Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a low level of blood sugar. A person may tremble, feel nervous or jittery, break out in a cold sweat, have a headache, or feel sick to his or her stomach.

If blood sugar, also called glucose, continues to fall, a person may experience mood changes, such as irritability, anxiety, restlessness, anger, or confusion. And he or she may have symptoms such as weakness, blurred vision, dizziness, fatigue, and poor coordination.

Hypoglycemia may also result from taking certain medicines or drinking alcohol. It can also be caused by certain health problems, such as not processing carbohydrates properly or having an enzyme deficiency. Sometimes the cause is unknown.

Treatment for a sudden (acute) episode of hypoglycemia involves eating or drinking some form of sugar to restore blood sugar to a normal level. Episodes of hypoglycemia caused by a health condition are treated the same way. But to prevent future episodes of hypoglycemia, treatment or cure of the long-term condition is needed.