Diabetes - Low Sugar Causes & Symptoms

For people with Type 2 diabetes, low sugar is a real possibility which can be serious if left untreated. Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, can be caused by:

Getting more exercise than usual
Eating less than usual
Delaying a meal
Missing a meal
Consuming alcohol
Taking too much medication or insulin.
A side effect of some diabetes medications.

Any of these reasons can cause a diabetic's blood sugar to drop dangerously low. Blood sugar is generally considered "too low" when it is 70 mg/dL or less. Symptoms of low blood sugar include:

Feeling dizzy or faint
Headaches
Anxiety or irritability
Blurry vision
Feeling confused or forgetful
Suddenly feeling hungry
Feeling shaky or nervous
Feeling weak
Clumsiness.

Low blood sugar can happen suddenly. Usually the symptoms are mild and you can treat it by eating or drinking something with carbohydrates (bread, fruit, fruit juice, sweets). If left untreated, it can progress to much more serious problems like seizures or a coma. It can even be fatal.

Low Blood Sugar Symptoms

If you notice symptoms of hypoglycemia, you should take steps to increase low blood sugar. Regularly monitor your blood glucose to ensure it stays within your target range. It is especially important to check it if you miss a meal, eat less, or exercise more than usual. For someone with diabetes, low sugar can be serious so it's better to monitor your blood sugar and try to prevent hypoglycemia from happening at all.