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DESCRIPTION:
When healthy, the body maintains blood sugar levels within a rather narrow range. With hypoglycemia, blood sugar levels are abnormally low. Low blood sugar causes many organ systems in the body to malfunction. The brain is particularly sensitive to low blood sugar levels, because glucose is the brain’s major energy source.
How does hypoglycemia develop?
Hypoglycemia can be categorized as drug related or non-drug related. Drug-related cases of hypoglycemia occur in diabetics when a dose of insulin or similar drugs lowers the blood sugar levels too much. People with long standing severe diabetes are particularly prone to severe hypoglycemia. Non-drug–related hypoglycemia can be further divided into fasting hypoglycemia, in which hypoglycemia occurs after fasting, and reactive hypoglycemia, in which hypoglycemia occurs as a reaction to eating, usually of carbohydrates. Other hypoglycemia triggers include certain medications; alcohol consumption that blocks the body’s ability to manufacture glucose; and severe illnesses of the liver, such as drug-induced hepatitis. Both the liver and the kidneys are important organs in glucose production, and conditions such as kidney failure, certain cancers, heart failure, hormonal deficiencies, and disorders that result in excessive insulin production can adversely affect glucose levels in the body. In addition, certain disorders in the adrenal glands (Addison's disease) and pituitary gland (hypopituitarism) can result in a deficiency of key hormones that regulate glucose production.
What are the symptoms of hypoglycemia?
When blood glucose levels become low, the symptoms of hypoglycemia develop rapidly. Some people may get warning signs of an attack, which include sweating, nausea, anxiety, rapid and forceful heartbeat. If the levels continue to fall, symptoms include confusion, slurred speech and unsteady movements, similar to drunkenness, and in severe cases, and seizures.
Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best means to control blood sugar and insulin levels associated with hypoglycemia.
Learn about the treatments for
Hypoglycemia
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