What causes hypoglycemia in people without diabetes?
Hypoglycemia is an
abnormally low level of blood sugar (glucose), often causing weakness and
dizziness. Hypoglycemia in people who do not have diabetes is far less common
than once believed. However, it can occur in some people under
certain conditions such as early pregnancy, prolonged fasting, and long
periods of strenuous exercise.
Types of hypoglycemia
1. Insulin-related . This type occurs in people with diabetes when an insulin injection causes an excess of the hormone. The excess can happen to someone if the dose of insulin or oral medication is too large, if they skip a meal, if they're physically more active than usual, or if they experience an unrelated illness.
2. Reactive hypoglycemia . This type of hypoglycemia occurs only in response to meals. People with reactive hypoglycemia often process and absorb food too rapidly. This can develop after some types of stomach surgery, such as that for peptic ulcer disease. Rapid food absorption leads to a "reactive" overabundance of insulin secretion, causing blood sugar to fall too low 2 to 4 hours after a meal. A diagnosis of reactive hypoglycemia is considered only after other possible causes of low blood sugar have been ruled out.
3. Fasting hypoglycemia . This type
occurs when weakness and dizziness are present with low blood sugar more
than 4 hours after eating. Fasting hypoglycemia occurs when the stomach is empty. It usually
develops in the early morning when a person awakens. As with other forms of hypoglycemia, the symptoms include headache, lack of
energy, and an inability to concentrate. Fasting hypoglycemia may be caused by a variety of conditions such as hereditary enzyme or
hormone deficiencies, liver disease, and insulin-producing tumors.
Reference:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at:
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/diabetes/pubs/hypo/hypo.htm#other