question and answer
Coffee, no sugar
February 2010
I have a young patient in whom typical hypoglycemic symptoms are induced by drinking coffee. Any explanation? A. Kilany, MD, Toronto, ON
Caffeine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system and can cause symptoms of tachycardia, sweating and tremor, symptoms which are also caused by hypoglycemia. In fact hypoglycemia causes those symptoms through the same mechanism, activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
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