Causes of hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, occurs when the amount of insulin in the blood exceeds that needed to metabolize the available glucose. It is seen often when a person with diabetes takes too much insulin, but it can also occur in other circumstances, such as an overconsumption of alcohol; taking large amounts of aspirin or acetaminophen, beta blockers, and some antipsychotic drugs; or when tumors develop that secrete insulin.
Glucose, or blood sugar, is the body’s major source of energy; it is also the only form of energy that the brain can use effectively. During digestion and metabolism, the liver converts all of the carbohydrates and about half of the protein in a meal into glucose, which is released into the bloodstream. In response to rising blood glucose levels, the pancreas secretes extra insulin, the hormone that enables cells to use the sugar to produce energy. Excessive alcohol consumption, especially binge rinking, can cause hypoglycemia because the body’s breakdown of alcohol interferes with the liver’s efforts to raise blood glucose. This type hypoglycemia can be very serious or even fatal.
