Can diarrhea be related to low blood sugar levels?

Q. Is diarrhea a side-effect of diabetes medication?

Answered by
Dr. Settipalli Saravan Pramod
and medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team.
This is a premium question & answer published on Aug 23, 2017 and last reviewed on: Feb 28, 2022

Hello doctor,

I am a type 2 diabetic, and today I had a low blood sugar episode. I woke up from a nap and my blood sugar had dropped to 80. My fasting blood sugar is usually around 110. After I ate something and started feeling better, I had bad diarrhea. Is it somehow linked to my low blood sugar? I am currently on Metformin, Levothyroxine, and Kariva birth control pills.

#

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern about sugar levels.

  • As you mentioned that you were diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes, could you specify for how long you have been having it?
  • Please get your diabetes medications rechecked if you have not done so recently. Do you take anything else for diabetes apart from Metformin?
  • Regarding your diarrhea, it might be related to diabetes unless proven to be from other causes.
  • Regarding your early morning dizziness, it is related to your sugar levels dropping. It can be improved by taking sugar. Kindly recheck your medication and repeat FBS (fasting blood sugar) and PPBS (post prandial blood sugar) before follow up.
  • I also observe that you entered your weight as 108 kg. In that case, I advise you to get a USG abdomen done to rule PCOD (polycystic ovarian disease), as this might be causing you to gain weight. Do you have irregular menstruation?
  • The obesity might also be due to hypothyroidism, but I do not have sufficient information to say for sure.

Feel free to follow up anytime. Stay healthy.

For more information consult an internal medicine physician online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/internal-medicine-physician


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