Normally blood sugar drops between meals to about 60-110 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). With the condition, hypoglycemia, it can drop to or below 40 mg/dL. This means the cells are not getting enough glucose to supply the cells with energy.

Symptoms include: sweating, rapid heartbeat, trembling, poor coordination, numbness, slurred speech, and hunger. In severe cases, such as when blood sugar levels drop to 30 mg/dL, a person can experience convulsions, seizures, hospitalization, and coma. There is an impairment in mental function because no fuel is getting to the brain.

In people with diabetes- hypoglycemia can be cause by taking too much insulin, exercising too much, or not eating enough. Hypoglycemia can also be caused by more serious conditions like liver disease or tumors in the pancreas.

Reactive hypoglycemia- rebound effect of the body. After eating a large meal, the body secretes too much insulin, resulting in a drop in blood sugar. This usuaslly occurs two to four hours after eating. This is not the same as extreme hunger. Extreme hunger has symptoms of rumbling stomach, headache, and feelings of weakness. This occurs six to eight hours after eating.

If you feel as if your blood sugar is dropping drink some fruit juice, a soft drink, or eat some quick-sugar foods. These include table sugar, skim milk, honey, corn syrup, jam, raisins, gum drops, hard candy, and glucose tablets or gel. It is also a good idea to carry some of these products with you at all times or in your car, so that something is available at all times.

If you are experiencing episodes of hypoglycemia, you need to pay attention to how you feel two to four hours after eating, talk to your physician about scheduling regular check-ups and testing you blood sugar levels.

Make family and friends aware of your condition, so that they can recognize symptoms and help avoid further risk. One suggestion is to wear a medical-alert bracelet or badge.