Causes of Hypoglycemia in Diabetics | Physiological factors of healthy people with low sugar | Starvation and Diet | Insufficient water intake | Stressful situations | High refined carbohydrate intake | Great physical activity | Menstruation period | Hypoglycemia in a newborn in the first day of life
Hypoglycemia is a temporary pathological condition characterized by low blood sugar levels. The minimum limit of normal blood glucose concentration is 3.5 mmol / L, values below this level are considered as hypoglycemia. This condition often occurs in diabetes mellitus and is dangerous because it can cause the development of hypoglycemic coma.
Physiological factors of healthy people with low sugar
The physiological causes of low blood glucose can occur in a completely healthy person.
Starvation and Diet
This reason is the most common. If for a long time you refrain from proper nutrition, diet, and then consume carbohydrate products, then the glucose level will begin to rise rapidly, but at the same time it will be quickly consumed to a level lower than normal.
Insufficient water intake
A low blood sugar may indicate a lack of fluid in the body. This leads to a compensatory consumption of blood glucose to support the normal functioning of the body.
Stressful situations
Stress negatively affects the body, activating the endocrine system. This leads to a rapid consumption of glucose in the blood in a short period of time.
High refined carbohydrate intake
An excess of carbohydrates in food leads to an increase in blood sugar and in response to the production of large amounts of insulin by the pancreas, as a result of which the concentration of glucose in the blood can significantly decrease to dangerous levels.
Great physical activity
When performing physical exercises, the body needs more glycogen, and more sugar is consumed. This leads to a physiological decrease in blood glucose.
Menstruation period
Low blood sugar in women occurs due to sharp fluctuations in the levels of progesterone and estrogen. The first hormone normalizes the concentration of glucose, and the second – increases the level of sugar in the blood.
Hypoglycemia in a newborn in the first day of life
Immediately after birth, the baby’s energy needs are covered by maternal glucose, which is stored in a small amount in the umbilical vein. But its rapid consumption leads to a decrease in glucose concentration. This process is observed in the first hours of a baby’s life. Gradually, glucose levels are restored.
Causes of Hypoglycemia in Diabetics
If low blood sugar is observed in diabetics, then the following factors can affect this:
- Untimely food intake. The body requires energy, so it begins to expend sugar from storage – glycogen or starch, which may not be enough to offset the need for glucose.
- Overdose of insulin. An imbalance occurs, the liver breaks down glycogen. The synthesized sugar is sent to the blood to neutralize a high concentration of insulin. Such a mechanism can save the body from hypoglycemia, but for diabetics, the glycogen supply is small, so the risk of lowering blood glucose is automatically increased.