Editing Hypoglycemia (section)

==== Serious illness ====
Serious illness may result in low blood sugar.<ref name="NIH2008" /><ref name="Jameson_2018" /><ref name="Cry2009" /><ref name=":10">{{Cite book |title=StatPearls |vauthors=Mathew P, Thoppil D |date=2022 |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |location=Treasure Island (FL) |chapter=Hypoglycemia |pmid=30521262 |access-date=24 January 2022 |chapter-url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534841/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830033137/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534841/ |archive-date=30 August 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Severe disease of many organ systems can cause hypoglycemia as a secondary problem.<ref name="Jameson_2018" /><ref name="Cry2009" /> Hypoglycemia is especially common in those in the [[intensive care unit]] or those in whom food and drink is withheld as a part of their treatment plan.<ref name="Jameson_2018" /><ref name=":10" />

[[Sepsis]], a common cause of hypoglycemia in serious illness, can lead to hypoglycemia through many ways.<ref name="Jameson_2018" /><ref name=":10" /> In a state of sepsis, the body uses large amounts of glucose for energy.<ref name="Jameson_2018" /><ref name=":10" /> Glucose use is further increased by [[cytokine]] production.<ref name="Jameson_2018" /> [[Cytokine]]s are a protein produced by the body in a state of stress, particularly when fighting an infection.<ref name="Jameson_2018" /> [[Cytokine]]s may inhibit glucose production, further decreasing the body's energy stores.<ref name="Jameson_2018" /> Finally, the [[liver]] and [[kidney]]s are sites of glucose production, and in a state of sepsis those organs may not receive enough oxygen, leading to decreased glucose production due to organ damage.<ref name="Jameson_2018" />

Other causes of serious illness that may cause hypoglycemia include liver failure and kidney failure.<ref name="Jameson_2018" /><ref name=":10" /> The [[liver]] is the main site of glucose production in the body, and any liver failure or damage will lead to decreased glucose production.<ref name="Jameson_2018" /><ref name=":10" /> While the [[kidney]]s are also sites of glucose production, their failure of glucose production is not significant enough to cause hypoglycemia.<ref name="Jameson_2018" /> Instead, the kidneys are responsible for removing insulin from the body, and when this function is impaired in kidney failure, the insulin stays in circulation longer, leading to hypoglycemia.<ref name="Jameson_2018" />