Symptoms of Low Sugar

Sugar in the blood plays a critical role in nourishing and energizing the human body. It undergoes a chemical reaction with oxygen, releasing energy that fuels all the body's functions. Low blood sugar occurs when your body overproduces insulin, a chemical that prevents sugar from entering cells. Mayo Clinic lists several possible causes of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia: insulin medication, drug abuse or an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa. Low blood sugar makes your body unable to power its vital processes. Recognizing the symptoms of low blood sugar levels can potentially save your life.

Physical Symptoms

Hunger, fatigue, low energy levels and muscle weakness are all physical symptoms of low blood sugar. When your body runs low on glucose, it cannot function as efficiently, so the hunger occurs as a stimulus to eat and restore your blood sugar levels to normal. Other physical symptoms include muscle tension, heavy perspiration and rapid heartbeat. These symptoms occur because of the body's release of adrenaline in an effort to raise blood glucose levels, states gastroenterologist Frank Jackson.

Mental Symptoms

Low blood sugar levels also negatively affect your mental capacity. You may experience difficulty concentrating, confusion, anxiety or irritability. Blurred vision may also result. The brain's function decreases because it lacks the necessary energy to produce action potentials to relay messages through the nervous system. According to the Franklin Institute, neurons require twice as much energy as other cells because of being in constant metabolic activity.

Raising Blood Sugar

If you experience one or more of the symptoms of low blood sugar, you can increase your blood sugar to normal levels. Eat foods that contain complex carbohydrates and have a low glycemic index. Complex carbohydrates appear in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, brown rice, pasta, legumes and nuts, according to the Linus Paulding Institute at Oregon State University. A food that has a low glycemic index tends to take longer to raise blood sugar levels. Rapid spikes in blood glucose levels stimulate the production of insulin; therefore, you should seek to increase your blood sugar slowly to normal levels. This level varies from person to person; seek advice from your physician before making any major changes to your diet.