Hypoglycemia Unawareness

The lack of ability to recognize warning signs (symptoms) of the sympathetic nervous system (adrenergic) involving weakness, nervousness, sweating, cold sweats, increased heart rate, and irritability. Adrenergic symptoms may not occur in some persons with diabetes such as: (1) Who have nerve damage and do not release adrenaline (autonomic neuropathy). (2) Have a long duration of diabetes. (3) Have tightly controlled blood glucose levels. (4) Are taking medications for heart disease or hypertension that block the release of adrenaline and are at risk for having severe hypoglycemic reactions. If adrenergic symptoms do not appear or are ignored, the thought process and motor coordination become noticeably difficult from the lack of glucose to the brain.