Making the Diagnosis
If you do not have diabetes and are healthy except for the symptoms described above, you will be checked for hypoglycemia. Your doctor will take a blood sample and check blood glucose levels.
If you do have diabetes, your doctor will ask about your medications (e.g., dose of insulin used), activities, and diet. If a person with diabetes uses too much insulin or insulin-producing medications, or uses up too much blood sugar through exercise without eating enough food ahead of time, hypoglycemia may occur. People using insulin or antidiabetes medications that promote the release of insulin should avoid letting their blood glucose levels fall below 72 mg/dL (4.0 mmol/L).
Hypoglycemia is classified as follows:
- mild: Symptoms caused by release of extra adrenaline (see above) are present. The individual is able to self-treat.
- moderate: Symptoms caused by release of extra adrenaline and by lack of glucose getting to the brain both occur but the individual is able to self-treat.
- severe: The individual requires the assistance of another person. Unconsciousness may occur. Blood glucose levels are usually less than 50 mg/dL (2.8 mmol/L).
Once you have been diagnosed with hypoglycemia, your doctor can usually identify the cause by doing a physical exam, taking a medical history, and getting laboratory tests.