Hypoglycemia Blood Test

What is Hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia is a condition where blood glucose levels drop below 70 mg/dL, causing symptoms like shakiness, sweating, confusion, and rapid heartbeat. It is caused by excess insulin production, medication effects, hormone imbalances, or underlying conditions like insulinoma or liver disease. The Glucose Serum test is the most important test for diagnosis because it directly measures blood glucose levels to confirm hypoglycemia.

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What causes hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia is caused by excess insulin production, medication side effects (especially in diabetic patients), hormone deficiencies like cortisol or growth hormone, liver disease, kidney dysfunction, or rare tumors such as insulinoma that overproduce insulin. In people with diabetes, taking too much insulin or diabetes medication without eating enough food is the most common cause. Other causes include excessive alcohol consumption, certain medications like beta-blockers or aspirin, critical illnesses affecting the liver or kidneys, and endocrine disorders like Addison disease or pituitary insufficiency.

What is the best test for hypoglycemia?

The Glucose Serum test is the most important test for hypoglycemia because it directly measures your blood glucose level at the time of testing to confirm if your blood sugar has dropped below 70 mg/dL. To identify the underlying cause, the Insulin Fasting test and C-Peptide Serum test are essential because they measure insulin and C-peptide levels during hypoglycemic episodes to determine if excess insulin production is the problem. The Insulin Free Bioactive test provides even more specific information about the bioactive insulin immediately affecting your blood sugar. These tests together help distinguish between insulin-related hypoglycemia from an insulinoma tumor, medication effects, or other causes.

When should I get tested for hypoglycemia?

You should get tested if you experience frequent episodes of shakiness, sweating, confusion, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, or extreme hunger, especially between meals or after fasting. Testing is particularly important if you have diabetes and suspect your medication dosage needs adjustment, if you experience symptoms during exercise or at night, or if you have unexplained episodes of anxiety, irritability, or weakness that improve after eating. Anyone with repeated low blood sugar readings on home glucose monitors or a family history of insulinoma should also get comprehensive testing to identify the cause.

What are the symptoms of hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia symptoms include shakiness or trembling, sweating (especially cold sweats), rapid or irregular heartbeat, dizziness or lightheadedness, extreme hunger, confusion or difficulty concentrating, irritability or mood changes, weakness or fatigue, blurred vision, headaches, and tingling sensations around the mouth. Severe hypoglycemia can cause seizures, loss of consciousness, or inability to eat or drink. Symptoms typically occur when blood glucose drops below 70 mg/dL and can develop quickly, requiring immediate treatment with fast-acting carbohydrates like juice or glucose tablets.
Who is at risk for hypoglycemia?
People with diabetes who take insulin or certain oral medications like sulfonylureas are at highest risk for hypoglycemia. Other risk factors include having had previous hypoglycemic episodes, kidney or liver disease, hormone deficiencies affecting cortisol or growth hormone, excessive alcohol consumption, eating disorders, history of gastric bypass surgery, certain tumors like insulinoma, and taking medications such as beta-blockers, aspirin, or certain antibiotics. Older adults, people who skip meals frequently, and those who exercise intensely without adjusting food intake or medication are also at increased risk.
What happens if hypoglycemia is left untreated?
Untreated hypoglycemia can progress from mild symptoms like shakiness and confusion to severe complications including seizures, loss of consciousness, brain damage, or even death. Repeated episodes of hypoglycemia can lead to hypoglycemia unawareness, where you lose the ability to recognize warning symptoms, making dangerous drops in blood sugar more likely. Chronic untreated hypoglycemia can cause cognitive impairment, memory problems, increased risk of falls and accidents, cardiovascular complications like irregular heart rhythms, and reduced quality of life. Identifying and treating the underlying cause through proper blood testing is essential to prevent these serious complications.
Can hypoglycemia be diagnosed with a blood test?
Yes, hypoglycemia is definitively diagnosed with blood tests that measure glucose levels when symptoms occur. The Glucose Serum test confirms low blood sugar by showing levels below 70 mg/dL during symptomatic episodes. Additional blood tests including Insulin Fasting, C-Peptide Serum, and Insulin Free Bioactive help identify the underlying cause by measuring insulin production and activity. The Hemoglobin A1c test assesses your average blood sugar over 2-3 months to detect patterns of frequent low blood sugar. For suspected rare causes, specialized tests like IGF-2 for tumor-related hypoglycemia or Kidney Function Profile for metabolic causes provide comprehensive diagnostic information.
How is hypoglycemia treated?
Immediate treatment for hypoglycemia involves consuming 15-20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates like glucose tablets, fruit juice, regular soda, or candy, then rechecking blood sugar after 15 minutes and repeating if needed. Long-term treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include adjusting diabetes medications or insulin doses, eating regular balanced meals with adequate carbohydrates, avoiding alcohol or drinking only with food, treating hormone deficiencies with replacement therapy, or surgically removing insulin-producing tumors. Your healthcare provider may recommend carrying glucose tablets, wearing medical identification, and educating family members about emergency glucagon administration for severe episodes.
How can I prevent hypoglycemia?
Preventing hypoglycemia involves eating regular meals and snacks every 3-4 hours with balanced portions of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. If you have diabetes, monitor your blood glucose regularly, take medications exactly as prescribed, and adjust insulin doses based on food intake and activity level. Always eat before or during exercise, limit alcohol consumption or drink only with meals, and carry fast-acting carbohydrates like glucose tablets when away from home. Work with your healthcare provider to identify your personal blood sugar targets, recognize early warning symptoms, and adjust your treatment plan if you experience frequent low blood sugar episodes.
What can I do at home for hypoglycemia?
At home, treat mild hypoglycemia immediately by consuming 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates such as 4 ounces of fruit juice, 3-4 glucose tablets, or 1 tablespoon of honey, then rest for 15 minutes and recheck your blood sugar. Keep a log of hypoglycemic episodes noting time, symptoms, and what you ate to identify patterns. Maintain a consistent eating schedule with protein-rich snacks like nuts, cheese, or yogurt between meals to stabilize blood sugar. Always keep emergency glucose sources accessible in your home, car, and workplace, and teach family members how to recognize symptoms and assist during severe episodes when you may need help.
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Just reach out to us via text at 754-799-7833 or shoot us an email at support@privatemdlabs.com. Remember to include your order number and let us know the correct information you’d like to update. Our awesome team will jump right in and make sure everything is sorted out and accurate for you.

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As long as your samples haven’t been collected yet, we’re happy to help you cancel your order.

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You can read more about our cancellation policy here.
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If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com and we'll gladly help you.
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