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| diabetes and other linked diseases |
"Glucose", a type of sugar, is the body's main fuel. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, occurs when blood levels of glucose drop too low to fuel the body's activities. Carbohydrates (sugars and starches, explained later in the book) are the body's main dietary sources of glucose. Blood sugar levels below 45 mg/dl are always associated with a serious abnormality. Too much or too little of these hormones can cause blood sugar levels to fall too low (hypoglycemia) or rise too high (hyperglycemia). Other hormones that influence blood sugar levels are cortical, growth hormone, and catecholamine (epinephrine and nor epinephrine).
When blood sugar rises after a meal, the beta cells release insulin. The insulin helps glucose enter body cells, lowering blood levels of glucose to the normal range. When blood sugar drops too low, the alpha cells secrete glucagon. Since insulin controls the blood sugar level in your body, it's required so it won't affect other organs in your body. What Are the Symptoms for Those Suffering from Hypoglycemia? Consequently, glucose builds up in the blood instead of getting into body cells. The aim of the treatment of diabetes is to lower high blood sugar levels. Hypoglycemia occurs most often in people who use insulin to lower their blood sugar.
All people with type I diabetes and some people with type II diabetes use insulin. A few patients with long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes may develop a condition known as hypoglycemia unawareness in which they have difficulty recognizing the symptoms of low blood sugar. A glucagon injection quickly eases the symptoms of low blood sugar, releasing a burst of glucose into the blood. A person suffering a severe insulin reaction may be admitted to the hospital so that the blood sugar level can be stabilized. People with diabetes can reduce or prevent episodes of hypoglycemia by monitoring their blood sugar levels frequently and learning to recognize the symptoms of low blood sugar and the situations that may trigger it. Eating more than three meals per day helps maintain blood sugar levels and prevent the onset of hypoglycemic symptoms.
