WHAT IS HYPOGLYCEMIA?

Hypoglycemia is very generally defined as lower than normal blood glucose. 3 However, the CDA has a more specific definition in their Clinical Practice Guidelines, hypoglycemia is defined as: 1. The development of autonomic or neuroglycopenic symptoms (as detailed in the Table in the next section); 2. A low plasma glucose (PG) level (<4.0 mmol/L for patients treated with insulin or a drug that increases the secretion of insulin); and 3. Symptoms responding to the administration of carbohydrate.4 Medication-induced hypoglycemia is the most common cause of hypoglycemia. 5 In addition, hypoglycemia is the most common adverse effect of intensive insulin therapy in patients with type 1 diabetes.6 Hypoglycemia develops very quickly. It is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment. If the blood glucose drops too low it can cause unconsciousness and seizures. After any episode of hypoglycemia, it is important to try to identify why the blood glucose was low and what should be done to prevent it from reoccurring.