Behavioristic aspects of hypoglycemia.

Abstract

Hypoglycemia is a state of lowered blood sugar which is found in many diverse conditions. There are two general types, the provoked forms which are induced by causes external to the organism, and spontaneous types which arise within the organism. Spontaneous hypoglycemia frequently arises from pathological changes which are hepatic, pancreatic, or endocrinal in character. The hypoglycemic syndrome is complex and varied. Symptoms may be precursory or acute in character, and may range from hunger and weakness to convulsions and coma. The mental symptoms range in severity from border line cases that, because of physical incapacity of mild degree, constitute behavior problems in the school and home, to the acute forms which may be mistaken for epilepsy, epidemic encephalitis and aphasia.