What happens if blood sugar is too low? - Science Behind Hypoglycemia

If you have diabetes, you have probably heard of or experienced hypoglycemia also known as “low blood sugar” or “hypo.” It’s when blood sugar levels drop below a safe level, usually below 70 mg/dL, though this number can vary from person to person. It’s always best to check with your doctor to know your personal threshold.

Let’s break down the simple science behind why this happens and what you can do to handle it.

Every time you eat, your body breaks down the food into glucose, which then enters your cells with the help of insulin. Insulin is produced by your pancreas and acts like a key, unlocking cells so glucose can enter and provide energy.

In diabetes, however, this process doesn’t work the way it should. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces little to no insulin because the insulin-producing cells are damaged or destroyed. In Type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or becomes insulin-resistant, meaning the cells stop responding properly to insulin signals. In both cases, the body struggles to regulate blood sugar effectively, leading to high glucose levels when untreated and low glucose levels when there’s a mismatch of insulin, food, or activity.

How Does the Body Normally Handle Low Blood Sugar?

When glucose levels drop, the pancreas releases a hormone called glucagon. This hormone sends a signal to the liver, telling it to convert stored glycogen back into glucose and release it into the bloodstream.

At the same time, insulin production decreases, which allows more glucose to remain in the blood instead of being moved into the cells. Additionally, the brain sends hunger signals, encouraging you to eat and restore glucose levels. This process usually happens automatically and works seamlessly in individuals without diabetes.

But for people with diabetes, especially those who have had the condition for many years, this natural response can become impaired. The body may not release glucagon as effectively, or the liver may not respond as quickly. This can make hypoglycemia more frequent and more severe.

Why Does Hypoglycemia Happen in Diabetics?

Low blood sugar in people with diabetes often occurs because of reasons like too much insulin being injected, excessive physical activity, insufficient food intake or certain diabetes medications.

In a healthy body, these situations would trigger the release of glucagon and other hormones like epinephrine (adrenaline), which help restore blood sugar levels. However, long-term diabetes can weaken these responses, making severe hypoglycemia more likely.

So How Does It Feel in Hypoglycemia?

Those who are in a hypoglycemic state can feel extreme hunger, shakiness, sweatiness, headache, fast heartbeat, fatigue, and dizziness. Severe hypoglycemia can also lead to confusion, loss of coordination, slurred speech, or blurry vision.

Hypoglycemia unawareness also increases the risk of severe hypoglycemia, which can lead to seizures, coma, and cognitive impairment.

What Can You Do About It?

This condition needs to be taken care of immediately by consuming high-carb foods. Take sugary liquids, sugary sodas, candy, or glucose tablets and wait for 10–15 minutes. If the sugar levels are still low, consume more high-carb foods till sugar levels reach normal range.

Using CGMs can alert you instantly when you are going into hypoglycemia so that you can immediately take corrective actions. Gurucose shows glucose values using CGMs and also indicates how fast your glucose levels are falling so that you can act in time. With Gurucose, you can take immediate actions to avoid a hypoglycemic state. So if you haven’t already, download the Gurucose app from the App Store or Play Store and connect your CGM!