Hypoglycemia: Diagnosis and Clinical Management in Adults Literature Review

Abstract

We will see that the diagnosis and clinical management of hypoglycemia constitutes one of the main metabolic complications associated with the treatment of diabetes mellitus and represents a potentially serious clinical condition. Hypoglycemia is defined, in clinical practice, as plasma glucose levels below 70 mg/dL, which can cause autonomic and neuroglycopenic manifestations. The pathophysiology involves an imbalance between insulin secretion and the counterregulatory mechanisms responsible for maintaining glycemic homeostasis. Diagnosis is based on Whipple's triad, which includes compatible symptoms, laboratory documentation of hypoglycemia, and resolution of symptoms after glycemia correction. Clinical management depends on the severity of the condition and may include administration of rapidly absorbed carbohydrates, intravenous glucose or glucagon. This study aims to review the main pathophysiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of hypoglycemia, emphasizing its relevance in the context of medical practice and the safety of diabetic patients.