Blood sugar drops, also known as hypoglycemia, occur when the level of glucose in your blood becomes too low. This can happen for various reasons, including:
- Skipped meals or inadequate food intake: Not eating enough or skipping meals can lead to low blood sugar levels, especially if you’re taking medication for diabetes or have a medical condition that affects blood sugar regulation.
- Too much insulin or diabetes medication: If you take insulin or certain types of diabetes medications, they can cause your blood sugar levels to drop too low if you take too much medication, or if your medication isn’t properly balanced with your food intake and activity level.
- Excessive physical activity: Engaging in intense or prolonged physical activity without eating enough food to compensate for the energy expenditure can cause your blood sugar levels to drop.
- Alcohol consumption: Drinking alcohol, especially on an empty stomach or in excess, can cause your blood sugar levels to drop rapidly.
- Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as insulinoma (a tumor of the pancreas that produces too much insulin), liver disease, adrenal insufficiency, or hormonal imbalances, can cause hypoglycemia.
Symptoms of low blood sugar include:
- Shakiness or tremors
- Sweating
- Rapid heartbeat
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Hunger
- Irritability or mood changes
- Confusion
- Blurred vision
- Weakness or fatigue
- Headache
- Difficulty concentrating
- Pale skin
If you experience symptoms of low blood sugar, it’s important to raise your blood sugar levels quickly. You can do this by consuming fast-acting carbohydrates, such as:
- Glucose tablets or gel
- Fruit juice
- Regular soda (not diet)
- Hard candies
- Honey or maple syrup
- Raisins or dried fruit
Once your symptoms improve, follow up with a snack or meal containing protein and carbohydrates to help stabilize your blood sugar levels.
If you have frequent episodes of low blood sugar, it’s essential to work with your healthcare provider to identify the underlying cause and develop a management plan to prevent future episodes. Adjusting your diet, medication dosage, or activity level may be necessary to help prevent blood sugar drops.
