Acute Neuroglycopenia Acute neuroglycopenia is common in patients who have taken an insulin overdose, and warns them of the need to take sugar to prevent impairment of consciousness. Loss of these acute (sometimes called adrenergic) symptoms of neuroglycopenia is common in patients who have used insulin for many years to treat their diabetes, and gives rise to what is known as ‘hypoglycaemic unawareness’. It then resembles subacute neuroglycopenia in its manifestations.