• Hypoglycaemia is the most common endocrine emergency

• Diagnostic criteria include a triad of

  • low sugar

  • symptoms of hypoglycaemia (hunger, dizziness, sweating, palpitations, tremor, blurred vision, altered LOC, eventually coma)

  • improvement of symptoms on treatment

Management

• Conscious: 10–20 grams of oral glucose (2 teaspoonfuls of granulated sugar or GlucoGel) should be sufficient. Carbohydrates should be given as soon as possible to replenish the glycogen stores in the liver.

• Altered conscious: glucagon 1mg IM stat

Resources

• Mishra A, Quinn M. Endocrine emergencies. InnovAiT 2020; 13(3): 165–172.