadly aftereffects, a few of which may include:
- Confusion
- Changes in behaviour
- Becoming unconscious
- Blurred vision
- Seizures
- Slurred speech
- Neurological issues that may mimic a stroke
