Hypoglycemic Syndrome refers to a clinical phenomenon caused by various factors leading to blood glucose levels below the normal range.

bubble_chart Etiology

Common causes of hypoglycemia include insulinoma, use of hypoglycemic drugs, extrapancreatic tumors, early-stage diabetes, and post-gastrointestinal surgery leading to excessive glucose utilization; insufficient hormones such as cortisol, enzyme deficiency disorders like glycogen storage disease; acquired liver diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer; insufficient nutrient substrates like grade III malnutrition and late-stage pregnancy [third trimester]; other factors like ethanol, propranolol, and salicylic acid impairing glucose production, etc., all of which can lead to hypoglycemia. Unstable neurohumoral regulation of insulin secretion and/or glucose metabolism, or increased vagal tone accelerating gastric emptying, may cause functional hypoglycemia.

bubble_chart Clinical Manifestations

Hypoglycemia often occurs during the course of primary diseases. Due to the response of the sympathetic nerves and adrenal medulla to hypoglycemia, a large amount of adrenaline is released, leading to symptoms such as palpitation, hunger, trembling hands and feet, sweating, pale skin, and grade I elevated blood pressure. Insufficient energy supply to brain cells caused by hypoglycemia results in brain dysfunction, gradually manifesting as difficulty in concentration, slowed thinking and speech, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, hallucinations, agitation, and even epileptic-like spasms, convulsions, and unconsciousness.

bubble_chart Diagnosis

The diagnosis is typically based on classic hypoglycemic symptoms and a blood glucose level below 2.2 mmol/L. Functional hypoglycemia usually shows normal blood glucose measurements.

The primary approach is symptomatic treatment, correcting hypoglycemia, with severe cases requiring long-term glucose supplementation. To prevent hypoglycemic episodes, frequent small meals can be consumed. The use of glucocorticoids and glucagon can increase blood glucose levels to alleviate symptoms. Active efforts should be made to identify and treat the underlying disease.