Share on Pinterest
Created for Greatist by the experts at Healthline. Read more
Youre sitting at your desk mid-morning when it hits exhaustion with a headache on the side. As you shakily punch in an Uber Eats order, you kick yourself for leaving the emergency snack on the kitchen counter. Whats the deal? Youre probably experiencing hypoglycemia (aka low blood sugar).
For most of us latte-sippers and late-night noshers, an occasional sugar crash is pretty normal (at least in college, amiright?). Hypoglycemia isnt a disease, but it can indicate an underlying health problem.
Heres the lowdown:
Low blood sugar happens when there isnt enough glucose (aka sugar) in your bloodstream. Glucose comes from carbs. Whether from an apple or a slice of pizza, the carbs-turned-glucose fuel your body with the help of insulin, another critical player. When glucose levels get low, your body cant function on all cylinders.
Technically, hypoglycemia occurs when your blood sugar is below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). According to the American Diabetes Association, those with diabetes or other blood sugar issues should get a meter or wearable continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to keep blood sugar levels in check.
Interestingly, the most common cause of super low blood sugar is diabetes medication. People with diabetes take insulin because their bodies dont produce enough of it naturally. But sometimes the insulin dose is too much, or the person hasnt eaten enough to need the insulin.
For people without diabetes, hypoglycemia can be caused by:
Theres also something called reactive hypoglycemia (postprandial hypoglycemia) that occurs several hours after your last meal. Its likely related to a disrupted eating schedule, like skipping your usual breakfast or drinking alcohol without food.
Hypoglycemia is just a fancy translation of your cells screaming, Halllp, feed me some glucose! As blood sugar dips, you might feel weak, annoyed, or jittery hangry, in a word. This woozy cocktail of symptoms indicates that fuel levels are dropping into unhealthy territory.
Immediate effects of hypoglycemia can include:
Frequent low blood sugar isnt something to ignore. Hypoglycemia may be a sign of a deeper medical condition, and starving your cells of glucose too often or for too long can cause unpleasant complications down the road.
You know the cartoon dog sipping coffee in a burning room? Thats your brain dealing with hypoglycemia unawareness.
Having frequent low blood sugar can trick your body into thinking hypoglycemia is normal. Without symptoms like tremors, headaches, or weakness, the body continues operating in an unhealthy state, increasing the risk for life-threatening complications.
Instead of waiting for your body to adapt to a toxic situation, talk to your doctor if youre experiencing hypoglycemia often. In the meantime, ward off low blood sugar by noshing on small snacks throughout the day.
Dangerously low blood sugar sometimes causes seizures. The risk is higher for those with diabetes who take insulin to control their blood sugar. An insulin overdose can induce sudden hypoglycemia, affecting the central nervous system in a bad way.
In rare cases, low blood sugar could cause a blackout, coma, or even death. Think about it, glucose is the bodys fuel, and you can only run on empty for so long. Death can eventually occur as a result of depriving your brain of crucial energy.
Blacking out can cause other issues too. If youre feeling lightheaded or unstable, its best to stay put. Losing consciousness, falling, and hitting your head only makes a bad situation worse.
Frequent hypoglycemia can eventually affect the brain. A 2013 study found that older diabetic patients who experienced dangerously low blood sugar were twice as likely to develop dementia. This suggests that keeping blood sugar in check could help lower your risk of memory loss later in life.
So what can you safely do when your blood sugar drops?
Heres how to boost glucose back into the safe zone:
For people with diabetes, blood sugar levels can swing hard and fast. Its always best to keep a blood sugar monitor handy. But if youre feeling lightheaded or shaky and dont have a way to check your blood sugar, treat yourself for hypoglycemia anyway.
15-15 steps:
Theres no sweeter way to add glucose to your bloodstream than a spoonful of sugar or honey. Another option is Glucogel, a non-prescription, thick syrup available at any drugstore. If you have a tube of Glucogel on hand, squirt it inside your cheeks for fast absorption.
Remember to wait 15 to 20 minutes before you eat more. Youre looking for a natural boost of energy, not a sugar high.
Never force-feed someone losing consciousness (choking hazard alert!). Instead, if your friend has diabetes and is fading fast, its time to bust out a glucagon shot. Glucagon injections are for medical emergencies, like when someone with extremely low blood sugar is unconscious or too disoriented to consume sugar.
After using a glucagon injection (or calling 911 if you dont have one), lay the person on their side in the recovery position.
The best way to treat low blood sugar? Prevent it from happening in the first place.
Avoid hypoglycemia by fueling your body with frequent nutritious meals and snacks. Focus on a hypoglycemia diet rich in complex carbs and low in sugar content.
Read more:
Low Blood Sugar Effects: Symptoms, Risks, Remedies and More - Greatist
