Hypoglycemia is what? Hypoglycemia: symptoms, causes, signs, treatment, diet

The state of constant fatigue, nausea and headaches are many people. And sometimes when addressing a doctor with such symptoms, the patient hears a diagnosis: "hypoglycemia." This disease is mainly found in diabetics, but it can lead to unpleasant consequences in healthy people . It is connected with the fact that the level of glucose in the blood is very important for the normal functioning of all organs and systems of the body, and especially for the work of the brain. A hypoglycemia is a decrease in this level below the norm. In recent years, due to malnutrition, entrainment with various diets and alcoholic beverages, this condition occurs more often.

Why hypoglycemia is dangerous

All organs need energy for work, which they can get during the splitting of sugar. And the brain most of all needs it. Increased demand for glucose is also observed in cases of high physical and mental stress, stress. With a lack of sugar in the blood, memory, vision, slowing of the reaction and loss of coordination are observed. In severe cases, irreversible death of brain cells occurs, leading to the death of a person. And the organism can receive glucose only from food at splitting of sugars and carbohydrates. Therefore, very often the condition of hypoglycemia occurs with malnutrition. The metabolism in the body is arranged so that unspent glucose is deposited in the liver and muscles and used as needed. Such a mechanism is an indication of how important it is for normal life activity.

Causes of hypoglycemia

All metabolic processes in humans take place with the participation of hormones. And for the normal assimilation of carbohydrates and their conversion into glucose, insulin is very important. Hypoglycemia occurs most often in cases when a given substance is produced too much. Most often it happens with diabetes mellitus because of the intake of special drugs. But hypoglycemia can occur in other cases:

• With the wrong metabolism and pathologies of the adrenal glands;
• If there is a violation of liver function, cirrhosis or abnormal enzyme production;
• After prolonged fasting;
• With cardiac and renal insufficiency;
• During severe infectious diseases;
• With malnutrition with an excessive intake of carbohydrate food, which causes the body to get used to producing a lot of insulin;
• After strong physical exertion, for example, while playing sports;
• At abusing alcoholic beverages, which also require a lot of insulin for their assimilation;
• After taking some medicines. In addition to special means for treating diabetes, salicylates, quinine and sulfur preparations can cause hypoglycemia syndrome;
• With the development of a tumor or other abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract.

Hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus

If people who do not need to control blood sugar rarely connect their ailments with its low content, then diabetics should know what hypoglycemia is. This condition they can develop in a short time and quickly lead to a loss of consciousness and even death. Therefore, it is very important for them to comply with all the doctor's recommendations and the exact dosage of medication. After a sharp decrease in the level of sugar most often occurs in those who have insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Hypoglycemia in this case is the result of improper dosing of drugs or non-compliance with diet. If this happens often, then you need to consult a doctor about changing the treatment schedule. But it happens that hypoglycemia develops in type 2 diabetes. This can occur with an overdose of hypoglycemic drugs, if the diet is not adhered to or increased physical exertion. In patients with impaired renal function, a sharp decrease in the level of sugar is also possible.

What drugs can cause hypoglycemia?

Sometimes this condition is a consequence not only of malnutrition, but also the use of certain drugs in large doses. What means can lead to a drop in the sugar level?

• Insulin injections;
• Sulfonamide-containing hypoglycemic preparations;
• Salicylates in elevated doses, for example, "Aspirin";
• Sometimes hypoglycemia can be a side effect after taking such drugs as Diabinez, Amaril, Glucotro, Pranin, Yanuvia and others.

