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What Causes Low Blood Sugar In A Teenager?
Question: Hello doctor,
my sister is 13 years old and surprisingly she had low blood sugar. Her sugar levels dropped to as low as 40. After one month, Now it's normal.
What could be the reason of such low blood sugar at such a young age?
What precautions we should take, to maintain the sugar level?
my sister is 13 years old and surprisingly she had low blood sugar. Her sugar levels dropped to as low as 40. After one month, Now it's normal.
What could be the reason of such low blood sugar at such a young age?
What precautions we should take, to maintain the sugar level?
Brief Answer:
About low blood sugar;
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking!
I can understand your concern regarding to your sisters health.
First it is very important to know if the low blood sugars are fasting or postprandial.
Usually the most common pathologies to be excluded in this age is an underactive thyroid and a low cortisol level.
Pancreatic tumors secreting insulin (insulinoma)that can cause low blood sugar are rare in these ages, and usually the hypoglicemic events are fasting.
If she is overweight and the blood sugar are low after eating a certain amount of carbohydrates, than reactive hypoglicemia is suspected. The treatment consists in loosing weight, avoid carbohydrates and eat small portions every 3 hours.
She should se a physician to exclude the above mentioned pathlogies (underactive thyroid or low cortisol production).
Hope i have been helpful.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
About low blood sugar;
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking!
I can understand your concern regarding to your sisters health.
First it is very important to know if the low blood sugars are fasting or postprandial.
Usually the most common pathologies to be excluded in this age is an underactive thyroid and a low cortisol level.
Pancreatic tumors secreting insulin (insulinoma)that can cause low blood sugar are rare in these ages, and usually the hypoglicemic events are fasting.
If she is overweight and the blood sugar are low after eating a certain amount of carbohydrates, than reactive hypoglicemia is suspected. The treatment consists in loosing weight, avoid carbohydrates and eat small portions every 3 hours.
She should se a physician to exclude the above mentioned pathlogies (underactive thyroid or low cortisol production).
Hope i have been helpful.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
hello doctor,
she is not overweight, she is a healthy girl.
Her low blood sugar lasted for as long as one month.
this is the first time she has experienced this. is it related to diabetes?
what care should we take to keep her blood sugar levels at normal level?
she is not overweight, she is a healthy girl.
Her low blood sugar lasted for as long as one month.
this is the first time she has experienced this. is it related to diabetes?
what care should we take to keep her blood sugar levels at normal level?
Brief Answer:
About low blood sugar:
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
Would you please inform further about the above asked information; is the blood glucose low fasting or postprandial? Is the thyroid function checked? What is the result of HbA1c level (the mean glucose value of the last 3 months)?
Will be a pleasure to help you further.
best wishes,
Dr.Mirjeta
About low blood sugar:
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
Would you please inform further about the above asked information; is the blood glucose low fasting or postprandial? Is the thyroid function checked? What is the result of HbA1c level (the mean glucose value of the last 3 months)?
Will be a pleasure to help you further.
best wishes,
Dr.Mirjeta
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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