What is the difference between Diabetes and Hypoglycemia?

Diabetes is a metabolic disease whereby a person has high blood sugar due to an inability to produce or inability to metabolize sufficient quantities of the hormone insulin. A diabetic patient will have a persistent state of hyperglycemia.

There are many complications that can arise from diabetes. Possible complications are a stroke, kidney disease, eye disease, nerve damage, and heart attack. On the other hand, hypoglycemia is a condition of a too low level of blood glucose. It’s not the same as diabetes. In diabetes, the blood glucose is high.

The normal blood glucose level is between 70 to 99mg/dl. Glucose level from a 100 and above is considered hyperglycemia, and levels below 70mg/dl show a state of hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia and diabetes are conditions related to the pancreas and blood sugar levels. Diabetes is linked with elevated blood sugar levels, while hypoglycemia is a low blood sugar level. However, hypoglycemia itself is a symptom of diabetes. Specific symptoms characterize diabetes.

These include extreme thirst, constant hunger, and constant urination. All of these symptoms are due to higher blood sugar levels. Hypoglycemia causes dizziness, impaired vision, foggy brain, and tiredness.

There are two types of diabetes. With type 1, the person depends on insulin. The person may experience ketoacidosis and weight loss. With type 2 diabetes, the person does not depend on insulin.