Low Blood Sugar Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore: These Warning Signs Can Strike Without Diabetes
Plus learn how to bring your levels up to a healthy range fast and when to seek help
It seems like just five or 10 years ago, the only people monitoring their blood sugar were those with diabetes who needed to keep track of it to stay healthy. But today, we know more than ever about how our blood sugar levels affect our health—and it seems like everyone is keeping track. While high blood sugar is the primary concern for most, low blood sugar can be just as problematic. Here’s what you need to know about what causes it, low blood sugar symptoms you might overlook and how to bring your levels back up safely.
What causes low blood sugar? It’s not just diabetes
“Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is a condition in which your blood glucose level drops below 70 mg/dL,” explains Brynna Connor, MD, a family medicine physician in Austin, TX, and the Healthcare Ambassador at NorthwestPharmacy.com. It happens most often in people with diabetes who are taking medication to treat it, particularly insulin or sulfonylureas, often due to too much insulin or diabetes medication. But there are other reasons your blood sugar level may drop below this threshold.
What causes low blood sugar without diabetes? “Various factors can contribute to low blood sugar, including skipping meals, not eating enough carbohydrates, excessive exercise (especially without adequately adjusting your food intake accordingly) and drinking alcohol, especially on an empty stomach,” Dr. Connor says.
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In addition to these lifestyle factors, some chronic illnesses can also cause low blood sugar. These include liver conditions (which impair your ability to regulate blood sugar levels), pancreatic tumors called insulinomas (which result in too much insulin production), problems with the adrenal or pituitary glands (which affect hormone production that plays a role in blood sugar regulation) and kidney diseases (which prevent your body from properly excreting medications).
Low blood sugar symptoms to watch for
Why is hypoglycemia a problem? “Low blood sugar may not seem serious, but the brain relies on a continuous supply of glucose for energy and proper function,” explains Dr. Connor. “When glucose levels drop too low (below the 70 mg/dL threshold), the brain cannot function properly.” (Learn what healthy blood sugar levels are for your age here.)
This can lead to a host of low blood sugar symptoms, some of which can be dangerous or are often written off as other health issues. They include:
- Looking pale
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Headache
- Nausea
- An irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Fatigue
- Irritability or anxiety
- Trouble concentrating
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Tingling or numbness in the lips, tongue or cheek
If hypoglycemia gets worse or goes on for longer without being noticed, it can lead to more serious symptoms. They include:
- Confusion
- Loss of coordination
- Slurred speech
- Blurry vision
- Nightmares
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
If you notice any symptoms of low blood glucose, check your levels right away using a device such as a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) or glucose meter. If you don’t have a way to check your blood sugar, call your doctor and get the okay to follow the advice below for bringing your levels back up.
How to raise low blood sugar
The good news: It’s easy to bring your blood sugar back up quickly if you start to experience symptoms of hypoglycemia and/or you measure your blood sugar and it’s low. “For mild-to-moderate hypoglycemia, you should follow the 15-15 rule,” says Dr. Connor. “Consume 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates, such as four ounces of juice, glucose tablets or regular soda, then recheck your blood sugar in 15 minutes. If it’s still low, repeat the process.” Once it gets back up above 70 mg/dL, you’ll be fine.
If you have diabetes and experience chronic low blood sugar, you may develop something called hypoglycemia unawareness, in which you stop experiencing symptoms. If this happens, you may need to check your blood glucose levels more often to avoid a severe episode.
When to call a doctor
For severe hypoglycemia, in which the person is unconscious or can’t swallow, call 911 right away. “A glucagon injection or nasal glucagon should be administered by a trained professional, which includes medical professionals, emergency responders or trained individuals such as caregivers, family members, friends or colleagues who have been trained on how to use a glucagon kit,” Dr. Connor says.
“Once in a hospital setting, IV dextrose may be given,” she adds. “And once blood sugar normalizes, a snack containing protein and complex carbs should be consumed to help maintain levels.”
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