hormonal and metabolic disorders
Hypoglycemia
Diagnosis of Hypoglycemia
Blood tests to measure glucose level In someone who is known to have diabetes, a doctor may suspect hypoglycemia when symptoms are described. The diagnosis may be confirmed when low glucose levels in the blood are measured while the person is experiencing symptoms. In an otherwise healthy person who does not have diabetes, a doctor is usually able to recognize hypoglycemia based on the symptoms, medical history, a physical examination, and simple tests. Doctors first measure the level of glucose in the blood. A low glucose level in the blood found at the time a person is experiencing typical symptoms of hypoglycemia confirms the diagnosis in a person without diabetes, especially if the relationship between a low glucose level in the blood and symptoms is demonstrated more than once. If symptoms are relieved as the glucose levels in the blood rise within a few minutes of ingesting sugar, the diagnosis is supported. When the relationship between a person's symptoms and the level of glucose in the blood remains unclear in a person who does not have diabetes, additional tests may be needed. Often, the next step is measurement of the glucose level in the blood after fasting in a hospital or other closely supervised setting. More extensive tests may also be needed. If use of a medication such aspentamidineorquinineis thought to be the cause of hypoglycemia, the medication is stopped and blood glucose levels are measured to determine if they increase. If the cause remains unclear, other laboratory tests may be needed. If an insulinoma is suspected, measurements ofinsulinlevels in the blood during fasting (sometimes up to 72 hours) may be needed. If theinsulinlevels are high and suggest a tumor, the doctor will try to locate it before treatment. Sometimes a laboratory error (such as when a blood sample is stored for too long) can result in glucose levels that are artificially low, called pseudohypoglycemia. 