Low glucose

When the level of sugar in the blood falls outside normal parameters, unpleasant symptoms are experienced. In some cases, the drop in blood sugar or low glucose is usually mild. However, there are situations where these ‘downs’ can be serious . That is why today we will talk to you about low glucose.

What is glucose?

It can be said that glucose is basically the result of the defragmentation of some foods that are eaten . Since, this in essence is sugar, and it is present in many of the foods that we regularly consume.

It should be noted that glucose is formed after the digestive process is carried out in the body. However, not all foods are converted to sugar or glucose . This being the case, foods that contain carbohydrates are those that tend to be converted mainly into this substance.

In cases where sugar levels in the body are usually low, what we call hypoglycemia occurs . On the other hand, when the opposite happens and these sugar levels are found in high amounts in the body, hyperglycemia appears. Thus, the latter is mainly related to the presence of diseases such as diabetes .

Likewise, when glucose levels are within the parameters considered normal, it is usually considered normoglycemia . For this state to occur, these blood sugar levels must remain stable for most of the time.

How is glucose distributed in the body?

As mentioned above, glucose in the body is produced after the digestive process . This is because once the body fulfills this function (specifically in the small intestine), glucose is absorbed into the blood. When this happens, it travels through the bloodstream to different organs of the body.

Among the different organs to which glucose is transported, are mainly the brain as well as the liver. It should be noted that glucose can only reach most organs through insulin . However, both the brain, as well as the nervous system , can obtain this substance without insulin interfering in the process.

In the other organs, the presence of insulin is extremely necessary for this process to be carried out successfully. That is why, when insulin is insufficient in the body, different types of degenerative diseases usually appear. Being diabetes one of the main pathologies , caused by insulin deficiency in the body.

Low blood glucose

There are different methods to find out if you have low blood glucose, or ‘low blood sugar’. However, it is best to see a health professional and have a routine checkup. Keep in mind that if your sugar levels are below 70mg / d, it could be considered that you have low glucose .

Also, to perform a blood sugar test you must be fasting. This means that you should do it in the morning preferably , before having breakfast. Since taking this test after eating food can increase glucose levels, thus distorting the results.

Also, from medical tests, feeling frequent weakness or tiredness can be a sign of low glucose . Let us remember that among the different functions that glucose fulfills, is to provide the necessary energy to our body, for day-to-day activities. If you have any suspicions, it is best to see a health specialist.

Low fasting glucose

As mentioned before, normal fasting glucose levels range from 70 mg / dL to 100 mg / d. In cases where the numbers are lower than these, it is considered that you suffer from low glucose. This is also often referred to as ‘fasting hypoglycemia’.

Low basal glucose

Once the fast has passed, that is, when food has already been consumed, blood sugar is considered as basal glucose. Since, as mentioned above, when eating food, glucose levels tend to increase, being these altered.

Thus, the basal glucose levels considered normal are those that range between 80 and 100 mg / dL. When these levels fall below 70 mg / dL, it can already be considered that there is a low basal glucose pattern. Given this, it is advisable to start medical treatment to compensate for glucose, in order to avoid health complications.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia

Both low blood sugar levels and low glucose levels mean the same as hypoglycemia. The difference is that this last name is usually used mainly within medical terminology. Thus, hypoglycemia is just another term to refer to low levels of glucose or sugar in the blood.

As mentioned above, the best way to know if your blood sugar levels are low is through a medical exam. However, there are different symptoms of low blood sugar that can alert us to this. Thus, among some of them the following:

• Frequent weakness or tiredness.
• Quite irritable mood.
• Excessive sweating
• Tingling in different parts of the body, mainly around the mouth.
• Experiencing abnormal heart rate levels.
• Anxiety, dizziness, and tremors.
• Greater appetite than normal.
• Seizures

If any of these symptoms appear, or if you suspect hypoglycemia, you should go immediately to a specialist in the health area.

Reactive hypoglycemia

Unlike hypoglycemia that usually occurs while fasting, reactive hypoglycemia acts long after eating. Thus, this is also often associated with sudden drops in blood sugar. It should be noted that in most cases, reactive hypoglycemia usually occurs between 3 and 4 hours after eating .

