What Causes Increasingly Severe Hypoglycemia?
Disease description:
My health has never been very good since childhood, and I also suffer from hypoglycemia. Recently, I have been feeling weak and experiencing palpitations, with the hypoglycemia seeming to worsen. I would like to know what is causing this?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Increasingly frequent symptoms of hypoglycemia are usually caused by both non-pathological and pathological factors. Non-pathological factors mainly include improper diet and incorrect medication use, while pathological factors primarily involve liver disease and insulinoma.
I. Non-pathological factors:
1. Improper diet: This typically relates to eating too little or insufficient intake of nutrients. Due to inadequate nutrition, blood glucose levels may become slightly low. If this situation persists long-term without timely adjustment, it may not only lead to frequent episodes of hypoglycemic symptoms such as dizziness, cold sweats, palpitations, and fatigue, but could even result in fainting.
2. Incorrect medication use: Commonly seen among individuals with diabetes who do not strictly follow medical advice regarding hypoglycemic drugs and blood glucose monitoring. Taking excessive amounts of antidiabetic medication may cause blood sugar levels to drop too quickly, thus triggering symptoms of hypoglycemia.
II. Pathological factors:
1. Liver disease: The exact cause is unclear but may be related to long-term alcohol abuse and other factors, leading to reduced synthesis of hepatic glycogen and subsequently causing low fasting blood glucose levels.
2. Insulinoma: Usually caused by conditions such as pancreatic islet cell tumors that lead to excessive insulin secretion. It often presents as recurrent episodes of hypoglycemic symptoms including pallor, weakness, and cold sweats.
