Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)Toggle: English / SpanishServices at Maryland GeneralA complete list of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services at MGH.Hypoglycemia - OverviewAlternative NamesInsulin shock; Low blood sugar Definition of Hypoglycemia:Hypoglycemia is a condition that occurs when your blood sugar (glucose) is too low. Blood sugar below 70 mg/dL is considered low. Blood sugar at or below this level can harm you. Causes, incidence, and risk factors:Hypoglycemia occurs when:
Insulin is a hormone that reduces blood sugar. It is produced by the pancreas in response to increased glucose levels in the blood. The most common causes of low blood sugar in people with diabetes are:
If you have diabetes and are taking any of the following diabetes medications, you have a risk for low blood sugar:
A newborn's blood sugar can become low. Babies who are born to mothers with diabetes may have severe drops in blood sugar. Hypoglycemia in people who do not have diabetes may be caused by:
ReferencesAmerican Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes--2011. Diabetes Care. 2011;34 Supl 1:S11-S61. Cryer PE. Glucose homeostasis and hypoglycemia. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR. Kronenberg: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 33. Related ArticlesThe information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. |
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