hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is the medical term for abnormally low levels of glucose in the blood. Glucose is one of the body's main sources of energy, especially for the brain, so when the level drops too low, the body can no longer work normally. In many medical settings, a blood sugar level below 70 mg/dL is treated as a warning sign, though the exact point can vary from person to person. The symptoms can be mild at first, such as shakiness, sweating, hunger, dizziness, or headache, but they can become much more serious, leading to confusion, trouble speaking, seizures, or loss of consciousness.

People often connect hypoglycemia with diabetes, and that makes sense because insulin and some other diabetes medicines can lower blood sugar too much. But it is not limited to people with diabetes. It can also happen after long periods without food, after heavy exercise without enough carbohydrate intake, or because of certain illnesses that affect how the body controls sugar.

When blood sugar falls, the body tries to fix the problem by releasing hormones such as glucagon, which tells the liver to release stored glucose. If that response is too slow, or if the cause is not corrected, the situation can become dangerous. In a simple sense, it is a kind of fuel shortage for the brain, because the brain depends heavily on glucose to keep working well.

Recognizing the symptoms and acting quickly is important. A common first step is the "15-15 rule": take 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, such as fruit juice, regular soda, or glucose tablets, and then check again after 15 minutes. If the person is severely confused, having a seizure, unconscious, or not getting better, emergency medical help is needed. Understanding the causes, signs, and treatment of hypoglycemia can help people respond quickly and avoid serious harm.