Hypoglycemia – A condition common to diabetics and non-diabetics
May 26, 2008 by Leila
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Loading ...Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar is a rare incident that occurs simultaneously in somebody who’s already been diagnosed with diabetes. However, the case depends on the type of diabetes one may have. If a person with type II diabetes over exhaust himself, he is likely to suffer momentarily episodes of hypoglycemia. So if you have been diagnosed with diabetes, this is one good reason why you should watch how much exercise you get and how much you strain yourself.
Hypoglycemia develops when hepatic glucose output falls below the rate of glucose uptake by peripheral tissues. This condition may be a result of either the inhibition of hepatic glycogenolysis or glucogenolysis by insulin, or depletion of hepatic glycogen reserves due to malnutrition, fasting, exercises or advanced liver disease, or due to impaired gluconeuogenesis (following alcohol consumption etc.) The most common symptoms of hypoglycemia are associated with neurology because the brain consumes about 50% of the total glucose produced in the liver.
However, common external symptoms of hypoglycemia are hunger, perspiration, nervousness and shakiness, confusions, sleepiness, dizziness, feeling anxious and/or weak. If you have type II diabetes, you may experience episodes of hypoglycemia during sleep. At such point you might cry out or have nightmares, wake up from dampness of pajamas or bed sheets due to heavy perspiration or feel very tired, irritable and or confused when you wake up.
Another aspect of hypoglycemia is caused by diabetic medication because diabetic medications would try to level up the blood glucose in the body however; in return, due to life styles etc. the impact of the medication on the body may be too strong leading to a hypoglycemic state. However, there is no need to worry because usually, hypoglycemia is easy to treat. So if you are sure that you are having a hypoglycemic episode, quickly eat or drink something which is high on the glycemic index that will release energy fast. However, if hypoglycemia is left untreated it can lead to loss of consciousness and could even be lethal.
Posted in Introduction To Diabetes
