There are many symptoms that can fall in the realm of both diabetes and pre-diabetes. Although it is far more likely that a pre-diabetic individual will eventually present with diabetes, there are some key differences. One such case is the diagnosis of hypoglycemia: although it can readily turn into a case of diabetes, an individual can be diagnosed with hypoglycemia alone, while a hypoglycemic state can be a state suffered by someone with diabetes.
Confusing, I know. Allow me to help you break it down.
Hypoglycemia: What Is It?
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which the body consistently sustains a low blood sugar reading, rather than a normal, expected fluctuation of blood sugar according to food consumption and activity. Hypoglycemia is characterized by lightheadedness, muscle fatigue, extreme hunger, anxiety, excessive sweating, and even irritability. Non-diabetic hypoglycemia is a rare condition, but one that should not be confused for diabetes; treatment for each condition is vastly different.
There are many different causes for non-diabetic hypoglycemia, including (but not limited to) poor response to medication, excessive or paltry consumption of high-sugar foods, and the presence of a tumor. Each of these conditions requires medical diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
Hypoglycemia may be treated in a number of ways. Some individuals’ bodies respond well to diet and exercise changes, while others require medication changes or surgery. Whatever the case may be, non-diabetic hypoglycemia requires treatment separate from diabetic treatment and should not be confused as treating hypoglycemia with insulin may upset the body’s insulin-producing entities.
Keeping a Weather Eye Out
Although hypoglycemia is not synonymous to diabetes, it is often considered a pre-diabetic condition and should be monitored closely and cared for to avoid the development of Type 2 diabetes. Noticing consistently low blood sugar and taking the proper steps to raise blood sugar levels (typically through dietary changes and consistent exercise) will be the best course of action in warding off diabetes. Why? That’s because hypoglycemia brought on by tumors and medication will likely not result in diabetes, but a steady continuance of low blood sugar.
If you suspect your blood sugar is low due to the presence of the symptoms mentioned above, consult your doctor, who will likely wish to perform either a glucose screening or fasting glucose test. Both will lend insight into your body’s ability to produce insulin and will demonstrate whether your body is succumbing to a case of hypoglycemia or the early onset of Type 2 diabetes. Although diabetes is characterized by bouts of both high and low blood sugar, hypoglycemia is a serious condition, and should be regarded with the same care and respect as a full diabetes diagnosis.
