Skip to main content

Diabetic Hypoglycemia

Diabetic hypoglycemia (also called insulin shock or insulin reaction) is having an abnormally low amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood relative to the amount of insulin in the blood.

A person with diabetes can become hypoglycemic by taking too much insulin or diabetes medicine or by skipping meals.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia include headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, anxiety, and changes in personality. If untreated, it can lead to seizures, unconsciousness, brain damage, or death.

Treatment for diabetic hypoglycemia involves eating foods that contain sugar or getting a dose of glucagon. This is a substance that stimulates the liver to release glucose into the bloodstream.

 
 

PeaceHealth endeavors to provide comprehensive health care information, however some topics in this database describe services and procedures not offered by our providers or within our facilities because they do not comply with, nor are they condoned by, the ethics policies of our organization.