Hypoglycemia
Definition
Dangerously low blood glucose, generally defined as levels below 70 mg/dL, with severe hypoglycemia occurring below 54 mg/dL. Symptoms include shakiness, sweating, confusion, rapid heartbeat, and in severe cases, seizures or loss of consciousness. CGMs with predictive low glucose alerts — such as the Dexcom G7 urgent low alarm at 55 mg/dL — can warn users 20 minutes before glucose drops to dangerous levels, significantly reducing the frequency and severity of hypoglycemic episodes.
Why “Hypoglycemia” Matters for Glucose Monitoring
Understanding hypoglycemia is essential for anyone using or evaluating a continuous glucose monitor. This concept directly affects how CGM devices are designed, how glucose data is interpreted, and how clinical decisions about blood sugar management are made. Medical terms related to glucose physiology help patients and clinicians communicate effectively about blood sugar patterns, treatment goals, and the clinical significance of CGM data.
This term is particularly relevant to 2 CGM products in our database. Understanding hypoglycemia helps you compare devices more effectively and choose the right continuous glucose monitor for your specific needs.
Related Terms
Abnormally high blood glucose, generally defined as levels above 180 mg/dL after meals or above 130 mg/dL fasting.
The percentage of time a person's glucose level remains within a defined target range, typically 70 to 180 mg/dL for most people with diabetes.
Hemoglobin A1C is a blood test that measures the percentage of hemoglobin proteins coated with sugar, reflecting average blood glucose levels over the previous 2 to 3 months.
An automated insulin delivery (AID) system that combines a real-time CGM with an insulin pump and a control algorithm to automatically adjust basal insulin delivery based on predicted glucose trends.
A continuous glucose monitor that automatically and continuously transmits glucose readings to a display device — such as a smartphone, smartwatch, or insulin pump — without requiring the user to scan or interact with the sensor.