Hypoglycemia

The term hypoglycemia literally means "low blood sugar". It occurs when your blood glucose (blood sugar) level drops too low to provide enough energy for your body's activities.

Hypoglycemia can produce a variety of symptoms and effects but the principal problems arise from an inadequate supply of glucose as fuel to the brain, resulting in impairment of function. Derangements of function can range from vaguely "feeling bad" to coma, and (rarely) permanent brain damage or death.

In adults or children older than 10 years, hypoglycemia is uncommon except as a side effect of diabetes treatment, but it can result from other medications or diseases, hormone or enzyme deficiencies, or tumors.

In general, plasma glucose levels below 70 mg/dl or 3.9 mmol/L are considered hypoglycemic.