Hypothermia--a sign of hypoglycemia

Hypothermia may occur in association with hypoglycemia, and indeed may be the only sign. Two cases are presented. In one, the patient presented with hypoglycemic encephalopathy. In the insulin dependent diabetic, the condition is life-threatening. Subnormal temperature is a clue to hypoglycemia in the alcoholic. The mechanism of hypothermia has been extensively studied, but remains unclear.