Life with diabetes touches many families. Mami Amina was diagnosed with diabetes. She learned that diabetes raises the risk of heart disease, known as cardiovascular disease (CVD), by two to four times compared to those without diabetes. But one surprising danger she discovered was not just high blood sugar, but also low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia.
Mami Amina often worried, “Can my low blood sugar cause a heart attack?” Medical research tells us that when blood sugar drops too low, it triggers a chain reaction in the body. The heart faces extra stress, the heart beats faster, blood pressure rises, and electrical changes in the heart muscle can lead to irregular heartbeats. These changes can sometimes cause sudden heart problems, including heart attacks.
Effects of hypoglycemia ( Low blood sugar) in the heart
Low blood sugar doesn’t just drain energy; it causes oxidative stress on heart cells and may disturb the heart’s natural rhythm. In older adults like Mami Amina, especially with diabetes or clogged arteries, these stresses increase the chance of heart attacks or sudden heart death.
Doctors recommend a careful balance, avoiding both high and dangerously low blood sugar levels, to protect the heart. Monitoring symptoms like dizziness, sweating, confusion, and a fast heartbeat is important. Eating regularly and following medical advice keeps blood sugar stable and the heart safe.
Next Steps
The Bible offers comfort for heart health: “…The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10). Taking care of our hearts is part of keeping this strength in our lives. Understanding these risks helps families and elders live healthier, with hearts nurtured and protected. Take our free heart test today.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the symptoms of a hypoglycemia attack?
Symptoms include sweating, shaking, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and loss of consciousness. - What happens to untreated hypoglycemia?
It can lead to coma, brain damage, or sudden death. - Why is hypoglycemia an emergency?
Hypoglycemia is an emergency because blood sugar levels too low can cause confusion, seizures, and dangerous heart problems if not treated quickly.
