causes of hypoglycaemia in non-diabetic

Last reviewed 10/2023

Hypoglycaemia may be caused by:

  • endocrine disease:
    • Addison's disease
    • hypopituitarism
    • congenital adrenal hyperplasia
    • insulinoma
    • nesidioblastosis
    • insulin or oral hypoglycaemic abuse

  • liver and gut disease:
    • severe liver failure
    • alcohol abuse
    • lag storage absorption
    • glycogen storage disease
    • galactosaemia

  • other disorders:
    • advanced malignancies:
      • fibroma
      • sarcoma
      • hepatoma
    • malaria
    • salicylate poisoning
    • hypothermia
    • Reye's syndrome
    • Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
    • ketotic hypoglycaemia

Note that post-prandial hypoglycaemia may occur after gastric surgery (dumping syndrome). Post-prandial hypoglycaemia may also occur in individuals with mild Type II hypoglycaemia.