Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)

Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, is a common side effect of diabetes but also can occur in people without diabetes. 

Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar

Low blood sugar can occur suddenly. Be aware of the following symptoms:

Causes of Hypoglycemia

For people with diabetes, low blood sugar is caused by too much insulin in the blood, which can occur with eating too little, skipping meals or participating in unplanned exercise.

In people who do not have diabetes, low blood sugar can be caused by a variety of factors, including alcohol consumption, infections and some medications or health conditions.

Hypoglycemia Treatment

If you are being treated for diabetes, use your blood glucose meter and take actions as recommended by your doctor, such as drinking juice, eating something or taking glucose tablets to raise your blood sugar.

If you do not have diabetes, it is time to talk to Mercy doctor about your symptoms. Your Mercy provider will help you get blood sugar levels under control and keep you from having further complications.