Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, happens when your blood sugar or glucose drops below a healthy range. If your blood sugar drops too low, it can be a dangerous condition that needs immediate treatment. Hypoglycemia is most common in people with diabetes. Taking too much medication, skipping meals, not eating enough, or exercising more than usual can lead to low blood sugar if you have diabetes.
Why is low blood sugar dangerous? Blood sugar is also known as glucose. Glucose comes from food and serves as an important energy source for your body. Carbohydrates found in foods such as rice, potatoes, bread, tortillas, cereal, fruit, vegetables, and milk are your body’s main source of glucose. After you eat, glucose is absorbed into your bloodstream, where it travels to your body’s cells. A hormone called insulin, which is made in your pancreas, helps your cells absorb the glucose in your blood. Your cells then use glucose for energy.
If you eat more glucose than you need, your body will store the extra glucose in your liver and muscles or change it into fat so it can be used for energy when it’s needed later. If our cells don’t get glucose, your body can’t perform its normal functions. In the short term, people who aren’t on medications that increase insulin have enough glucose to maintain blood sugar levels, and the liver can make glucose if needed. However, if you take insulin medication, a short-term reduction in blood glucose can cause problems. In this situation, immediate treatment for low blood sugar levels is very important to prevent more serious symptoms from developing.
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