Hypoglycemia Causes

Hypoglycemia occurs when the blood sugar level drops drastically. This article will give you more information on hypoglycemia causes. Read on.

Blood sugar is the amount of sugar (in the form of glucose) present in the body. This glucose is broken down and converted into energy. In case of healthy people, the normal fasting blood sugar levels are between 70 and 99 mg/dL. However, sometimes, the blood sugar level drops below 70 mg/dL due to several reasons. When the blood sugar level drops, the person is said to suffer from hypoglycemia or low blood sugar level. You may be wondering what causes hypoglycemia? Here we will discuss about the possible hypoglycemia causes and symptoms. Let us take a look.

Causes of Hypoglycemia

When the sugar level in the body drops, pancreas secrete another hormone known as glucagon which triggers the release of stored glucose in the liver. This keeps the blood sugar level in a normal range until the person eats again. However, if the person starves for a longer period of time, the blood sugar level drops further more resulting in hypoglycemia. On the other hand, several other factors impair the functioning of the liver leading to hypoglycemia. The following are hypoglycemia causes.

Missed Meals

This is one of the most common causes of hypoglycemia in children and adults. The body requires food to convert it into glucose and energy. When a person starves for a longer period of time, the level of sugar in blood drops leading to hypoglycemia.

Medications

Diabetic medications are used to lower the high blood sugar in the body. Sometimes, people have a larger dose of these medications leading to severe decrease in the blood sugar level, resulting in hypoglycemia. Accidental consumption of diabetic medications (when not suffering from diabetes) also leads to hypoglycemia.

Alcohol Consumption

Excessive alcoholism is one of the most important causes of hypoglycemia in adults. When a person consumes large amount of alcohol without having food, the alcohol directly mixes in the bloodstream. This can block the function of the liver, leading to hypoglycemia.

Liver and Kidney Disorders

Any disorder or abnormality in the functioning of the liver can disturb the process of blood-sugar regulation, resulting in hypoglycemia. On the other hand, disorder in the kidney can cause problems in excretion of certain medications. Hence, kidney disorder can be one of the major causes of low blood sugar.

Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia

This is a condition that develops when there is an unnatural and excess production of insulin in the body. Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia is also believed to be one of the major reactive hypoglycemia causes. Excess insulin the body decreases the blood sugar level, leading to hypoglycemia.

Tumor

Pancreatic tumors are one of the other causes of hypoglycemia without diabetes. The tumors developed in pancreas can trigger off the production of excess insulin or take up extra glucose in the body which can result in hypoglycemia.

If you still wonder what causes hypoglycemia, then the following are other potential causes of hypoglycemia in children and adults:

Use of certain medications such as beta blockers

Severe infection

Liver cancer

Adrenal abnormality

Congenital defects

Now that you know what causes hypoglycemia,you should look out for signs of low blood sugar and it should be diagnosed and treated immediately, as there can be severe underlying causes for it. It is also essential to look out for hypoglycemia signs and symptoms to identify the condition. One of the best self help method or first aid tip when suffering from hypoglycemia is to have sugar, sugar candy, sweets immediately to increase the blood sugar level. In case of severe hypoglycemia, the person may become unconscious. This should be treated as a medical emergency. If a person experiences hypoglycemia on a frequent basis, he/she should consult the doctor immediately for low blood sugar treatment.

This was brief information on hypoglycemia causes. Lastly, one should note that hypoglycemia, in most of the cases, can be prevented by having a balanced diet and following proper dietary habits. Take care!