What is hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia is defined as low blood glucose of 70 mg/dL or below.

Causes:

  • Too much insulin or diabetes pills
  • Not enough food, skipped or late meals
  • Unusual amount of exercise

Symptoms:

  • Feeling shaky
  • Cold sweat
  • Erratic/fast heartbeat
  • Headache
  • Hunger
  • Uneasy feeling/anxious
  • Irritability
  • Slurred speech
  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion
  • Poor coordination
  • Behavior change (i.e. combative, belligerent)

Call your doctor if:

  • You have hypoglycemia for no known reason or if it happens more than once a week

Call 911 if:

You are diagnosed with hypoglycemia and you experience loss of consciousness or possible seizures.