Types Of Hypoglycemia - Everything You Need To Know

Blood sugar is an important source of our body's energy that keeps our cells fueled up and brain sharp, allowing us to work throughout the day.

Even a slight up-and-down in their levels can disrupt your entire day and, in the long run, affect your health.

Yes, we are not lying.

And today, we will discuss when these levels drop too low.

Blood sugar levels, if dropped too low, can lead to a condition called Hypoglycemia.

According to the study by NIH (National Institutes Of Health), the prevalence of Hypoglycemia in India is about 57%.

The study further claims that 77.7% of 224 patients were female.

Did you know?

While Hypoglycemia is often associated with Type 2 Diabetes, it can also occur in people without this condition.

Therefore, being cautious is essential.

So, what to do? Dig into the blog to understand Hypoglycemia, its symptoms, types, and coping methods.

What is Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)?

Hypoglycemia is a medical condition caused by a drop in the blood sugar levels. In simple words, if you have diabetes and your blood sugar levels drop lower than 70 mg/dL, and if you are non-diabetic and your blood sugar is lower than 55 mg/dL, it is considered Hypoglycemia.

The condition is further classified into different categories, which you must understand to recognize early and ensure timely intervention.

So, let’s understand the types.

Types Of Hypoglycemia:

• Reactive Hypoglycemia:

What is it?

Also called Postprandial Hypoglycemia, Reactive Hypoglycemia happens when blood sugar levels drop after a few hours of having a meal. While the actual reason why it happens is not always clear, it’s likely to occur because your body releases a surge of insulin to manage blood sugar spikes from carbohydrates.

However, sometimes, this insulin response is way too strong that it causes blood sugar to crash.

What causes Reactive Hypoglycemia?

While researchers have not fully identified the real cause of reactive Hypoglycemia, it usually happens from having too much insulin in the blood. Some possible causes of the condition are:

• Prediabetes: Having prediabetes makes it harder for your body to produce the right amount of insulin.
• High-Carbohydrate Meals: Eating a large and heavy-carb meal is one of the major causes of reactive Hypoglycemia in non-diabetic people.
• Gastrointestinal Surgery: If you have had stomach surgery, it could also affect blood sugar levels, leading to the condition.

Symptoms Of Reactive Hypoglycemia:

• Racing heart
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Trouble sleeping
• Weakness
• Extreme tiredness
• Unusual sweating or shaking

How do you manage it?

• Instead of having a large meal at once, break it into small meals and eat about every 3-4 hours.
• Make sure your diet includes everything from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to dairy and protein.
• Add some physical activity to your day-to-day routine to stay active and keep your blood sugar levels balanced.
• Try to keep a distance from sugary foods and drinks.

• Fasting Hypoglycemia:

A healthy individual when skipping their meals or fasting for a prolonged period, is likely to experience Hypoglycemia, also called Fasting Hypoglycemia. But wait, this is not it; some medical conditions where the body fails to maintain adequate blood sugar levels can cause Fasting Hypoglycemia.

According to NIH, the prevalence of mild to moderate Hypoglycemia is 45%, and severe Hypoglycemia is 6%.

What causes Fasting Hypoglycemia?

• Fasting: As clear from the name, fasting is one of the major causes of Fasting Hypoglycemia, which occurs when you skip meals for a prolonged period. According to NIH, 65% of patients experience Hypoglycemia within 24 hours of fasting, while 93% within 48 hours and 99% within 72 hours.
• Drinking Without Eating: Individuals who drink heavily without eating can experience Fasting Hypoglycemia, as drinking alone in excess can block the formation of glucose in the liver.
• Liver Disease: Some liver diseases like viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and more can also influence blood sugar levels, affecting the liver’s ability to store and produce sufficient glucose.
• Glycogen Storage Disease: Infants and children with abnormal enzyme systems that control glucose can also experience Fasting Hypoglycemia.

Symptoms Of Fasting Hypoglycemia:

• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Sweating
• Confusions

How do you manage it?

• Make sure you have proper meals in short intervals throughout the day to balance your blood sugar and keep yourself energized.
• If you have diabetes, your doctor may recommend a change in your medication or insulin dosage. However, it should never be done without their instructions.

• Nocturnal Hypoglycemia:

When a person’s blood sugar levels drop while sleeping at night, the condition refers to Nocturnal hypoglycemia or Nighttime Hypos. And if we believe the studies, almost half of Hypoglycemia episodes and more than half of severe episodes usually occur at night during sleep. No, this is not it; it can even cause convulsions and coma and has been associated as a major factor in cardiac arrhythmia, resulting in dead-in-bed syndrome or sudden death.

What causes Nocturnal Hypoglycemia?

• Type 1 Diabetes: Low HbA1c levels are usually one of the major causes of Nocturnal hypoglycemia.
• Medium Or High-Intensity Workout: Yes, strenuous exercise during the day can lead to changes in blood sugar levels at night.
• Other Factors: If you are unwell or menstruating, have too much insulin or carbohydrates, drink excessively, change your routine, or are in hot or humid weather, you could have episodes of Nocturnal hypoglycemia.

Symptoms Of Nocturnal Hypoglycemia:

• Restless Sleep
• Sudden slowing or increasing of breath
• Trembling or shaking
• Sleep disturbances
• Racing heart rate

How do you manage it?

• If you have experienced it before or have Type 1 Diabetes, your doctor may advise checking blood sugar levels before going to bed.
• Make sure you don’t just have dinner but a balanced dinner to keep blood sugar levels balanced.
• Since strenuous exercise throughout the day can lead to the problem, adjusting your exercise routine may also be advisable.
• Monitor your alcohol intake, as it decreases the amount of stored glucose, which otherwise contributes to maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, especially at night.
• Understand your risk factors to make sure your blood sugar levels are balanced during the day or night.

In short, it is not wrong to say that Hypoglycemia is common but can be serious, whether you are a diabetic or non-diabetic. Therefore, strictly monitoring your blood sugar levels is highly advised to benefit your health.

Head To Redcliffe Labs For Routine Blood Sugar Test

Routine blood sugar monitoring can go a long way. From helping you keep track to preventing complications, it allows you to take charge of your condition. So, whether you have diabetes, are at risk, have a family history, or your doctor has suggested monitoring blood sugar levels as a part of a routine checkup, get it done with Healthy India Ki Trusted Lab, Redcliffe Labs. We give doorstep sample collection, fast and accurate reports, and a 100% report correctness guarantee.

So, what are you waiting for? Book your Blood Sugar Test or HbA1c Test with Redcliffe Labs now.

Remember, a change in blood sugar levels can have a drastic health impact if left unaddressed, so be proactive and take charge today.