Hypoglycemia: the "undisease".

Patients with a wise variety of medical problems have been labeled as having "hypoglycemia" during the past several years. Hypoglycemia, however, indicates only a diminished content of blood or plasma glucose. In individual cases the existence of hypoglycemia needs to be ascertained by objective laboratory measurements. Once confirmed, it is necessary to determine which of the many conditions capable of inducing hypoglycemia is present. Therapy must be directed against a specific diagnosis. It is not sufficient to decide by history without laboratory confirmation that a patient has hypoglycemia and then prescribe dietary modification.