Dr. V Mohan in his exclusive series on Diabetes, discusses steps for management of hypoglycemia (moderate to severe) in DM patients, factors that can contribute to risk, and dose adjustments for low blood sugar reactions.

The term 'hypoglycemia' is familiar to most diabetes patients. Put simply, it means low blood sugar. Experts have not agreed on a definite cut-off for low sugar, but in general, a blood sugar level of less than 70 mg/dl can produce symptoms of hypoglycemia in most patients.

Throughout the day, depending on multiple factors, blood glucose levels could vary. This is normal. If it varies within a certain range, you probably won’t be able to tell. But if it very much goes below the healthy range and is not treated, it can get dangerous and that’s when it’s referred to as hypoglycemia.

In normal people, the blood sugar levels are maintained within a narrow range, irrespective of the food they eat or time since the last meal. When the blood glucose rises after a meal, the pancreas secretes insulin which drives the glucose into the cells, thereby lowering the blood glucose back to normal.