What are the Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar?

One of the most common and prominent symptoms of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is trembling — especially in the hands and arms. Chills or a feeling of being cold may also occur when blood sugar levels dip too low. The stomach is also often affected by extreme hunger pangs and/or nausea in hypoglycemia since it can be caused by not eating often enough. Some people who experience low blood sugar may feel confused, weak or dizzy as well as experience throbbing temples and a lack of focus in their vision.

Blurry vision may be one of the symptoms of low blood sugar, although not everyone with low blood sugar will experience it. Some hypoglycemics have reported that scenery such as mountains and trees seem to be softly blurred or fuzzy. Weakness, especially in the legs, is one of the most common symptoms of low blood sugar. Dizziness is another common hypoglycemia symptom. In severe cases of hypoglycemia, the individual may even have difficulty walking straight.

A feeling of pressure or throbbing in the temples may also occur if the blood sugar becomes very low. It's important to get medical help and/or consume sugar candy, glucose tablets or orange juice immediately when the blood sugar becomes dangerously low, as unconsciousness, coma or even death could result. Diabetics and others with hypoglycemia often carry glucose, or sugar tablets, with them as well as their blood sugar monitor so they can be prepared to act quickly if they notice symptoms. Not everyone will experience the same symptoms of low blood sugar, but it's important that individuals with a tendency toward being hypoglycemic learn to recognize, and if possible measure, their glucose levels if they do feel unwell.

During an episode of low blood sugar, the stomach growling sounds that usually first signal hunger tend to change to the feeling of an empty stomach and nausea. For many people who experience hypoglycemia, the nausea is often combined with dizziness and confusion. The three conditions together may make it difficult for someone experiencing these symptoms to focus on how to find the needed sugary food or beverage that will raise his or her body's sugars. An intense feeling of sudden hunger may be experienced by some hypoglycemics; a rush to consume everything in sight may be the initial reaction in this case, but only high sugar items will adequately raise the blood sugar to appropriate levels.