Low blood sugar levels happen when you have too little glucose left in your bloodstream. It most often occurs when you don’t eat enough food, especially carb-containing foods. It can also happen if you’re taking blood-sugar-lowering medications or exercising a lot, O’Neill says. Levels can decrease gradually or suddenly.
When the amount of glucose in the bloodstream drops too low, the body reacts by releasing epinephrine, also called the fight-or-flight hormone. Epinephrine revs your heart rate and can cause the following signs of low blood sugar:
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Nervousness or feeling anxious
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating, confusion, and slurred speech, if not enough glucose is able to reach the brain
In extreme cases, a lack of glucose within the brain can lead to seizures, coma, and even death, O’Neill says.
Once your glucose levels are back to normal, you can go ahead and eat your next scheduled meal or snack, which will help prevent levels from dropping again.
But if your symptoms don’t stop, call your doctor or seek medical attention.
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