What Is Hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia is a condition when your blood sugar levels drop too low. For individuals living with diabetes, this occurs when your blood sugar drops below 4.0 mmol/L. It generally occurs in people with Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes who are taking insulin or certain medications.
For someone without diabetes, this number is individualized based on symptoms but is typically seen when your blood sugar drops below 3.1 mmol/L. Hypoglycemia rarely occurs without diabetes unless an underlying medical condition is present. If you have concerns about low blood sugar levels or symptoms of low blood sugar, make sure to discuss this with your doctor.
Hypoglycemia without diabetes can occur when you are fasting, going too long between meals, or after a meal.
What causes hypoglycemia in people without diabetes?
- Weight-loss surgery
- Certain medications
- Drinking alcohol
- Certain illnesses that affect the kidneys or liver
- Problems with the pancreas
- Certain hormone conditions
What are some signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia?
- Shakiness
- Increased hunger
- Feeling tired or lack of energy
- Headache
- Fast or pounding heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Mental fogginess or lack of concentration
- Blurred vision
What can I do to prevent hypoglycemia?
If you are experiencing frequent episodes of hypoglycemia, check in with your doctor first to identify and treat potential causes of low blood sugar. In the meantime, consuming frequent small meals throughout the day may prevent your blood sugar from dropping too low. Balanced options to choose from include:
- 1 small apple with 1-2 Tbsp nut butter
- Greek yogurt
- ½ cup low-fat cottage cheese with 1 cup berries
- 2 clementine oranges and a ¼ cup mixed nuts
- 5 whole grain crackers with 28 g low-fat cheese