Hypoglycemia and Diabetes Risk

I have low blood sugar. Does that mean I'm at greater risk for diabetes?

In general, having problems with symptoms that are associated with mild low blood sugars does not indicate diabetes, and does not suggest there is a particularly greater risk for diabetes. However, there are cases when there might be a tie in.

Diabetes Mellitus is a disorder characterized by high blood sugars (hyperglycemia). It is diagnosed by having sugars that are > 126 mg/dl in the morning before eating, or > 200 mg/dl after meals. Mild low blood sugars (hypoglycemia) are sugar levels 50-70 mg/dl. Significant low sugars are sugars < 50 mg/dl. Symptoms of low blood sugars actually occur due to the sympathetic response in the body to the low sugar, and include anxiety, weakness, tremor, perspiration, or palpitations.

Significantly low sugars (<50 mg/dl) can have several causes. In a patient who already has diabetes, the most likely cause is that it is a side effect of a medication. In a patient without diabetes, significant hypoglycemia is otherwise very uncommon.

There is some evidence that rarely patients with pre-diabetes or very early diabetes may have significant low sugars after meals. This is presumably due to a delayed but then inappropriately strong insulin response to the rapid rise in glucose after a meal. Therefore, patients who have significant hypoglycemia (sugars < 50 mg/dl) may want to discuss screening for diabetes with their doctor.