How should we differentiate hypoglycaemia in non-diabetic patients?
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Michele R. Modestino
,
Olimpia Iacono
,
Umberto De Fortuna
Abstract
Hypoglycaemic syndromes are rare in apparently healthy individuals and their diagnosis can be a difficult challenge for clinicians as there are no shared guidelines that suggest how to approach patients with a suspect hypoglycaemic disorder. Since hypoglycaemia symptoms are common and nonspecific, it’s necessary to document the Whipple Triad (signs and/or symptoms compatible with hypoglycaemia; relief of symptoms following glucose administration; low plasma glucose levels) before starting any procedure. Once the triad is documented, a meticulous anamnesis and laboratory tests (blood glucose, insulin, proinsulin, C-peptide, β-hydroxybutyrate and anti-insulin antibodies) should be performed. Results can guide the physician towards further specific tests, concerning the suspected disease. In this review, we consider all current causes of hypoglycaemia, including rare diseases such as nesidioblastosis and Hirata’s syndrome, describe appropriate tests for diagnosis and suggest strategies to differentiate hypoglycaemia aetiology.
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Research ethics: The local Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt from review.
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Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
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Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Data Availability: Not applicable.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorials
- Doctor patient relationship in AI era: trying to decipher the problem
- “Adiponcosis interplay: adipose tissue, microenvironment and prostate cancer”
- Minireview
- Interplay between male gonadal function and overall male health
- Reviews
- How should we differentiate hypoglycaemia in non-diabetic patients?
- Pozelimab, a human monoclonal immunoglobulin for the treatment of CHAPLE disease
- Cannabis effectiveness on immunologic potency of pulmonary contagion
- Exploring the impact of vitamin D on tendon health: a comprehensive review
- The underlying causes, treatment options of gut microbiota and food habits in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a narrative review
- Original Articles
- Long-term functional outcomes and predictors of efficacy in thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): a retrospective observational study
- Investigating Majhool date (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption effects on fasting blood glucose in animals and humans
- A novel variant in the FLNB gene associated with spondylocarpotarsal synostosis syndrome
- Exploring pathogenic pathways in carpal tunnel syndrome: sterile inflammation and oxidative stress
