Hypoglycemia, the medical term for low blood sugar, can be a dangerous condition if it is not properly treated. This condition often affects people who have diabetes and take medications that increase their insulin levels. Taking too much of the medication, not eating enough, or exerting more energy than usual can all lead to low blood sugar.
Blood sugar is medically referred to as glucose. Glucose plays an important part in the body, as it is a valuable source of energy. It’s found in various types of food, especially carbohydrates, which are the body’s primary source of glucose. After eating foods that contain glucose, it’s absorbed into the bloodstream and is transported to the cells of the body. Insulin, a hormone that is made by the pancreas, helps your cells convert glucose to energy. If you consume more glucose than you actually need, your body stores it in the liver and muscles, or chances it into fat so that it can be used for energy when it is needed.
If you aren’t getting enough glucose, your body can’t perform its normal functions properly. For people who are not taking medications that boost insulin production, there’s enough glucose in their body to maintain blood sugar levels, and the liver can always produce more, if needed. However, for people who are taking medications that increase insulin production, low blood sugar can cause severe problems. If your blood sugar drops to below 70 mg/dL, it is considered low. If not treated promptly, serious side effects, including death, can occur.
If you have been recently diagnosed with diabetes and are taking insulin, it’s important to be aware of the signs of low blood sugar Being aware of the signs of low blood sugar will allow you to seek prompt treatment to raise your blood sugar levels.
What are the signs of low blood sugar? Here are 15 that you need to be aware of.
1. Blurred vision
One of the most obvious symptoms of hypoglycemia is blurred vision. Since your body uses glucose to perform its normal functions, including seeing, your vision can be greatly impacted when your blood sugar levels dip low. Why does blurred vision happen when blood sugar is low? – It’s because fluid may actually be leaking into the lens of the eye, which causes it to swell and change shape, making it harder to see and focus.
