Hypoglycemia Symptoms

Hypoglycemia is an affliction resulting from the body reacting to abnormally large intakes of sugar by secreting too much insulin, thereby depleting blood sugar too much and resulting in glucose levels that have fallen too low to supply the body with enough energy for a person’s daily activities. Hypoglycemia symptoms usually go unnoticed because they tend to occur as a result of improper diabetes medication, and people are liable to think of them as symptoms of diabetes or may disregard them altogether. Proper knowledge of hypoglycemia symptoms is important, as the long-term effects are quite serious. The following is a short list of specific symptoms:

Hunger – when glucose levels fall down as a result of hypoglycemia, the body tends to digest faster in order to provide an immediate replacement; as a result, the person starts to feel hunger pangs faster than normal. In fact, the effects of hypoglycemia greatly mimic the effects of starvation.

Anxiety and Nervousness – a hypoglycemic attack will also result in panic attacks or short periods of anxiety and nervousness characterized by unnecessary shaking and mental tension.

Extreme and random headaches – an expected result of the brain having difficulties, a hypoglycemic person will experience headaches which could further result in difficulties in concentration, apprehension, loss of temper, and mental stress or fatigue.

Perspiration – a person suffering from hypoglycemia will experience increased sweating as well as increased pulse rate and blood pressure, as a result of the body trying to overcompensate for the sudden lack of energy source.

Vertigo, dizzy spells – a direct result of increased blood pressure, a person suffering from hypoglycemic symptoms will feel dizzy as blood vessels constrict, further resulting in difficulties for oxygen to get to the brain.

Drowsiness – a natural result of the brain’s difficulty in obtaining adequate oxygen supply, a person experiencing a hypoglycemia attack will feel fatigued, tired, and sleepy as the brain starts to experience oxygen starvation.

Difficulty in speaking – as expected from a person who is under stress, anxiety and lacking energy for even the most basic of daily activities, a hypoglycemic person will have difficulty in speaking during attacks.

Confusion, Abnormal behavior – All sorts of odd behavior such as muscle twitching, inability to walk straight, depression and/or mania, palpitation and mental confusion matched by dilated pupils.

Convulsions and temporary amnesia – severe cases of hypoglycemia may cause the person suffering from it to experience extreme forms of convulsions followed by retrograde amnesia as the brain starts to fail temporarily, ultimately leading to unconsciousness.

Generally, it is difficult for people to notice the problems immediately or at all, since hypoglycemic symptoms are common in other illnesses, and as such, the person involved may be wrongly diagnosed as suffering from things other than hypoglycemia. The difficulties in finding a correct analysis are further aggravated by the similarities between hypoglycemia symptoms and most neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, clinical depression, and insomnia. Fortunately, the effects of hypoglycemia are generally temporary and will disappear once properly treated.

Quick Tip #1

Recognizing symptoms and onset are vital in remedying your hypoglycemic episode. Keep emegency food and drink items nearby in such situations.

Quick Tip #2

During the occurence of low blood sugar symptoms it is important to not attempt certain activities such as driving, sports, vigorous exercise and heavy work. Wait till you have leveled your blood sugar before resuming such tasks.

Emergency Foods:

Cup of Fat Free Milk

Tablespoon of honey or corn syrup

Fruit juice or Regular soda

2 tablespoons of jam and raisins,

7 small gumdrops

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