Hypoglycemia. Low blood glucose

(Low blood glucose)

A condition of low glucose in the blood. Hypoglycemia is caused by: 1) taking too much insulin or oral diabetic medications; 2) not eating or drinking enough; 3) liver disease; 4) a insulin producing tumor of the pancreas; 5) drinking alcohol. Sometimes no cause is found. If severe and untreated it can lead to stroke and death.

Symptoms:
Hunger, irritability, confusion, unconsciousness, sweating, death.

Treatment:
Treatment ranges from a meal, oral glucose (sugar), glucagon, to intravenous glucose to raise the glucose level in the blood stream. The cause of the low blood sugar needs to be removed to prevent recurrence.

Other tests depend on the cause of the low glucose.