Hypoglycemia - Diagnosis

Hypoglycemia can be difficult to diagnose. Its symptoms may change over time. Patients seldom have all or even most of the symptoms listed above. Also, the symptoms of hypoglycemia are similar to those seen in other disorders.

The first step in diagnosis, therefore, is to rule out other possible causes for a patient's symptoms. Even then, the patient may have two or more problems at the same time, only one of which is hypoglycemia.

Drug-induced Hypoglycemia

Patients with drug-induced hypoglycemia have already been diagnosed with a blood-sugar problem. They may already be taking insulin to control their disorder. Or they may be aware of the need for following a certain diet. These patients can usually diagnose their own episodes of hypoglycemia. They can carry with them a simple machine known as a glucometer. They can take a small sample of their blood and test it in the glucometer. If their blood glucose level is too low, the patient can raise it by eating a small amount of sugar.

Idiopathic Hypoglycemia

A standard test for idiopathic hypoglycemia is called an extended oral glucose tolerance test. The patient is instructed to fast (not eat any food) overnight. The patient then drinks a solution of glucose in water. His or her blood is then tested every hour for five to six hours. The results of this test indicate the patient's ability to metabolize glucose.