hypoglycemia header graphic

Low Blood Sugar: Hypoglycemia


When you feel exhausted and your doctor can't find a cause, you may be told that you have hypoglycemia. Then your doctor must look for the cause because low blood sugar is the result of something going wrong in your body.

Your brain gets more than 98 percent of its energy from sugar in your bloodstream. There is only enough sugar in your bloodstream to last about three minutes,

so your liver constantly releases sugar from its cells into your bloodstream. But your liver can store only enough sugar to last 12 hours at rest, so it must manufacture new sugar from protein and other energy stores.

When blood sugar levels drop, you may feel anxious, shaky, sweaty, hungry, a tingling in your skin or your heart may beat rapidly. More severe symptoms include confusion, a sensation of warmth, weakness or fatigue, loss of memory and in its extreme, seizures and passing out. As you suffer repeat attacks of low blood sugar, they affect you less and your symptoms lessen.

There are two types of low blood sugar. The first type occurs when your blood sugar rises too high, causing your pancreas to release a large amount of insulin that drops your blood sugar too low. The second type is a slow drop in blood sugar caused by your liver running out of stored sugar. Doctors used to think that insulin-induced follows meals and that your liver running out of sugar doesn't follow meals, but they now know that both types can occur any time.

It is almost impossible to diagnose by drawing blood after you suffer an attack of dizziness, weakness or fainting

Article continued below...




because your body produces adrenalin immediately and raises blood sugar levels to normal, before your doctor can draw your blood. can be diagnosed by feeding you lots of sugar and measuring your blood sugar level every half hour for several hours. If you indeed suffer from hypoglycemia, your doctor then has to find the cause, which can include a damaged liver, tumors or glandular abnormalities, or an inadequate amount or excess of many different hormones.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com Free weekly newsletter on fitness, health and nutrition




hypoglycemia articles:

Hypoglycemia During Sleep Is Possible


First things first, what is nocturnal hypoglycemia? This is hypoglycemia that occurs when a person is sleeping. This is specifically anywhere between the injection in the evening and in the Read more...

What You Need To Know About Hypoglycemia


If you're diabetic or live with a loved one who has been diagnosed with diabetes, then you should have a basic understanding about what causes low blood sugar levels, or hypoglycaemia, and what to do Read more...

The Truth about Brain Damage and Hypoglycemia


A lot of people underestimate the effects of hypoglycemia.For many, hypoglycemia is simply a common symptom suffered by diabetics when their blood sugar level is too low. Since it’s Read more...

Simple Living Guide: Break Sugar Addiction


Sugar became (according to many sources) the most common addictive food (drug) worldwide. Sugar in any form weakens the health of body tissue and decreases immunity. Since the microorganisms Read more...
hypoglycemia news: