Hypoglycemia

Abstract

Hypoglycemia is a clinical syndrome that has diverse causes and is characterized by episodes of low blood glucose and typically marked by autonomic and neuroglycopenic manifestations. This review discusses the classification, etiology, and diagnosis for hypoglycemia, including the Whipple triad, and the classic diagnostic test, the prolonged (72-hour) fast. Specific attention is given to the conditions that cause hypoglycemia, including insulinomas, factitious hypoglycemia, insulin autoimmune hypoglycemia, and post–gastric bypass hypoglycemia, as well as the diagnosis and management of these conditions.  This review contains 2 figures, 6 figures, and 43 figures.  Keywords: Blood glucose, hypoglycemia, neuroglycopenic manifestations, Whipple triad, 72-hour fast, insulinoma, post-gastric bypass, factitious hypoglycemia