Low blood sugar, or hypoglycaemia, is most often caused by a lack of sugar in the bloodstream. When blood sugar levels become too low the brain tells the body to release insulin from the pancreas in order to raise them back to normal levels. A slow heartbeat, dizziness, shaking, increased hunger and confusion are some of the symptoms people experience when they have low blood sugar. Read on for more information about this condition.

What is Low Blood Sugar?

There are a lot of different things that can cause low blood sugar, but the most common cause is diabetes. When your body can't make enough insulin, it causes your blood sugar to drop. This can happen if you skip a meal, drink too much alcohol, or exercise too hard.

Symptoms of low blood sugar include feeling hungry, shaky, or dizzy. You might also have a headache, sweat a lot, or feel anxious or confused. If your blood sugar gets too low, you could pass out or have a seizure.

If you think you have low blood sugar, eat or drink something with sugar in it right away. Once your blood sugar goes up, the symptoms should go away. If they don't, or if you have any other questions, call your doctor.

Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar

When your blood sugar (glucose) levels are too low, it's called hypoglycemia. A blood sugar level of 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or lower is considered low and can make you feel shaky, nervous, sweaty, hungry, and dizzy. You may have trouble concentrating. You might even pass out.

Hypoglycemia is often caused by not eating enough, skipping a meal, or exercising more than usual. It can also be caused by drinking alcohol or taking certain medicines.

Skipping A Meal: When you skip a meal, your blood sugar levels can drop. This can cause you to feel shaky, dizzy, and weak. You may also have trouble concentrating. If you have diabetes, skipping meals can be especially dangerous. It can cause your blood sugar levels to drop too low, which can lead to serious health problems.
Exercising more than usual: If you find yourself exercising more than usual, it could be a sign of low blood sugar. When blood sugar drops, the body releases hormones that signal the liver to release stored glucose. This can cause an increase in appetite and make you feel sluggish. Other symptoms of low blood sugar include shakiness, sweating, and dizziness. If you think you might have low blood sugar, it's important to check your levels with a glucometer and seek medical attention if necessary.
Drinking Alcohol: Low blood sugar level can also be caused by consuming alcohol and taking certain medicines which are not prescribed by your doctor.

If you have diabetes, you're at risk for low blood sugar if you take insulin or other diabetes medications that help your body use glucose for energy. Low blood sugar can also happen if the pancreas produces too much insulin when you eat. This is more likely to happen if you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes and take insulin or other medications that stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas.

Causes of Low Blood Sugar

There are several possible causes of low blood sugar, including:

Eating too much sugar
Not eating enough food
Exercising too much
Certain medications or medical conditions

If you think you may be experiencing low blood sugar, it's important to talk to your doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

Treatments for Low Blood Sugar

There are a few different ways that you can treat low blood sugar. One way is to eat or drink something that will raise your blood sugar levels quickly. This could be something like fruit juice, hard candy, honey, or milk. It's important to eat or drink these things slowly so that your blood sugar doesn't spike too high.

Another way to treat low blood sugar is to take a glucose tablet or gel. These are typically available at your local pharmacy. They come in different strengths, so make sure you get the right one for you.

If you have low blood sugar often, you might want to talk to your doctor about getting a glucagon emergency injection kit. This hormone causes a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. It's only used in emergencies, though, so you would need someone else to give it to you if you were unable to do it yourself.