Hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) in non-diabetic people

Reviewed by Dr Patrick Davey, cardiologist

Exercise and diet
Exercise lowers the blood glucose level but will normally not cause hypoglycaemic episodes in otherwise healthy people.

If symptoms of hypoglycaemia are experienced during sport or exercise, try eating some complex carbohydrates - starch, pasta for example - before beginning. During the exercise consume simple carbohydrates like glucose, in sports drinks for example.

When reactive hypoglycaemia has been diagnosed, the most important thing to do is to change the diet. It should consist of a lot of complex carbohydrates - potatoes, rice, pasta, etc - and be divided into more, but smaller meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner and three in-between meals - to avoid the big fluctuations in the insulin secretion from the pancreas.

How is hypoglycaemia treated?
Reactive hypoglycaemia is treated with diet changes as described above. If a tumour in the pancreas is found, it is usually removed. However, if this cannot be done, the condition can be controlled by injecting sandostatin. Weakened adrenal and pituitary glands are treated with medication.

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