Hypoglycemia is when the body has low blood sugar. It can happen if someone takes certain medicines, doesn't eat for a long time, drinks alcohol, takes medicines that aren't meant for them, or has a medical condition. How hypoglycemia (hi-po-gly-SEE-me-uh) is treated depends on what caused it.

Your child had an episode of hypoglycemia. They may have had shaking, hunger, sweating, or other symptoms. Their blood sugar is now back to normal, and they can be cared for at home.

Follow your health care provider's instructions for:

• Whether your child needs to make any changes in their diet, such as how often they eat meals and snacks
• Whether your child needs to carry sugar pills or gels with them to treat hypoglycemia if it happens again
• Giving your child any prescribed medicines 
• Going for any medical tests
• Going to see any medical specialists

If your child has symptoms of hypoglycemia again:

• Give juice, soda (regular, not diet or sugar-free), milk, or a sugar pill/gel right away.
• If symptoms don't improve quickly, take your child to the ER or call 911.

• You have any questions about what hypoglycemia is or how to treat it.
• Your child has hypoglycemia again. Tell your health care provider when it happened, what your child was doing when it happened, and how you treated it.

• You treated your child for symptoms of hypoglycemia and the symptoms don't go away.
• If your child is confused, has a seizure, or passes out, call 911.

Why is it important to treat hypoglycemia? Untreated hypoglycemia can lead to passing out, seizures, and even a coma. It also can slow a child's brain development.

What does glucose do? Glucose, a type of sugar, is the body's most important source of energy. The body needs a certain amount of glucose to function. If the level isn't right, it causes symptoms.