DO YOU KNOW WHAT HYPOGLYCEMIA IS?
It’s when your blood sugar level is lower than normal. While it is mainly associated with diabetes, it can also occur in people who don’t have the disease. Nevertheless, today we are focusing on the Signs & Symptoms of Hypoglycemia.
Does your vision blur? Do your nightmares worsen? Is it possible to have a seizure? We’re talking all that AND more.
#1 Night Sweats
Regular sweating is uncomfortable enough. Sweating while in bed can be absolutely horrifying. Also known as Nocturnal Hypoglycemia, night sweats occur when you have a drop in blood glucose. This is a type of sugar in your body that keeps it functioning properly. In the case of night sweats, your drop in glucose is caused by several factors. If you consume alcohol before going to sleep, your liver can stop producing glucose, causing your body to begin sweating. Excessive exercise shortly before bed can also drain your body from its glucose supply. Night sweats can disturb your snooze. Just try falling asleep with your pillow soaking wet. That’s discomfort to the max. To make things worse, night is not the only time that hypoglycemia causes you to sweat. During the day, if you are sitting in a room with a moderate temperature, your low blood sugar may cause you to break a sweat. Medical professionals have stated that sweating is a symptom of mild low blood sugar when your level is less than 70 mg per deciliter (DL).
#2 Blurred Vision
Another rather alarming symptom of hypoglycemia is blurry vision. This can be both short-term AND long-term.
With short-term blurred vision, a high level of blood sugar can cause fluid to move into your eye. This results in severe swelling which obstructs your vision. This normally goes back to normal once your blood sugar level drops.
With long-term blurred vision, your blood sugar level can fluctuate beyond your control, damaging blood vessels in your eye and hurting your retina.
#3 Hunger
If you suffer from hypoglycemia, you may have feelings of extreme hunger… Even right after you’ve eaten. This acts as a message from your brain that your body is in need of glucose. If you suffer from low blood sugar, you should make meals that balance your glucose out to a healthy level. This means eating food rich in carbohydrates. This way, the carbs will transform into glucose. In the case of extreme hunger brought on by hypoglycemia, health professionals recommend dried fruits and juice.
#4 Anxiety
Is there anything these days that isn’t anxiety-inducing? Simply living life can put you on edge. Well, add hypoglycemia to your list of things to worry about. Low blood sugar is known for sticking people with feelings of severe anxiety. When our levels drop, a hormone called Epinephrine is released. Epinephrine is the neurotransmitter responsible for adrenaline. As a result, your body may react anxiously as a way to protect itself. While a serious symptom, anxiety in relation to hypoglycemia is tricky. For those of us who suffer from anxiety on the regular, it would be difficult to tell whether your anxiety is a reaction to low blood sugar or the product of a panic attack. If you are feeling anxious and unsure of the cause, it is best you consult a health professional.
#5 Dizziness
Like blurred vision and anxiety, dizziness is yet another frightening symptom of hypoglycemia. Many of us have gotten up from the couch and felt disoriented. If you feel this frequently, you might want to check the level of your blood sugar. Hypoglycemia can often leave a person disoriented. If you stand up too quickly, you will have trouble keeping your balance. This occurrence is often accompanied by hot flashes. If your dizziness is frequent, you may want to visit a doctor. You never know when you’ll suddenly faint.
#6 Slurred Speech
This symptom is prevalent in extreme cases of hypoglycemia. To put it simply, if your brain has been deprived of sugar, you will not be able to speak clearly or properly. Imagine trying to make conversation, yet all you can do is slur your words. While the person you're talking to thinks you’ve been drinking, the truth is your blood sugar is just low.
#7 Poor Concentration
Slurred speech is not the only form of disorientation triggered by your brain. Hypoglycemia can also make you feel confused. Focusing on a particular subject is a difficult task, to begin with. Add low blood sugar to the mix, and you have one confused individual. This happens because of the drop in glucose. Since your brain is not receiving the sugar it needs, your thoughts are not computing properly, making it close to impossible to concentrate on any one thing. If low blood sugar is the culprit behind your poor concentration, you may want to eat a meal with steady carbs. This supplies you with the speedy fix you need to get back on track.
#8 Mood Swings
As if the poor concentration wasn’t enough of a burden already… When you’re suffering from hypoglycemia, neurological effects such as mood swings are common. These mood swings include sudden angry outbursts. If you find yourself suddenly crying in random situations, the possibility of low blood sugar is one you shouldn’t ignore.
#9 Nightmares
Remember how we discussed nocturnal hypoglycemia? Well, night sweats are not the only symptom this particular condition is responsible for. If you do happen to fall asleep amidst all your discomfort, a terrifying nightmare is just around the corner. When I say “Nightmare”, I don’t necessarily mean a dream where you’re running away from a killer clown. It could be as simple as an unpleasant thought that has you springing awake in the middle of the night.
#10 Shakiness
A scary dream is not the only thing that can cause you to shake. In the case of low blood sugar, you can start shaking uncontrollably out of the blue. When your glucose level is down, your central nervous system can begin to malfunction. This will trigger the production of a chemical called Catecholamines and bring on symptoms of shakiness.
#11 Seizure
Yes, a seizure is possible if you suffer from low blood sugar. This is one of the most extreme symptoms of hypoglycemia, as it indicates severe low blood sugar. Seizure symptom is much more prevalent among people with diabetes. If a diabetic has recently injected insulin or is taking special medication, a seizure may occur. If you do succumb to a seizure, and nobody is around to help you, the next step could be a coma, which may or may not be fatal.
Do you suffer from hypoglycemia? Have you experienced any of these symptoms? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.
The information I provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. You should never use content in my writing as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or another qualified clinician. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if indicated for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. I am not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information in this blog. Thank you.