The short explanation
Those symptoms, shakiness, sweating, a pounding heart, hunger, irritability or confusion, can be signs of low blood sugar, called hypoglycaemia. Some diabetes medicines, especially certain tablets and insulin, can cause sugar to drop too low, particularly if a meal is delayed or smaller than usual, or after extra physical activity. If you have a glucose meter, check your sugar when it happens. If it is low, or if you cannot check but feel these symptoms, having a quick source of sugar such as glucose powder, a sweet drink or a few sweets can help, followed by a proper meal. Tell your doctor about these episodes, because your medicine or timing may need adjusting.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Low sugar can also happen without warning signs in some people, especially older adults or those with long-standing diabetes.
- Kidney problems, drinking alcohol, skipping meals and fasting increase the risk.
- Family members should know the signs and what to do.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you whether your symptoms are due to low sugar or something else, such as anxiety or heart rhythm problems. Checking your sugar during an episode and discussing it with your doctor is needed.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Could my medicine be causing low sugar?
- Should my treatment or meal timing be changed?
- What should I keep with me in case it happens?
- How should my family help if I become confused?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 if someone with diabetes becomes unconscious, has a seizure, or is too confused to swallow safely.
Get help the same day
- Contact your doctor the same day if you have repeated episodes or a severe low.
Book an appointment soon
- See your doctor within a few days to review your medicines if episodes happen even occasionally.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Diabetes MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
- Preventing diabetes problems National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH)
- Type 2 diabetes NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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