What causes Hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia occurs due to number of reasons, the most common being a side effect of drugs used for the treatment of diabetes.

What causes Hypoglycemia?
  • on fast meals/snacks skipped or delayed or taken too small,
  • taking too much diabetes medicine,
  • more exercising or physical activity than usual,
  • too much alcoholic beverages or have at empty stomach
  • Sometimes, medicines you take for other health problems.
Hypoglycemia can make you feel weak, confused, irritable, hungry, or tired. You may sweat a lot or get a headache.
Hectic physical activity or exercise may cause hypoglycemia.
Physical activity has many benefits for people with diabetes, including lowering blood glucose levels. However, physical activity may even cause hypoglycemia up to 24 hours afterwards of hectic exercise, so
  • checking blood glucose before sports, exercise, or other physical activity and having a snack if the level is below 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
  • adjusting medication before physical activity
  • checking blood glucose at regular intervals during extended periods of physical activity and having snacks as needed
  • checking blood glucose periodically after physical activity (hypoglycemia can even happen after a day of intensive physical activity).
Some Oral pills may cause hypoglycemia
  • Sulfonylurea (chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase), tolazamide, tolbutamide)
  • D-Phenylalanine Derivative (nateglinide (Starlix))
  • Meglitinide (repaglinide (Prandin))
  • DPP-4 Inhibitor (sitagliptin (Januvia))
Certain combination pills can also cause hypoglycemia, that contain any of the above said products, such as: glipizide, glyburide, glimepiride, glimepiride,or sitagliptin.
Some injectable medications may cause low blood sugar
  • Pramlintide (Symlin), which is used along with insulin
  • Exenatide (Byetta), which can cause hypoglycemia when used in combination with chlorpropamide, glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide, tolazamide, and tolbutamide.
Any pills or injectable medicine that increase insulin production, may cause the risk of hypoglycemia.

Popular posts from this blog

What is a Diabetic Diet?

You need to start a  diabetic diet  if you currently have diabetes or are concerned that you may be at risk. You can make a big difference in your life by exercising, watching your weight and eating healthy. Eating healthy comes down to these three things: What, when and how much you eat. Carbohydrates Even though they have a huge affect on your sugar levels, you don’t need to avoid them. You simply have to be aware about the types of carbohydrates you’re having and learn how to balance them in your diabetic diet. Simple vs. Complex Carbs include the simple sugars as well as complex fibers and starches. The body converts the carbohydrates into glucose which your body needs for fuel. •        Simple carbs: These include fruit in addition to certain vegetables. But simple carbs also include those found in refined and processed foods that have little or no nutritional value. Some of these are candy, soda, snack foods and also white products like white rice and white flour. •        Comple
Read more

Diet For Diabetes Mellitus

Now, We will try to explain about how to manage the diet for Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is a disease that characterised by hyperglycaemia, whether it is cause by deficiency of insulin in the human body or diminished effectiveness of insulin it self. There are many cases why the insulin become inactive and hence induces hyperglycaemia, for example due to over production of other hormones which are antagonistic to Insulin such as glucagon, hormones of the pituitary, adrenaline and thyroid. Also due to increased production of substances which inactivate insulin (insulinase and insulin antagonists present in plasma. The disease is chronic and affects the metabolism of carbohydrate, protein, fat, water and electrolytes. Diabetic Diet for diabetics patient is simply a balanced healthy diet which is vital for diabetic treatment, but sometime many people are they don't understand that these diet consist only diabetic foods. Diabetes mellitus is often found to be associated wit
Read more

Checking Blood Sugar Levels

If you are a diabetic then checking blood sugar levels is a vital part of your daily regimen. It is important regardless of which form of diabetes you may have but especially so if you are suffering from Type 1 diabetes. This is because in Type 1 diabetes you need to furnish the correct amount of insulin yourself as the body is no longer capable of performing this function. Glucose is our body’s main fuel supply. However, if there is too much or not enough glucose in your blood it can have a negative impact on the body. This is why it is so important for a diabetic to monitor blood sugar levels. Symptoms of High Blood Sugar If a test reveals there is too much sugar in the blood you can develop hyperglycemia. In someone without diabetes, the hormone insulin helps maintain normal blood sugar levels. However, diabetics aren’t that lucky so having too much or not enough sugar can spell trouble because their bodies stopped producing insulin, stopped producing enough of it or their bod
Read more