I meant anything below 30 mg/dL is very low and can produce confusion or unconsciousness.  It is the Serum Cortisol that could be as low as 20mcg/dL.  I may have been possibly confused with that but I cannot find the original site where I read the info above after some searching. 

Question is then, what does 30mg/dL read on a blood glucose meter as I have a friend with one and she talks about her levels in single figures when she does a reading on one of those.  I.e. it would not read 30mg/dl on the meter but just one figure, i.e. 2.  I have no idea what two means---lol--could be fatal for all I know but that  was just an example!

Here are the other things they would be looking at in a blood draw if a child was admitted with an adrenal crisis any way.

SERUM CORTISOL (USUALLY DECREASED): Less than 20 mcg/dL in severe stress is indicative of adrenal insufficiency.

ACTH test (diagnostic) (USUALLY ELEVATED): Determine baseline serum cortisol, then administer ACTH 250 mcg intravenous push (IVP), and then draw serum cortisol 30 and 60 minutes after ACTH administration. An increase of less than 7 mcg/dL is considered diagnostic of adrenal insufficiency.

BLOOD GLUCOSE (USUALLY LOW):

Your blood glucose is below 60 mg/dL, with or without the symptoms.
Your blood glucose is between 60-100 mg/dL, with symptoms.
You are unable to check your blood glucose.
If your blood glucose is above 100 mg dL, there is no need for treatment.
Concentrations less than about 30 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or greater than about 300 mg/dl can produce confusion or unconsciousness.

There could be complications with this being raised though after a very large dose of cortisol, i.e. IM injection or IV bolus.

SERUM POTASSIUM( USUALLY INCREASED):

This test is performed to evaluate blood levels of potassium.

Potassium (K+) is the major positive ion within cells and is particularly important for maintaining the electric charge on the cell membrane, which is necessary for neuromuscular communication and for transporting nutrients into cells and waste products out of the cell. The concentration of potassium inside cells is about 30 times that in the blood and other extracellular fluids.

Potassium levels are mainly controlled by the steroid hormone aldosterone (for more information see the aldosterone test), which increases excretion of potassium. Aldosterone is secreted from the adrenal gland in the presence of increasing levels of potassium. Metabolic acidosis (for example, caused by uncontrolled diabetes) or alkalosis (for example, caused by excess vomiting) can affect blood potassium because this ion shifts into or out of cells in exchange for hydrogen ions. For example, in acidosis some of the excess hydrogen ions will shift into cells in exchange for potassium ions being released from the cells.

Small changes in the potassium concentration outside cells can have substantial effects on the activity of nerves and muscles. This is particularly true of the heart muscle. Low levels of potassium cause increased activity (which can lead to an arrhythmia), whereas high levels cause decreased activity. Either situation can lead to cardiac arrest in some circumstances. In normal people, taking potassium supplements or potassium-containing drugs is of no consequences, because the kidneys efficiently dispose of excess potassium.

SERUM SODIUM (USUALLY DECREASED):

This test is performed when symptoms of sodium imbalance are present, or when disorders associated with abnormal sodium levels develop.

Sodium (Na+) is the major positive ion of the extracellular (outside of the cell) fluids. The concentration of sodium inside cells is only about 5 mEq/L compared to 140 outside. Sodium is the major determinant of extracellular osmolality. The sodium content of the blood is a result of a balance between dietary intake and renal excretion (only a small percent is lost through the stool or sweat).

Many factors affect sodium levels, including the steroid hormone aldosterone (for more information see the aldosterone test) which decreases loss of sodium in the urine. ANP (atrial natriuretic protein) is a hormone secreted from the heart that increases sodium loss from the body. Water and sodium are interrelated in that, for example, retention of increased sodium is followed by retention of fluid and vice versa. However, the body is able to regulate sodium and water separately if necessary, controlling sodium by means of aldosterone and ANP and water by ADH (antidiuretic hormone).

 

Cheers

Anne-Marie