Could You Be Suffering from Low Blood Sugar Symptoms

According to the American Diabetes Association, over 29 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes and an additional 84 million people are at risk of developing the disease. One of the biggest dangers of low blood sugar occurs when its symptoms go unnoticed, but they’re fairly easy to spot if you know what to look for. Pay attention to these low blood sugar symptoms so you can take steps to stabilize your blood sugar levels before it’s too late.

Brain Fog

Many people with low blood sugar suffer from a condition called brain fog. This is characterized by confusion, inattentiveness, and difficulty concentrating on things like numbers, conversations, or reading.

•  It might seem strange that your brain would become foggy when your body needs more energy—but without enough fuel to run on, your brain simply can’t think straight. 
• If you’re experiencing brain fog symptoms due to low blood sugar (and assuming you don’t have diabetes), it might be a good idea to check your blood glucose level. 
• To avoid future episodes of brain fog, watch what you eat (or drink) and learn how to stabilize your blood sugar levels naturally.

Impatience, Depression, and Mood Swings

While low blood sugar can affect us in many ways, some of us experience depression and mood swings after a long period of low levels. 

•  If you feel like you’re getting irritable for seemingly no reason, it could be because your blood sugar levels are dropping.
•  It may also help to write down symptoms you experience when your blood sugar is low as well as any patterns that occur (how often they happen).
•  That way, you’ll have a better idea if it’s a drop in blood sugar or something else that’s causing them. Keeping track will also make it easier to identify times when high and low blood sugars occur so that changes can be made.

Irritability and Anxiety

If you’re feeling anxious or irritable, chances are it could be due to low blood sugar. These feelings can also indicate hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which is a dangerous health condition that, in extreme cases, can lead to unconsciousness and/or convulsions. 

To prevent these feelings, eat every three hours and avoid foods high in refined sugar, such as pastries and juice drinks. By maintaining steady levels of glucose in your blood, you should be able to minimize these undesirable symptoms.

Tiredness, Inability to Fall Asleep, Insomnia

If you’re feeling persistently tired, it could be due to low blood sugar. When your blood sugar drops below its optimal level, it can make you feel fatigued. 

Additionally, if your sleep is regularly interrupted by bouts of restless wakefulness or you wake up in the middle of the night and have a hard time falling back asleep, these episodes may also be related to low blood sugar levels.

Fatigue and Need for Naps

Are you sometimes so exhausted that even an hour's nap doesn’t help you feel better, yet you’re never able to fall asleep when your head hits the pillow at night?

•  If so, it could be a sign of low blood sugar. People with diabetes are often extremely tired because their bodies cannot produce enough insulin to maintain healthy blood glucose levels. 
• When these numbers drop too low, it signals your body to send emergency signals to keep you awake.

Cravings and Hunger Pangs

Even when blood sugar is within a normal range, your body can experience some low blood sugar symptoms if you’re not eating enough carbohydrates. 

When blood sugar dips to abnormally low levels, it can lead to intense hunger and food cravings. If you have these feelings regularly, it may be a sign that your diet could use an overhaul. For example, eating too much fat or protein or not getting enough fiber can all cause these symptoms.

Headaches and Stomach Aches

If you experience headaches or stomachaches, it could be a sign of low blood sugar. Your body typically compensates for low blood sugar by releasing insulin to convert glucose into glycogen and store it in muscles and liver cells.

 If your glucose levels drop too low, your body won’t have enough energy to make these conversions effectively. Because there isn’t enough energy available for metabolic processes, your body will need to rely on other sources of fuel that come from fat and muscle tissue.

Lightheadedness or Fainting Spells

When your blood sugar levels drop rapidly, you’re more likely to feel lightheaded or have a fainting spell.

•  This may be a sign that you’re experiencing low blood sugar symptoms and need to eat something—in fact, it could mean you haven’t eaten in too long. 
• Once your body is used to eating on a schedule, it won’t suddenly forget how to regulate blood sugar and will prepare lar meals at regular times.