Can Lack of Food Cause Body Shakes? Understanding Hypoglycemia

January 8, 2026 •

4 min read

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hypoglycemia—or low blood sugar—is a common issue, and the tell-tale sign is often a trembling or shaky feeling. Therefore, yes, a lack of food can cause body shakes, signaling that your body's energy supply is running critically low.

Quick Summary

A lack of food can cause body shakes due to hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar. This triggers a release of stress hormones like adrenaline, leading to trembling and other symptoms as the body tries to raise glucose levels. Eating quickly absorbed carbohydrates can provide immediate relief.

Key Points

Hypoglycemia is the cause: Lack of food leads to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which triggers the body's shaking response.
Adrenaline is the trigger: The low blood sugar prompts the release of adrenaline, a stress hormone that causes muscle trembling.
Accompanied by other symptoms: Shakes from hunger are often joined by other symptoms like sweating, anxiety, rapid heart rate, and fatigue.
Immediate relief with carbs: Consuming 15-20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates, like juice or glucose tablets, can quickly correct low blood sugar.
Prevention is key: To prevent future episodes, eat regular, balanced meals that combine complex carbohydrates with protein and fats.
Medical evaluation for frequent episodes: If hunger shakes occur frequently or severely, consult a doctor to rule out underlying medical conditions, especially diabetes.

The Science Behind Hunger-Related Shakes

When you go for an extended period without eating, your body's primary energy source, glucose (blood sugar), begins to drop. This state is medically known as hypoglycemia. While the liver can produce some glucose to compensate, this mechanism can sometimes be insufficient, especially in healthy individuals who are not used to prolonged fasting. The brain is particularly sensitive to low glucose levels, and when it senses a shortage, it triggers a 'fight or flight' stress response.

The Adrenaline Response

As part of this emergency response, your body releases stress hormones like epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine. These hormones cause a cascade of physical reactions designed to increase blood sugar and energy availability. Adrenaline, in particular, is responsible for several common symptoms associated with hunger, including:

Anxiety or nervousness
Increased heart rate (palpitations)
Sweating
And, most relevantly, the muscle trembling or body shakes

This trembling is a side effect of the adrenaline surge, as the hormone impacts muscle control. It is the body's natural alarm system, urging you to consume food to correct the glucose imbalance before the situation becomes more severe.

Hypoglycemia in Diabetic vs. Non-Diabetic Individuals

While hypoglycemia is a well-known concern for people with diabetes, especially those using insulin, it can also affect individuals without the condition. In non-diabetics, episodes of shakiness from hunger are typically less severe and are a direct result of skipped meals, excessive exercise without proper fueling, or a diet high in simple sugars that cause a rapid spike and subsequent crash. For those with diabetes, particularly type 1, it is a much more serious issue and a sign of a dangerously low blood sugar level that requires immediate treatment.

Symptoms Accompanying Body Shakes

Body shakes are often not an isolated symptom. They are part of a broader set of warning signs your body sends when blood sugar levels are low. Other symptoms to watch for include:

Extreme hunger
Feeling tired or weak
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Sweating and chills
Irritability or confusion
Tingling or numbness of the lips, tongue, or cheeks
Rapid or irregular heartbeat

How to Treat and Prevent Hunger Shakes

Immediate Treatment

If you begin to experience hunger shakes, the most important step is to consume fast-acting carbohydrates to raise your blood sugar quickly. The American Diabetes Association recommends consuming 15-20 grams of fast-acting carbs.

Examples of fast-acting carbs:

Half a cup of fruit juice or regular soda (not diet)
3-4 glucose tablets
1 tablespoon of honey or sugar
A handful of hard candy or jelly beans

After consuming the sugar, wait about 15 minutes and check your blood sugar again if possible. Once your blood sugar has stabilized, follow up with a meal or snack that contains longer-lasting carbohydrates and protein to prevent another crash.

Prevention is Key

To avoid future episodes of hunger-related shakes, you should focus on a more consistent eating schedule and balanced diet.

Eat regular meals: Don't skip meals. Spacing your food intake throughout the day helps maintain stable blood sugar levels.
Combine carbs with protein and fat: Pairing carbohydrates with protein and healthy fats helps slow down glucose absorption, preventing rapid spikes and drops in blood sugar.
Carry snacks: If you have a busy day, keep a healthy snack on hand, such as cheese and crackers, nuts, or a piece of fruit.
Limit simple sugars: Consuming large amounts of refined sugars can cause a roller-coaster effect on your blood sugar, leading to reactive hypoglycemia.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While occasional hunger shakes are normal, frequent or severe episodes could indicate an underlying health issue. You should seek medical advice if your symptoms persist or worsen. This is especially crucial for people with diabetes or those who experience severe symptoms like confusion, slurred speech, or loss of consciousness.


Condition	Typical Manifestation	Recommended Action
Mild Hypoglycemia (Hunger Shakes)	Occasional, mild shaking, irritability, hunger, sweating. Symptoms resolve quickly after eating.	Consume fast-acting carbs. Adjust meal frequency and balance.
Recurrent Hypoglycemia	Episodes occur frequently (e.g., more than twice a week), potentially indicating an underlying condition like insulin resistance.	Consult a doctor for evaluation and blood testing. They may adjust medications or recommend dietary changes.
Severe Hypoglycemia	Confusion, blurred vision, loss of consciousness, seizures. Requires immediate attention.	For conscious individuals, use fast-acting carbs. For unconscious individuals, call emergency services immediately and use emergency glucagon if trained.

Conclusion

In summary, the answer to "can lack of food cause body shakes?" is a definitive yes. It is a physiological response, primarily triggered by low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) that causes the body to release adrenaline. While typically a mild and treatable issue in otherwise healthy individuals, it is a significant symptom for those with diabetes and a strong warning sign to address your immediate nutritional needs. By maintaining a regular, balanced diet and recognizing the early warning signs, you can prevent these uncomfortable episodes and ensure your body has the consistent fuel it needs to function properly. Anyone experiencing frequent or severe episodes should consult a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying metabolic issues. For more detailed medical information, the Cleveland Clinic offers extensive resources on hypoglycemia.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary reason is hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. When your body is deprived of food, blood glucose levels drop, and the brain triggers a stress response to correct the imbalance, which includes releasing adrenaline that causes shakiness.

Consume 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates, such as a small glass of fruit juice, some hard candies, or glucose tablets, to quickly raise your blood sugar level.

Yes, it is possible for a healthy person to experience occasional hunger shakes, particularly if they skip meals or engage in strenuous exercise without fueling properly. However, frequent episodes may warrant a medical check-up.

While the mechanism is similar, hypoglycemia is a more common and serious concern for individuals with diabetes who use insulin or other medications to manage blood sugar. For a non-diabetic, it's often a milder symptom of needing to eat, while for a diabetic, it can signal a potentially life-threatening event.

To prevent hunger shakes, focus on eating balanced meals that contain a mix of complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats. This combination helps maintain stable blood sugar levels for a longer period.

You should seek medical attention if you experience frequent or severe episodes of shaking. You should also be concerned if symptoms include confusion, slurred speech, or loss of consciousness, as this indicates a severe hypoglycemic event.

Yes, adrenaline, the same hormone released during anxiety, is triggered by low blood sugar. This can cause feelings of anxiety and nervousness, which often accompany the physical shaking, further exacerbating the feeling.