Hypoglycemia is commonly called "low blood sugar". Even people who do not have diabetes have episodic low blood sugar when they have not eaten enough or exercised
vigorously. The difference in common episodic low blood sugar and the severe hypoglycemia of diabetes is the potential for natural processes of the body to respond and recover from it.In diabetes,
hypoglycemia occurs in combination with medication that is intended to keep blood glucose down. If low blood sugar occurs in diabetes, it is usually the result of an oversupply of medication relative to the amount
of carbohydrate eaten and/or exercise done. Because of this medication, a normal recovery from low blood sugar (increase glucose release from the liver) is not possible.
When blood glucose
levels drop below 60 mg/dl, most people will experience symptoms of shakiness, irritability, fatique, etc. If a person with diabetes senses these symptoms at this blood sugar level, carbohydrate
treatment should be initiated and recovery quick.
In some people, however, especially those who have had diabetes for many years, hypoglycemia may not be easily detected. Or it may come on and
advance very rapidly. In these situations, blood glucose levels can fall to dangerous levels.
Below 40 mg/dl, low blood sugar seriously effects the brain's ability to reason or use good
judgement. Below 20 mg/dl, the brain is seriously impaired and consciousness is usually lost. Permanent brain changes and death can result if
