Hypoglycemia:
(low blood sugar)
-
Normal
range of glucose level in the blood is 60 mg to 120 mg glucose per deciliter
of blood
-
Can
drop to 50, but bellow 45 mg per deciliter indicates a health hazard
-
Insulin
is produced in the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans, and is used
to lower the blood glucose level
-
Glucagon
is produced in the alpha cells of the islets to raise the blood sugar.
It send the message to the liver to break down glycogen into glucose and
release it into the blood
-
Symptoms
of hypoglycemia: feeling weak, hungry, drowsy, dizzy or confused. Also
associated are paleness, headache, irritability, trembling, sweating and
rapid heartbeat
-
Stress
induces over-production of catocholomines, causing similar symptoms
-
Hypoglycemia
is most often a complication of diabetes, but can also occur in people
under certain conditions: early pregnancy, prolonged fasting, and long
periods of exercise. Those on beta-blockers and exercise regimes, or children
taking aspirin should also be aware that those may be causes, though rare
-
To
diagnose: look for the symptoms of hypoglycemia, low glucose levels- 45
mg/dl in females, 55 mg/dl in males- and check for symptoms to be promptly
relieved upon ingestion of sugar. Check also the C-peptide (a substance
that the pancreas releases into the blood in equal amounts to insulin)
level
-
Reactive
hypoglycemia condition in which the symptoms appear 2 to 5 hours after
eating foods high in glucose. Patient is recommended to avoid foods high
in carbohydrates, eat small, more frequent meals with a variety of foods,
and regular exercise
-
Fasting
hypoglycemia: occurs when the stomach when the stomach is empty, usually
develops early in the morning. May be caused by a number of things: a hereditary
enzyme or hormone deficiency, liver disease, or insulin-producing tumors
-
Hereditary
fructose intolerance: a disorder usually found in children. The body cannot
metabolize the sugar. Attacks of hypoglycemia, marked by seizures, vomiting
and unconsciousness are treated by administering glucose and cutting fructose
from the child's diet
-
Glactocemia:
a rare genetic disorder which hampers the body's ability to process the
sugar galactose, commonly found in milk. An infant with this disorder may
vomit, lose weight, and develops cataracts. The liver may fail to break
down glycogen and release glucose
-
A
deficiency of growth hormones may cause increased sensitivity to insulin
-
Insulin-producing
tumors: usually arise in the islets of Langerhans, trigger hypoglycemia.
To diagnose the tumors, place patient on a 24 to 72 hour fast, while measuring
levels of glucose, insulin, and proinsulin. High levels of both insulin
and proinsulin, as well as low levels of glucose, indicates the aforementioned
tumors. The tumors are mostly benign, and are easily removed through surgery
-
In
rare cases, some cancers, such as breast and adrenal cancer, can cause
hypoglycemia though production of a hormone names insulin-like growth factor
II
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