How common are palpitations in hypoglycaemia?

When glucose falls, the body may release stress hormones that make the heart beat more noticeably. Shaking, sweating, hunger, weakness, irritability, headache or difficulty concentrating can occur at the same time. Similar sensations may arise from exercise, anxiety, medicines, caffeine or a heart rhythm problem, so context matters.

If you have diabetes and follow an individual plan for low glucose, use that plan and check your glucose when possible. If episodes recur, record the timing in relation to meals, activity, alcohol, illness and diabetes medicine. A clinician can review whether your treatment, eating pattern or another cause needs attention.

Get urgent help if you are confused, faint, having a seizure, unable to swallow safely, or do not improve after following your prescribed low-glucose plan. Palpitations with chest pain, severe breathlessness or collapse also require urgent assessment.

Ask whether the episodes fit hypoglycaemia, how to check glucose during symptoms, and whether any diabetes medicines need review. Bring a list of medicines and a note of meals, activity and symptoms around each episode.