
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions â written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Hypoglycemia classification
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Hypoglycemia can be classified based on its severity into 5 categories, including severe hypoglycemia, symptomatic hypoglycemia, asymptomatic hypoglycemia, probable symptomatic hypoglycemia, and pseudo hypoglycemia. It also maybe classified based on severity into mild, moderate and severe subtypes.
Classification
Classification
Classification of hypoglycemia in diabetics according to the American Diabetes Association‘s (ADA) and the Endocrine Society Workgroup on Hypoglycemia is:[1][2][3][4]
Severe hypoglycemia
- Severe event in which patient loses consciousness or becomes very dizzy. Patients usually require the assistance of another person to actively administer carbohydrate or glucagon.
- Resolution of neuroglycopenic symptoms after administration of glucose
Symptomatic hypoglycemia
- The symptoms of hypoglycemia are seen with plasma glucose concentration â€70 mg/dL.
Asymptomatic hypoglycemia
- Measured plasma glucose concentration of â€70 mg/dl without typical symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Probable symptomatic hypoglycemia
- When hypoglycemic symptoms do not correlate with low plasma glucose level (but likely due to plasma glucose concentration (70 mg/dL-3.9 mmol/liter).
Pseudohypoglycemia
- Patients with poor glycemic control can experience symptoms of hypoglycemia at plasma glucose levels >70Â mg/dL.
Other classification of hypoglycemia according to severity include:
Mild
- It is characterized by adrenergic and mild neurological symptoms that can be prevented by oral glucose intake.
Moderate
- It is characterized by the presence of neurological symptoms that can prevent the patient from taking oral glucose and most of the patients need help from an observer.
Severe
- It is characterized by the presence of severe neurological symptoms and most of the patients need glucagon and intravenous dextrose.
References
References
- â Seaquist, Elizabeth R.; Anderson, John; Childs, Belinda; Cryer, Philip; Dagogo-Jack, Samuel; Fish, Lisa; Heller, Simon R.; Rodriguez, Henry; Rosenzweig, James; Vigersky, Robert (2013). “Hypoglycemia and Diabetes: A Report of a Workgroup of the American Diabetes Association and The Endocrine Society”. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 98 (5): 1845â1859. doi:10.1210/jc.2012-4127. ISSNÂ 0021-972X.
- â Cryer PE, Axelrod L, Grossman AB, Heller SR, Montori VM, Seaquist ER; et al. (2009). “Evaluation and management of adult hypoglycemic disorders: an Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 94 (3): 709â28. doi:10.1210/jc.2008-1410. PMIDÂ 19088155.
- â Service FJ (1999). “Classification of hypoglycemic disorders”. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 28 (3): 501â17, vi. PMIDÂ 10500928.
- â “Table 1, ADA/ENDO classification of hypoglycemia in diabetes (21,22). – Endotext – NCBI Bookshelf”.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohammed Abdelwahed M.D[2]
