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Hypoglycemia
How to check for hypoglycemia
We usually diagnose hypoglycemia based on the following three criteria. The first is the presence of hypoglycemic symptoms, such as palpitations, tremors, sweating, dizziness, etc. If these symptoms are present, we must immediately consider the possibility of hypoglycemia, and then proceed to monitor blood glucose levels. If the blood glucose reading is below 2.8 for non-diabetic patients and below 3.9 for diabetic patients, hypoglycemia can be considered. Subsequently, the patient should consume sugary water, and if the symptoms significantly alleviate after this, a diagnosis of hypoglycemia can be established. Moreover, if the patient does not have a history of diabetes, does not use hypoglycemic drugs, but experiences recurring episodes of hypoglycemia, further testing is required, such as a fasting test, checking C-peptide levels, insulin levels, etc., to rule out insulinoma.
Causes of Hypoglycemia in Pregnant Women
Hypoglycemia is a relatively common clinical phenomenon in pregnant women during pregnancy, mainly manifesting as dizziness, blurred vision, and even fainting. This occurs because the metabolism of pregnant women accelerates during pregnancy, while the secretion of the islets is not correspondingly increased. This results in the physiological function of the islets being very active, which can easily lead to low blood sugar in expectant mothers, causing symptoms such as dizziness and fatigue due to hypoglycemia. Additionally, hormonal changes during pregnancy can lead to decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, irregular eating habits, and malnutrition in pregnant women. Despite this, energy consumption still occurs, which can also lead to hypoglycemia.