Definition:
Hypoglycemia can be defined as having blood sugar levels below the normal level. The normal sugar blood level in healthy people is, while in diabetic patients it’s below 4 mmol/L (72mg/dL)
Hypoglycemia in not a disease, it is a state and can be an indication of an underlying disease.
Importance of glucose:
In order for the body to carry out its functions it needs a source of energy. This source of energy is provided by glucose. The body uses glucose to carry out many important functions such as cellular respiration to provide energy needed for metabolism.
The primary source of glucose comes from our diet in the form of carbohydrates. Our body is able to digest carbohydrates into glucose molecules. Glucose can then …show more content…
The body uses this glycogen when the primary source of glucose (diet) is deficient; to ensure that blood sugar levels do not drop dramatically. When this store runs out, the body is able to breakdown stored fats and protein for energy. The human brain is highly reliant on glucose for its normal physiological function; it requires a constant supply of glucose and consumes about 20% of the energy derived from glucose ranking it as the top organ that consumes glucose. However, unlike other organs, the brain is unable to derive energy from sources other than carbohydrates, and it has glycogen storage therefore any prolonged deficiency in glucose is detrimental to the …show more content…
Causes of Hypoglycemia:
In diabetics:
Diabetic patients that are taking insulin, sulfonylurea or biguanides (metformin) are prone to hypoglycemia if they forget to eat, consume alcohol, or exercised more than usual. As mentioned previously insulin aids in the absorption of glucose. Hypoglycemia due to medications usually occurs if a high dose of drug is taken.
Furthermore, certain medications (such as B-Blockers) taken concurrently with insulin can mask the symptoms of hypoglycemic shock, leading to exacerbation in the condition as the patient will be unaware of hypoglycemia (does not feel hunger, palpitations, sweating...) and will not try to treat it by eating foods.
In healthy people, hypoglycemia can occur due to several reasons:
• Certain medications: either a person that has no diabetes person taking diabetes medications or some medications that can cause hypoglycemia such as quinine