Low blood sugar can be life-threatening if you have a serious condition like diabetes or Graves disease. However, some other ailments--such as reactive hypoglycemia--result in low blood sugar without the risk of coma or death.
Diabetes
According to the National Institutes of Health, many diabetes medications can cause hypoglycemia, such as chlorpropamide and glimepiride. Hypoglycemia can lead to coma or death in diabetic patients; life-threatening hypoglycemia is more common in type 1 diabetes.
Postprandial Reactive Hypoglycemia
Despite the unpleasant physical symptoms of postprandial reactive hypoglycemia (nausea, chills, shaking, etc.), true reactive hypoglycemia does not lead to coma or death. When blood sugar drops, the body usually compensates by producing more glucose within 20 minutes, avoiding a life-threatening condition.
Ketotic ("Toddlers") Hypoglycemia
Ketotic hypoglycemia usually occurs in young children up to 10 years old. If left untreated, hypoglycemic spells can lead to brain damage.
Congenital conditions
There are many causes of congenital hypoglycemia in newborns, including: a child with a diabetic mother, trauma or reduced oxygen during delivery, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (an overgrowth disorder) and rare genetic conditions. Depending on the severity of the underlying disorder, brain damage and coma are possible outcomes for hypoglycemia.
Cancer
Hypoglycemia can be caused by a serious underlying condition like cancer. Hypoglycemia-causing cancers include liver cancer, fibrosarcoma, hepatoma, mesothelioma and fibrosarcoma. Acute hypoglycemia in these cases can be life-threatening.
Other Serious Conditions
There are many other causes of hypoglycemia which can be life-threatening, including liver and kidney disorders. The best course of action for undiagnosed hypoglycemia is to visit a physician promptly.
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