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Table 26-1

Causes of Hypoglycemia in Adults

Ill or Medicated Individual

  1. Drugs

    Insulin or insulin secretagogue

    Alcohol

    Others

  2. Critical illness

    Hepatic, renal, or cardiac failure

    Sepsis

    Inanition

  3. Hormone deficiency

    Cortisol

    Growth hormone

    Glucagon and epinephrine (in insulin-deficient diabetes)

  4. Non-islet cell tumor (e.g., Mesenchymal tumors)

    Seemingly Well Individual

  5. Endogenous hyperinsulinism

    Insulinoma

    Functional β-cell disorders (nesidioblastosis)

    Noninsulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycemia

    Post-gastric bypass hypoglycemia

    Insulin autoimmune hypoglycemia

    Antibody to insulin

    Antibody to insulin receptor

    Insulin secretagogue

    Other

  6. Disorders of gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation
  7. Exercise
  8. Accidental, surreptitious, or malicious hypoglycemia

Source: Adapted from Cryer PE et al: Evaluation and management of adult hypoglycemic disorders: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 94:709, 2009. ©The Endocrine Society, 2009.