How common is tremor in hypoglycaemia?

When blood glucose falls, the body releases hormones that help raise it. Those hormones can make your hands or body shake. You may also feel weak, dizzy, irritable, sweaty, hungry, or notice your heart beating quickly. Symptoms can develop suddenly, especially after missed food, strenuous activity, alcohol, or glucose-lowering medicine.

Tremor can occur for other reasons as well, so it does not identify the cause by itself. If you can do so safely, check your glucose when symptoms begin and record what you ate, your activity, and any medicine taken.

If you are awake and able to swallow, follow your clinician’s plan for treating low glucose with a quick source of carbohydrate. Recheck as advised, then eat a snack or meal that will help prevent another drop. Sit down, avoid driving, and tell someone nearby what is happening.

Do not give food or drink to a person who is drowsy, having a seizure, or unable to swallow. Use their prescribed emergency treatment if available and seek urgent medical help.

Get urgent help if confusion, fainting, seizure, severe weakness, or difficulty swallowing develops, or if the person does not improve after the agreed emergency treatment. Arrange medical review when episodes recur, happen during sleep, follow a medicine change, or occur without an obvious trigger.

Ask which symptoms should prompt a glucose check, what treatment to carry, whether your medicines or meal pattern need review, and how to prevent episodes during exercise or travel.