Hypoglycaemia

An abnormally low level of glucose in the blood. Almost all cases of hypoglycaemia occur in people with diabetes mellitus, in whom the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, resulting in an abnormally high level of glucose. To lower the blood glucose level, hypoglycaemic drugs or insulin are given. Too high a dose of either can reduce the blood glucose to too low a level. Hypoglycaemia can also occur if a diabetic person misses a meal or takes strenuous exercise. Rarely, the condition can result from drinking too much alcohol or from an insulin-producing pancreatic tumour. The main symptoms include sweating, hunger, dizziness, trembling, headache, palpitations, confusion, and sometimes double vision. Behaviour is often irrational and aggressive. Coma may occur in severe cases. Hypoglycaemia may also be the cause of seizures and jittery behaviour in newborns. Sugar should be eaten at the first sign of a diabetic attack. An injection of either glucose solution or the hormone glucagon may be given in an emergency.