It is called hypoglycemia—this is a medical condition where the blood sugar drops and the symptoms can be everything from confusion to passing out. Diabetics, who have elevated blood sugar but take medication that can lower the sugar know the feeling well.

Now there is a report from the New England Journal of Medicine that is based on following 11,000 diabetics over five years and the researchers found that there was an increased relationship between severe hypoglycemia and death. There was also double the risk of a non-fatal heart attack and stroke.

This is important information for physicians in monitoring long term effects but it also reinforces the point that people with more difficult to control cases of diabetes often have more complications.

Reported By: Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor