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Reactive Hypoglycemia - Causes
Hypoglycemia refers to LOW blood sugar. This common problem can be experienced by people without a significant medical disease and by those with a more serious underlying illness.
CAUSES OF HYPOGLYCEMIA
1. DRUG SIDE EFFECT
2. ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY (rare)
3. POST-PRANDIAL HYPOGLYCEMIA (low blood sugar shortly after a meal)
4. EXERTIONAL HYPOGLYCEMIA (low blood sugar after a period of exertion )
5. FASTING HYPOGLYCEMIA (low blood sugar with "skipping meals")
6. ALCOHOL INDUCED (alcohol inhibits the liver's ability to convert glycogen to glucose)
7. INSULIN OVERDOSE (may not be related to an actual "overdose" but may relate more commonly and secondarily to a skipped meal in a diabetic patient)
Common symptoms of low blood sugar include: sudden sweating, nausea, faintness or fainting, flushed feeling, weakness, and rapid heart rate. This can proceed to loss of consciousness and seizures. Low blood sugar at night (during sleep) can cause interrupted sleep and nightmares. Evaluation can include either a quick fingerstick blood sugar test, or a blood glucose level to confirm the diagnosis. Using the fingerstick test, a small drop of blood is placed onto a color coded, chemical testing strip. The color (compared to a color key) of the paper strip will correlate with the approximate blood sugar level. This test is routinely used by diabetic patients at home and is available at your local pharmacy. Reversal of symptoms with oral sugar (juice or cola) or IV glucose, also confirms the diagnosis. Glucose tolerance testing can help diagnose post-prandial hypoglycemia and fasting hypoglycemia. Blood tests for blood chemistry can reveal abnormalities, suggesting adrenal gland insufficiency.
Treatment, regardless of the cause, requires either oral or IV glucose--depending on the patients level of alertness. Patients who are unconscious, or exhibit decreased sensibilities SHOULD NOT be forced to drink fluids (aspiration may compromise breathing). In this situation, glucose "paste" can be put under the tongue when patients are still awake but unable to drink. The treatment of choice [in this situation] is with IV administration of glucose; however, this is not always readily available. People with exertional hypoglycemia must be sure to snack or imbibe sugar containing fluids, if they plan to be active. Post-prandial hypoglycemics function better with smaller, more frequent meals. Diabetics on a fixed insulin schedule CANNOT afford to miss a meal. See your doctor for evaluation of any of these problems.
Hope this article will provide you inoformation about hypoglycemia.
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