Hypoglycemia – Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis
A healthcare provider usually starts by checking a person’s symptoms and asking about their health history. If someone uses insulin or other drugs that lower blood sugar, they need to check blood glucose right away with a glucose meter.
When levels drop below 70 mg/dL, that’s a strong sign hypoglycemia could be happening. People should write down their blood sugar readings and how they treated low levels.
By doing this, providers can make better decisions about diabetes care. For those not taking medicines that cause hypoglycemia, the provider asks about symptoms and what happened right before.
Common signs that help with the diagnosis:
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Weakness | Feeling tired or faint |
| Blurred vision | Trouble seeing clearly |
| Shakiness | Hands or body trembling |
| Sweating | Unusual perspiration |
| Confusion | Trouble thinking clearly |
If symptoms aren’t present during the visit, the provider might ask the person to fast to trigger symptoms for testing. Sometimes, this fasting lasts overnight or even up to 72 hours, but it always happens under close medical supervision.
During an episode, a blood test checks the exact glucose level and sees if it matches the symptoms. If symptoms show up after eating, the provider may take blood samples after a meal.
Providers also keep an eye on insulin levels and watch for insulin reactions. People might use continuous glucose monitoring devices for better tracking. The main goal is to see if symptoms go away as blood sugar returns to normal.
Treatment
Fast Ways to Raise Low Blood Sugar
When blood sugar drops too low, you have to act quickly. Eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of sugar that your body can absorb right away.
Glucose tablets, regular soda (not diet), fruit juice, honey, or hard candy work well because they don’t have protein or fat to slow things down. After eating or drinking fast-acting sugar, check your blood sugar again in 15 minutes.
If it’s still under 70 mg/dL, take another 15 to 20 grams of sugar. Repeat this until your blood sugar is back in the safe zone. Once you’re stable, eat a snack or meal to keep sugars steady and bring your energy back.
Snacks with both complex carbs and protein last longer and help control sugar better.
Key steps:
- Eat or drink fast-acting carbohydrate (15–20g)
- Check blood sugar after 15 minutes
- Repeat if still too low
- Eat a snack or meal after recovery
Getting Help for Dangerous Low Blood Sugar
If someone can’t eat or drink because their blood sugar is very low and they’re confused, pass out, or have a seizure, you need to act fast. You can inject glucagon to raise blood sugar quickly.
Families of people with diabetes who take insulin should always have a glucagon kit nearby. People close to the person should know how and when to use a glucagon kit—quick treatment could save a life.
Never try to feed someone who’s unconscious; it’s just not safe. If you don’t have glucagon, call for emergency help right away.
What to do:
- Give a glucagon shot if trained to do so
- Don’t try to feed an unconscious person
- Call emergency services if needed
Addressing the Root Cause
To prevent more episodes, you have to find out what triggered the low blood sugar. Healthcare providers might review meal plans to make sure someone eats regularly and gets enough nutrients.
They could suggest seeing a dietitian for extra support. Some diabetes medications—like insulin or sulfonylureas—raise the risk for hypoglycemia. Doctors may adjust these medications or dosages to lower the risk.
If another health problem, like a pancreatic tumor, is causing low blood sugar, surgery or special medicines might be needed. Seeing your healthcare provider regularly keeps diabetes management safer and more effective.
Getting Ready for Your Medical Visit
Getting ready ahead of time helps you and your doctor figure out what’s causing symptoms like low blood sugar, confusion, dizziness, seizures, or shakiness.
Here are some ways to organize info before your visit:
- Symptom Tracker: Write down every time you have symptoms like extreme hunger, sweating, headache, blurred vision, anxiety, weakness, or feeling faint. Include when it happened, how often, and what you were doing before symptoms started.
Medical Information Table:
| Information to Record | Example |
| Other health issues |
Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, adrenal insufficiency, sepsis, insulinoma, starvation, etc. |
| All medications and doses |
Insulin, corticosteroids, vitamins, caffeine, epinephrine, etc. |
| Supplement use | Any vitamins, minerals, or herbal products |
| Recent blood sugar readings | List dates and results |
| Schedule of medication administration | Time and dose of insulin or other medication |
- Daily Habits: List your usual routines—meals, exercise, alcohol or caffeine use. Mention any recent changes to physical activity or work hours. These changes can affect sugar levels or bring on symptoms like paleness, fatigue, or heart palpitations.
-
Questions: Write down questions for your doctor, such as:
- What could be causing my low blood sugar?
- How should I handle seizures, blurred vision, or fatigue if they happen again?
- Are my symptoms related to adrenal problems or insulinoma?
- Should I adjust the amount or timing of carbs in my diet?
- Can changes in physical activity or caffeine use affect my symptoms?
Tip: Bring a friend or family member—they can help remember important info and instructions, especially if you feel confused or weak during the visit.
What Your Health Care Provider Might Do and Ask
At your appointment, your provider will look over the information you collected and ask for more details.
They might ask questions like:
- When do your symptoms, like low sugar, convulsions, or paleness, usually happen?
- What makes symptoms like weakness, dizziness, or shakiness better or worse?
- Have you ever lost consciousness or needed help because of your symptoms?
- Are you taking any medications that could affect blood sugar, like insulin or steroids?
- Have you been diagnosed with hormonal conditions such as adrenal insufficiency?
Your provider may check recent test results and ask about patterns in your sugar levels and heart rate.
They might talk about possible causes, from skipped meals and hard exercise to stress, caffeine use, or underlying problems like infections or changes in cortisol and adrenaline.
Table: Symptoms to Mention
| Symptom | Examples |
|---|---|
| Nervous system | Confusion, headache, seizures, loss of consciousness, coma, convulsions |
| Physical changes | Sweating, shakiness, pale skin, heart palpitations, weakness, extreme hunger |
| Vision or mental | Blurred vision, anxiety, irritability |
