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Sometimes. Symptoms of hypoglycemia are divided into the adrenergic and the neuroglycopenic. Adrenergic responses are caused by increased activity of the autonomic nervous system and may be triggered by a rapid fall in blood glucose (bG) or by low absolute bG levels; symptoms include weakness sweating tachycardia palpitations tremor nervousness irritability (sound familiar?) tingling of mouth and fingers hunger nausea or vomiting (unusual) The autonomic nervous system activity also causes the secretion of epinephrine, glucagon, cortisol and growth hormone. The first two are secreted rapidly and eliminated rapidly. The second two are secreted slowly and remain active for 4-6 hours, and may cause reactive hyperglycemia. Neuroglycopenic responses are caused by decreased activity of the central nervous system and are triggered only by low absolute bG levels; symptoms include headache hypothermia visual disturbances mental dullness confusion amnesia seizures coma The above information is from Mayer Davidson's _Diabetes Mellitus: Diagnosis and Treatment_. Remember, as always, that individual responses vary greatly. The exact set of symptoms encountered will vary. It's not impossible that some of the symptoms will fall in the other category for some individuals.
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Last Update May 13 2007 @ 00:22 AM