In addition, this type of hypoglycemia is also often known as postprandial hypoglycemia . Likewise, the symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia are also usually quite similar to those of normal hypoglycemia. However, some variations of symptoms may occur, such as:

• Feeling light-headed or unsteady.
• Numbness of different parts of the body.
• Paleness and shivering.
• Headache or trouble seeing clearly.
• Inability to coordinate movements.
• Temporary amnesia

It should be noted that both the presence of symptoms of fasting hypoglycemia as well as reactive hypoglycemia cannot always be accurate indicators of this disease . Many cases, these symptoms are also usually present in other types of pathologies, or are usually caused by poor digestive processes caused by food in poor condition.

Also, the more severe symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as temporary amnesia, seizures, and fainting spells are not very common. This is because these symptoms appear in situations where glucose levels are too low. These fairly low figures can be considered between 30 and up to 20mg / dL.

That is why, once again, it is advisable to see a doctor in case of suspecting the presence of hypoglycemia in the body. Since, only through a medical evaluation and an examination, it will be possible to know with certainty if you have this disease . In addition, hypoglycemia at fairly low levels can be quite harmful to health.

Causes of hypoglycemia

The causes that can produce hypoglycemia can be quite varied. In addition, it is believed that hypoglycemia may be more common in people with some type of diabetes than in those without this disease. In the case of people who do not suffer from diabetes, the onset of hypoglycemia can be caused by the following causes:

• Eat a diet where the sugar levels ingested are too low.
• Due to different types of deficiencies in the body, such as kidney or liver.
• For problems related to the heart system.
• Due to hormonal problems, especially those related to growth hormone.
• Due to excessive alcohol consumption.
• Due to pathologies that can produce excessive levels of insulin in the body.
• Not having a fixed schedule to eat, or skipping some meals of the day.
• Perform intense exercise practices.

In people with diabetes, the causes of hypoglycemia can be related to various factors, such as:

• Injecting excess doses of insulin (in case it is being used for the treatment of diabetes).
• Some side effects produced by different medications to treat diabetes (mainly sulfonylureas , as well as meglitinides).
• Eat a low carbohydrate diet .
• Not keeping track of diet or physical activity that compensates for the doses of drugs to treat diabetes.
• In some cases, children of women with diabetes may experience hypoglycemia at birth.

What are the proper blood sugar levels?

As mentioned before, adequate blood sugar levels range from 70 to 100 mg / dL. However, you can also look up information on the internet or with a healthcare professional about chart blood sugar levels. That way, you can be more certain about dangerous blood sugar levels.

What to do before a drop in sugar?

In the event that you experience a drop in blood sugar, it is advisable to seek to increase your glucose levels while you wait for medical attention. For this, you can eat some foods that contain high levels of sugar , such as carbohydrates or carbonated drinks.

Once this is done, it is advisable to sit down and wait between 10 or 15 minutes for the sugar to act in the body. In case of not experiencing improvement or if the symptoms get worse, you should go to the hospital in an emergency.

It should be noted that the above recommendations should be applied in cases where you do not have diabetes. In the case of people with diabetes, it is recommended to contact a health professional immediately, and follow the indications prescribed by the doctor.

How to avoid the occurrence of hypoglycemia

There are some recommendations that can be taken into account to avoid the appearance of hypoglycemia. Thus, among some of them the following:

In case of not suffering from diabetes

Those who do not have diabetes can more easily take care of the development of fasting hypoglycemia, as well as reactive hypoglycemia . For this, it is enough to follow some basic instructions, such as:

• Eat a balanced diet where you consume enough carbohydrates, as well as protein and fiber.
• Include snacks during the day’s meals (so you can avoid frequent drops in blood sugar).
• Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages in excess.
• Avoid consuming high amounts of sugar. Since, high levels of sugar in the blood can cause diseases capable of triggering the onset of hypoglycemia.

In case of diabetes

Those who suffer from this disease may have greater complications to avoid the appearance of hypoglycemia. That is why, for diabetics, the following is mainly recommended:

• Follow in a timely manner the treatment prescribed by the doctor.
• Implement the use of a continuous glucose monitor.
• Strictly follow the diet recommended by the nutritionist.
• It is advisable to have a carbohydrate or product that increases your glucose in case of low blood sugar. It should be noted that you should first consult with your doctor about the use of these foods in emergencies.

Remember to go to the doctor regularly

There are diseases that can develop without us realizing it, and many times when we realize it it is too late. This is why it is advisable to go to the doctor frequently and have routine examinations and check-ups .

That way, you can know how your health is on a regular basis. And if you know for sure if you suffer from low glucose, or some other health condition, you can begin to follow the appropriate treatment at an early stage of the disease.