Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, typically feels like a combination of physical and mental symptoms caused by the body not having enough glucose for energy. Common early signs include:
- Feeling hungry
- Trembling or shakiness
- Sweating
- Feeling anxious or irritable
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Tingling lips
- Fast or pounding heartbeat
- Feeling weak or tired
- Difficulty concentrating or confusion
- Blurred vision
As blood sugar drops further, symptoms can worsen to include slurred speech, poor coordination, unusual behavior, and in severe cases, seizures, loss of consciousness, or coma
. Some people may experience hypoglycemia during sleep, leading to night sweats, nightmares, restless sleep, and feeling tired or confused upon waking
. These symptoms arise because low blood sugar triggers the release of adrenaline (epinephrine), which causes many of the physical signs such as shaking, sweating, and a rapid heartbeat
. People with diabetes who take insulin or certain medications are most at risk, but hypoglycemia can also occur in others due to factors like malnutrition or excessive alcohol intake
. In summary, low blood sugar feels like a sudden onset of hunger, shakiness, sweating, anxiety, weakness, and cognitive difficulties that can escalate if not treated promptly.
