[Causes, diagnosis, and treatment of hypoglycemia].

Diagnosis and treatment of hypoglycemia is an actual problem because glucose is the principal source of energy for central nervous system except permanent starvation when the ketone bodies are used by the central nervous system for energy. Glucose homeostasis depends on primary glucoregulatory organs--pancreas, liver, adrenal glands, and hypophysis. Insulin, glucagon, cathecholamines, cortisol, and growth hormone take part in this interaction. Hypoglycemia can develop if there are disorders of glucoregulatory organs resulting in imbalance of normal glucose homeostasis. Hypoglycemia presents with autonomic symptoms--hunger, palpitations, tremor, sweating--and with neuroglycopenic symptoms--confusion, drowsiness, odd behavior, speech difficulties, incoordination. None of these symptoms is specific just to hypoglycemia. Frequently hypoglycemia has to be differentiated with neurologic, psychiatric, and cardiovascular disorders. In this article the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of hypoglycemia are reviewed.