How is hypoglycemia diagnosed in patients with and without diabetes?
- Hypoglycemia is defined by a blood glucose value of less than 70 mg/dL in patients with diabetes.
- Insulin therapy and other antidiabetic medications that cause low blood sugars are the leading culprits.
In patients without diabetes, the following hypoglycemia triad (known as Whipple’s triad) should be established:
- Symptoms of hypoglycemia (e.g., sweating, cognitive impairment, dizziness, palpitations)
- Measured low blood glucose (< 70 mg/dL) at the time of hypoglycemic symptoms
- Resolution of symptoms with food intake (i.e., glucose)
