By Marc Dellière, Medical Consultant & Trainer – Specialist in Stress, Prevention & Integrative Health
Sugar is our main fuel.
Too little, and the engine stalls. Too much, and the system clogs up.
In both cases, blood sugar balance is put to the test.
Hypoglycemia: when the body lacks fuel
Imagine a car running out of gas. The body reacts quickly: sweating, trembling, palpitations, intense hunger, confusion... And if nothing is done, it leads to discomfort or even loss of consciousness.
The response must be immediate: a quick sugar boost, followed by a slower snack (bread, cookies).
Hyperglycemia: when the tank overflows
Here, it's the opposite. Sugar circulates in the blood... but cannot enter the cells. The result: intense thirst, excessive urination, fatigue, blurred vision.
In the long term, the complications are serious: heart, kidneys, nerves, arteries, eyes.
Treatment is based on a balanced diet, physical activity, hydration, and, of course, medical supervision.
Finding the sweet spot
The body functions optimally when blood sugar levels remain stable, around 0.8 to 1.1 g/L when fasting.
Neither too low nor too high: it is within this range that the brain, muscles, and all our organs find their energy safely.
In summary
- Hypo = running on empty → immediate emergency.
- Hyper = excess fuel → silent but formidable risk.
Learn more about Pep2Dia for glucose management!
Sources:
American Diabetes Association. Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2025. Diabetes Care, 2025, vol. 48, suppl. 1, p. S1–S200. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc25-SINT
Cryer, P. E., Davis, S. N., & Shamoon, H. Hypoglycemia in Diabetes. Diabetes Care, 2003, vol. 26, n° 6, p. 1902–1912. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.26.6.1902
Seaquist, E. R., et al. “Hypoglycemia and Diabetes: A Report of a Workgroup of the American Diabetes Association and the Endocrine Society.” Diabetes Care, 2013, vol. 36, n° 5, p. 1384–1395. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc12-2480
Klemens, B., et al. Fear of hypoglycemia is linked to poorer glycemic control and reduced quality of life in adults with type 1 diabetes. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2025. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1563410/full
International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 10ᵉ éd., Bruxelles, 2021. https://diabetesatlas.org
The consequences of hypoglycaemia (2021) — Amiel, S. A. et al. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00125-020-05366-3