Hypoglycemia << `HY` poh glih SEE mee uh >> is a condition in which the blood contains too little glucose. Glucose is a form of sugar used as the main source of energy for cells. Nerve cells, especially those of the brain, are most seriously affected by too little glucose. The human body has several ways to manage glucose levels and prevent hypoglycemia. These mechanisms are important to preserve the body’s major energy source.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia vary. They include hunger, nervousness, rapid heartbeat, shaking, and sweating. As brain cells suffer from low glucose, confusion, sleepiness, and trouble speaking may occur. Infants may have no obvious symptoms. In severe cases, seizures and coma can occur. Hypoglycemia can cause brain damage and even death if it is severe and untreated.
Causes.
Hypoglycemia can have many different causes. It often results from a disturbance in how the body controls blood glucose levels. Hypoglycemia most commonly occurs when there is an excess of insulin in the blood. Insulin is a hormone secreted by cells on the pancreas. It regulates the body’s use of sugars and other nutrients. People with diabetes, a disease that disrupts the body’s ability to use glucose, often need insulin injections. Among people with diabetes, hypoglycemia may occur if they get too much insulin. This can happen through an insulin injection or through a medication that helps the body secrete insulin. Some people develop tumors, called insulinomas, that produce extra insulin. Some babies are born with a disorder called congenital hyperinsulinism that causes high insulin levels.
Individuals, particularly children, can develop hypoglycemia if they have a growth hormone deficiency. Deficiencies in cortisol, a hormone made by the adrenal glands when the body is under stress, can also cause the condition. Some children are born with disorders called glycogen storage diseases. Such diseases involve a disruption in the process by which the body breaks down substances into glucose. Hypoglycemia also occurs as a result of prolonged fasting.
Treatment.
People typically treat hypoglycemia by consuming sugary foods or drinks. Severe hypoglycemia may require glucose delivered through an intravenous line—that is, directly into the bloodstream. Severe hypoglycemia due to excess insulin can be treated with an injection of glucagon. Like insulin, glucagon is a hormone made in the pancreas. It blocks the action of insulin and raises blood glucose. Doctors often prescribe emergency kits of glucagon that diabetes patients can inject in case of severe hypoglycemia.
Prevention of hypoglycemia depends upon the cause. For patients with diabetes, hypoglycemia is prevented by administering appropriate doses of insulin or other medication in combination with proper diet and exercise. Growth hormone and cortisol treatments are used for hypoglycemia caused by these hormone deficiencies. People with glycogen storage diseases usually must eat every few hours to maintain blood glucose levels. Congenital hyperinsulinism sometimes responds to medications that suppress insulin secretion. Many children, however, require surgery to remove part of the pancreas. Doctors generally treat insulinomas with surgery to remove the tumor.
