Week 12 - Hypoglycemia

Question 1

What is hypoglycemia?

Answer 1

• BS < 4 mmol/L caused by too much insulin in relation to available glucose

Question 2

What does hypoglyemia trigger the release of? (2)

Answer 2

• neuroendocrine hormones (ie. epinephrine)
• this activates the ANS, which causes the neurogenic clinical manifestations (fight or flight)

Question 3

If BS continues to fall with hypoglycemia, what happens to the brain? (2)

Answer 3

• lack of BS to the brain will cause neuroglycemic clinical manifestations
• Untreated can lead to the loss of consciousness, seizures, coma, and death

Question 4

What is hypoglycemic unawareness?

Answer 4

• autonomic neuropathy of DM that interferes with the secretion of counter-regulatory hormones

Question 5

What causes hypoglycemia? (6)

Answer 5

• Too much insulin or OAHs
• Too little food
• NPO
• Excessive physical activity
• Weight loss
• Beta blockers interfering with recognition of symptoms

Question 6

What are the clinical manifestations of hypoglycemia? (8)

Answer 6

• shaky, lightheaded, nauseated
• nervous, irritable, anxious
• Confused, unable to concentrate
• hungry
• increase in HR
• sweaty, headachy
• Weak, drowsy
• numbness or tingling on tongue or lips

Question 7

What are the clinical manifestations of severe hypoglycemia (less than 2.8 mmol/L? (6)

Answer 7

• Confused
• Disoriented
• difficulty speaking
• Stupor
• Lose consciousness
• seizure or coma, which may lead to death