DO you know that shakiness, faintness, dizziness or tremor are frequent signs of idiopathic reactive hypoglycemia (IRH), particularly when it is accompanied by nausea and fatigue. Hypoglycemia causes a sudden temporary fall in blood glucose levels and a resultant adrenaline release. It may be caused by certain foods or food combinations. Do you get palpitations or heart irregularity which are not uncommon in this condition? These are symptoms due to adrenalin release. Transitory gray patches in the field of vision (called scotomata) may also occur without warning, but may precede a Migraine type headache or fuzzy headedness and mental depression, even melancholia or mood swings. These are central nervous system symptoms often accompanying abnormal changes in blood glucose levels. If you suffer these symptoms then you may be suffering from reactive hypoglycemia! Do you have family members who are diabetic?

Note: Idiopathic reactive hypoglycaemia (IRH) should be differentiated from Diabetic hypoglycaemia. In the latter case there is a fall in blood sugar mainly due to the relative over treatment with diabetic medication, particularly insulin. There are also other, more rare causes of a low blood sugar.

Our sympathetic doctors look forward to helping you. They may do medical tests to exclude other diseases that can cause your symptoms or test you for reactions to certain allergens (allergy tests). Priority is given to what might be triggering your symptoms.

This practical information is made available by the Allergy Centre. We can tell you if you have Hypoglycaemia, what it is, how you can be tested for it, what you can do about it and the best treatment to use for your Hypoglycaemia.