What you need to know for people with diabetes

Diabetics should strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations. You need to know that hypoglycemia develops very quickly, and sometimes its first symptoms can be overlooked. A sharp decrease in blood sugar is very dangerous for the body and can lead to a loss of consciousness and coma. Especially often this condition occurs in people who exceed doses of insulin preparations. Patients should also remember that you should not skip meals, eat very little and expose yourself to intense physical stress on an empty stomach. Diabetics should always carry products that can quickly raise the level of sugar, or glucose in tablets. And when the first symptoms of hypoglycemia appear, you need to eat a couple of caramels, 2-3 slices of sugar, a spoonful of honey, and drink half a glass of fruit juice or any sweet drink. It is necessary to regularly check the blood sugar level and when leaving the house to take a bracelet or a card with medical information about your illness and the necessary medications. After all, the symptoms of hypoglycemic coma are not known to everyone, and help in this case must be provided immediately.

How is the disease manifested?

Each person has different symptoms of the disease. It depends on the state of health, the causes of the decrease in sugar and the degree of development of hypoglycemia. Usually, in a mild form of the disease, a person experiences the following symptoms:

• Profuse sweating;
• A strong sense of hunger;
• Tingling or numbness of lips and fingertips;
• cardiopalmus;
• Muscle weakness or trembling of limbs;
• Pallor of the face.

With the chronic form of the disease, depression, irritability, feelings of anxiety and sleep disturbances can develop. A person experiences constant fatigue, a sense of fear, often yawns. He may have high blood pressure, headaches and angina attacks. In severe cases of hypoglycemia, the patient's behavior changes, speech confusion, coordination of movement and visual disturbances can be observed.

Symptoms of hypoglycemic coma

With a sharp decrease in sugar, and also in those cases when a person does not take any measures when the first symptoms of the disease appear, severe brain damage may occur. Cramps appear, the patient may lose consciousness or fall into a coma. His friends and relatives should know the signs of this condition, so that urgent help can be provided on time. How can one understand that a person who has lost consciousness falls into a hypoglycemic coma?

• He has increased sweating;
• Heart palpitations and tachycardia;
• Body temperature and pressure decrease;
• The patient loses sensitivity to external stimuli, even to pain;
• He is very pale;
• Can also be observed seizures.

Urgent care

In case of loss of consciousness, people should immediately call an ambulance.

If possible, it is advisable to inject glucose or glycogen, a hormone that quickly increases the level of sugar. You can turn the patient sideways and gently place a little honey or glucose gel on the cheek. Even with an inaccurate diagnosis, this does not do much harm as low blood glucose. If the patient is conscious, then help with hypoglycemia is to let him eat something sweet, along with complex carbohydrates, which will not allow sugar to fall further. With a light form, just a couple of sweets or some fruit juice. It is undesirable for this purpose to use sweet fizzy drinks, since they contain sweeteners. Usually, people with diabetes carry a few pieces of sugar or glucose in tablets.

Prevention of hypoglycemia

To prevent the occurrence of this condition, you must observe the correct diet, do not get involved in low-calorie diets and avoid overstrain and stress. And patients with diabetes, should know that hypoglycemia is a dangerous condition caused by a decrease in blood sugar, and constantly use a glucometer.

They need to follow a special diet, for example, "table 9". When diabetes is very important not to skip meals and be sure to eat something after exercise and taking insulin. Such people who are at risk for hypoglycemia always need to wear glucose tablets or several pieces of sugar. In the diet should necessarily be present complex carbohydrates, such as cereals, fruit or grain bread. Only they can ensure a regular normal blood sugar level.

Hypoglycemia in children

Most often, this condition is associated with congenital insufficiency of hepatic enzymes or endocrine disorders. Low sugar is very dangerous for the health of the child, as it causes a slowdown in mental and physical development and can lead to death. It is especially difficult to diagnose the disease in infants.

Hypoglycemia in a newborn can appear for many reasons. Most often these are congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract, tumors or hormonal imbalance. If the mother is sick with diabetes and took insulin during pregnancy, it can also cause hypoglycemia in the baby after birth. Often this condition occurs in preterm infants. It is very important to provide the child with medical help on time. And parents of older children suffering from hypoglycemia should carefully monitor their diet: it is necessary to exclude animal proteins and starch, there should be more fruits and whole grains in the diet, and the baby should be taken as often as possible in small portions.