Hypoglycemia - Causes

The carbohydrates we eat are changed into glucose in the digestive system. The glucose passes into the bloodstream and is carried to cells, where it is used to make energy.

Under normal conditions, blood contains just the right amount of glucose. Cells receive all the glucose they need to function properly. But sometimes, blood contains too much or too little glucose. These conditions are called hyperglycemia ("hyper" means "too much") and hypoglycemia ("hypo" means "too little"). Cells either get more glucose than they can use or do not get enough to function normally.

These conditions are caused by two factors. First, a person may eat a diet that provides too much or too little glucose to the body. For example, people who eat a lot of sugar may develop hypoglycemia.

Second, the cells in a person's body may lack the ability to use glucose normally. The person may have inherited the defect from his or her parents. Or something may have happened in the person's life to cause the defect. In either case, the person's blood contains too much or too little glucose. In the latter case, hypoglycemia results.

There is some debate about the nature of idiopathic hypoglycemia. The condition is being diagnosed much less frequently than it was a few decades ago. Some doctors think the condition is caused by other medical problems and is not a disorder in and of itself. Others think that idiopathic hypoglycemia is actually an early stage of diabetes.