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[HEALTH TIPS] 9 Warning Signs of Low Blood Sugar

By Khadijat Adelani on May 24, 2025

If you’re living with diabetes, you know how important it is to reduce blood sugar when it is too high, a phenomenon called hyperglycemia. But blood sugar that is too low, or hypoglycemia, is equally critical to avoid. 

While type 2 diabetes doesn’t increase a person’s hypoglycemia risk on its own, those who take insulin or medications that increase insulin production can experience low blood sugar, according to Harvard Medical School.
If people who take medication to boost insulin skip a meal, eat fewer carbs than normal, or engage in more physical activity than usual, they risk low blood sugar.
“Hypoglycemia happens when the amount of blood glucose (sugar in the blood) drops to a level that’s too low to sustain normal functioning,” says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDCES, who is based in Sparta, New Jersey. “In most people, doctors define hypoglycemia as a blood sugar level at or below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).”

1. Ravenous Hunger

If you suddenly, inexplicably feel as if you’re extremely hungry, your body is signaling that it’s experiencing a blood sugar drop, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
You can manage your blood sugar by counting your carbohydrate intake and understanding the different types and food sources, notes the ADA.
The “right” amount of carbs for each person depends on a variety of factors, so you should work with your dietitian or certified diabetes care and education specialist to determine what’s right for you.

2. Feelings of Anxiety

When glucose levels fall too low, your body releases the hormones epinephrine (also called adrenaline) and cortisol, which signals the liver to release more sugar into the blood, notes Harvard Medical School.
  • Hypoglycemia can lead to shakiness, sweating, and heart palpitations.
  • Panic attacks share these symptoms, per the Cleveland Clinic.
  •  Sudden, severe feelings of anxiety or panic could point to low blood sugar.
However, according to the ADA, a fear of low blood sugar may cause severe anxiety for around 1 in 7 people with types 1 and 2 diabetes.
In turn, this can affect emotional wellness, quality of life, and diabetes management, contributing to worse diabetes complications.

3. Restless Nights

Doctors use the term “nocturnal hypoglycemia” to refer to blood glucose levels dropping below 70 mg/dl at night. This accounts for about half of all low blood glucose episodes and can cause a number of sleep problems, according to John Hopkins Medicine.

“Symptoms include night sweats, nightmares, episodes of waking suddenly and crying out, and feelings of unrest and confusion upon waking,” says Palinski-Wade. “A snack before bed can reduce the frequency and severity of sleep disturbances.”

Ideally, your blood sugar reading should be between 90 and 150 mg/dL before rest, according to Joslin Diabetes Center.

4. Shakes and Tremors

According to a study published in 2023, shaking is a common symptom of hypoglycemia, especially in people with diabetes.
The study authors reported research that found 71 percent of a small sample of older adults with diabetes experienced tremors during hypoglycemic events.
In response to hypoglycemia, the body releases hormones like adrenaline and noradrenaline.
These increase blood sugar levels, but they also trigger some of early symptoms of hypoglycemia such as sweating, palpitations, and tremors.

5. Sweating

Sweating is usually one of the first signs of hypoglycemia. Just like tremors, sweating links to a spike in adrenaline and noradrenaline, which increases as glucose levels drop.
Up to 84 percent of people with diabetes experience sweating when they’re hypoglycemic, according to research.
And according to Kaiser Permanente, sweating is almost always present during low blood sugar episodes but should go away shortly after a person consumes sugar.

6. Lightheadedness

When your blood sugar is low, your brain tries to preserve as much energy as possible. You may feel lightheaded as a result.
If you experience this common symptom of hypoglycemia, Mayo Clinic recommends treating the hypoglycemia quickly with 15 to 20 grams (g) of fast-acting carbs, such as juice.
Try to lie down, too. If the lightheadedness keeps up for more than 15 minutes, it’s time to seek medical help.

7. Difficulty Concentrating

The brain relies on blood sugar for energy, so if there’s a drop in glucose, your brain may not function at full capacity.
That can make it difficult to concentrate on one thing at a time.
Repeated instances of severe hypoglycemia risks long-term brain damage, especially around spatial learning and memory, according to a study published in 2018.

8. Vision Problems

If you suddenly start experiencing vision problems, a drop in blood sugar may be the culprit. The reduced brain function that contributes to concentration problems may also lead to blurred vision and can even contribute to seizures and loss of consciousness.
According to the Optometrists Network, blurred vision is one of the earliest hypoglycemia symptoms.
It might affect a single eye or both. However, correcting blood sugar levels will often restore normal vision.

9. Slurred Speech and Poor Coordination

Your sugar-starved brain may change the way you sound. Slurred speech is a common symptom associated with blood sugar levels that drop below 40 mg/dL, notes Mayo Clinic.
Combined with clumsy movements — another sign of low blood sugar — you may seem as though you’ve had a few too many cocktails, even if you haven’t touched a drop, according to the U.K.’s National Health Service.
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