Why do blood sugar levels drop

As a result, glucose tends to build up in the bloodstream and can reach dangerously high levels. To correct this problem, you might take insulin or other drugs to lower blood sugar levels.

But too much insulin or other diabetes medications may cause your blood sugar level to drop too low, causing hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can also occur if you eat less than usual after taking diabetes medication, or if you exercise more than you normally do. Some critical illnesses. Severe liver illnesses such as severe hepatitis or cirrhosis can cause hypoglycemia. Kidney disorders, which can keep your body from properly excreting medications, can affect glucose levels due to a buildup of those medications.

Long-term starvation, as can occur in the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, can result in too little of substances your body needs to create glucose. Hypoglycemia usually occurs when you haven't eaten, but not always.

Sometimes hypoglycemia symptoms occur after certain meals high in sugar because your body produces more insulin than you need. This type of hypoglycemia, called reactive hypoglycemia or postprandial hypoglycemia, can occur in people who have had stomach bypass surgery.

It can also occur in people who haven't had this surgery. Over time, repeated episodes of hypoglycemia can lead to hypoglycemia unawareness. The body and brain no longer produce signs and symptoms that warn of a low blood sugar, such as shakiness or irregular heartbeats. When this happens, the risk of severe, life-threatening hypoglycemia increases. If you have diabetes, recurring episodes of hypoglycemia and hypoglycemia unawareness, your doctor might modify your treatment, raise your blood sugar level goals and recommend blood glucose awareness training.

If you have diabetes, episodes of low blood sugar are uncomfortable and can be frightening. Fear of hypoglycemia can cause you to take less insulin to ensure that your blood sugar level doesn't go too low. This can lead to uncontrolled diabetes. Low blood sugar can occur for a number of reasons. Think of insulin as the key that unlocks your cells, letting glucose in for energy. People with diabetes use a variety of treatments to help their bodies use the glucose in their blood.

Among these are oral medications that increase insulin production and insulin injections. If you take too much of these types of medications, your blood sugar may drop too low. People also sometimes experience low blood sugar when planning to eat a big meal, but then they do not eat enough. Skipping meals, eating less than normal, or eating later than normal but taking your medication at your normal time can also lead to low blood sugar levels. Unplanned excess physical activity without eating enough can also cause a drop in blood sugar levels.

When the body is trying to get rid of alcohol it becomes worse at managing blood sugar levels. Some other causes of low blood sugar include:.

If you experience low blood sugar often — say, a few times a week — see your doctor right away to determine why. They will perform a physical examination. These include:. Your doctor may send you home with a blood glucose meter — a small, handheld blood testing device — to track your blood sugar over time at home. They will give you instructions to test your blood sugar during certain times of the day, such as after waking up and after eating meals.

To perform a blood sugar test, you will need to prick your finger with a lancet provided in your blood glucose test kit. Be sure to treat it right away. Use the tips for eating 15 grams of carbohydrate described above. Test again in 15 minutes, and if your blood sugar is not increasing, treat with another 15 grams of carbs.

If your blood sugar remains unresponsive, contact your doctor or emergency services right away. When in doubt, treat. When your blood sugar levels are too low, eating something made of carbohydrates is key. If you have diabetes, try to keep high-carbohydrate snacks on hand.

The American Diabetes Association recommends that your snack have at least 15 grams of carbohydrates. Low blood sugar is a condition that occurs when your blood sugar glucose is lower than normal. Low blood sugar may occur in people with diabetes who are taking insulin or certain other medicines to control their diabetes. Low blood sugar can cause dangerous symptoms. Learn how to recognize the symptoms of low blood sugar and how to prevent them.

Low blood sugar is called hypoglycemia. You are at risk for low blood sugar if you have diabetes and are taking any of the following diabetes medicines:. You are also at increased risk of having low blood sugar if you have had previous low blood sugar levels.

Sometimes your blood sugar may be too low even if you do not have symptoms. If it gets too low, you may:. Some people who have had diabetes for a long time stop being able to sense low blood sugar. This is called hypoglycemic unawareness. Ask your health care provider if wearing a continuous glucose monitor and sensor can help you detect when your blood sugar is getting too low in order to help prevent symptoms.

Talk with your provider about when you should check your blood sugar every day. People who have low blood sugar need to check their blood sugar more often. Preventing low blood sugar is better than having to treat it. Always have a source of fast-acting sugar with you. DO NOT drink alcohol without eating food. Women should limit alcohol to 1 drink a day and men should limit alcohol to 2 drinks a day.

What causes a low blood sugar level In people with diabetes, the main causes of a low blood sugar level are: the effects of medicine — especially taking too much insulin, medicines called sulfonylureas such as glibenclamide and gliclazide , medicines called glinides such as repaglinide and nateglinide , or some antiviral medicines to treat hepatitis C skipping or delaying a meal not eating enough carbohydrate foods in your last meal, such as bread, cereals, pasta, potatoes and fruit exercise, especially if it's intense or unplanned drinking alcohol Sometimes there's no obvious reason why a low blood sugar level happens.

Very occasionally, it can happen in people who do not have diabetes. Preventing a low blood sugar level If you have diabetes, you can reduce your chance of getting a low blood sugar level if you: Check your blood sugar level regularly and be aware of the symptoms of a low blood sugar level so you can treat it quickly.

Always carry a sugary snack or drink with you, such as glucose tablets, a carton of fruit juice or some sweets. If you have a glucagon injection kit, always keep it with you. Do not skip meals.

Be careful when drinking alcohol. Do not drink large amounts, check your blood sugar level regularly, and eat a carbohydrate snack afterwards. Be careful when exercising; eating a carbohydrate snack before exercise can help to reduce the risk of a hypo.

If you take some types of diabetes medicine, your doctor may recommend you take a lower dose before or after doing intense exercise. Have a carbohydrate snack, such as toast, if your blood sugar level drops too low while you're asleep nocturnal hypoglycaemia If you keep getting a low blood sugar level, talk to your diabetes care team about things you can do to help prevent it.

A low blood sugar level without diabetes A low blood sugar level is uncommon in people who do not have diabetes. Possible causes include: your body releasing too much insulin after eating, called reactive hypoglycaemia or postprandial hypoglycaemia not eating fasting or malnutrition a complication of pregnancy a gastric bypass a type of weight loss surgery other medical conditions, such as problems with your hormone levels, pancreas, liver, kidneys, adrenal glands or heart some medicines, including quinine taken for malaria See a GP if you think you keep getting symptoms of a low blood sugar level.

A low blood sugar level and driving You may still be allowed to drive if you have diabetes or you're at risk of a low blood sugar level for another reason, but you'll need to do things to reduce the chance of this happening while you're driving.