Diabetic hypoglycemia symptoms

Answer

Hi Lisa,

Yes, sweating, shaking and dizziness can be symptoms of hypoglycemia. Nausea can sometimes occur as well, although it is less specific. Other symptoms may include hunger, weakness, a fast heartbeat, headache, irritability, blurred vision and difficulty concentrating.

However, symptoms alone cannot tell us for certain that your blood sugar is low. Whenever possible, the best way to know is to check your glucose while the symptoms are happening.

What Can Cause Hypoglycemia?

Low blood sugar is especially common in people who use insulin or certain diabetes medications. Possible triggers include:

• taking too much insulin or glucose-lowering medicine;


• missing or delaying a meal;


• eating less carbohydrate than expected;


• more physical activity than usual;


• drinking alcohol, especially without enough food; or


• changes in illness, appetite or medication needs.

If symptoms occur repeatedly at a particular time, write down the glucose result, meals, medicines and activity. Looking for a pattern is more useful than judging one episode alone. You can compare your readings with our blood sugar levels chart.

What Should You Do If Your Glucose Is Low?

If you have symptoms and can check your glucose, test it promptly. If it is below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), and you are awake and able to swallow safely:

• take about 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate;


• wait about 15 minutes;


• check your glucose again;


• if it is still below 70 mg/dL, repeat the treatment.

Examples include glucose tablets or gel, about 4 ounces (½ cup) of regular fruit juice, or another measured source of rapidly absorbed carbohydrate.

When Is Hypoglycemia an Emergency?

Severe hypoglycemia can progress to loss of consciousness or diabetic coma, so it should never be ignored.

What If You Do Not Have Diabetes?

Sweating, shaking, nausea and dizziness are not specific to hypoglycemia. They can also occur with dehydration, anxiety, infection, low blood pressure, medication effects, prolonged fasting and other conditions.

If you do not have diabetes and these episodes keep happening, it is better to have the symptoms evaluated rather than assuming low blood sugar is the cause. When possible, a glucose measurement during an episode can be helpful.

For more help understanding glucose readings and diabetes tests, visit our Diabetes Answers and Tools page.

My Advice to You

Lisa, the symptoms you describe could be caused by hypoglycemia, particularly if you use insulin or another medicine that can lower glucose, but I would not diagnose hypoglycemia from symptoms alone.

If this happens again, check your glucose during the episode if you can. A documented low reading makes it much easier to understand whether your diabetes treatment, meal timing or another health issue needs attention.