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By Patrick
Dresh Lifestyles Editor |
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Hypoglycemia: it’s just a fancy medical term people sometimes use to whine about being hungry, right? Well, actually, no.
To anyone with an endocrine related illness, such as diabetes, or anyone who knows someone affected by one, the term hypoglycemia does not conjure up pleasant thoughts. In parents, the term is a reminder to pack their children extra snacks, while afflicted adults themselves make a note to check their blood sugar before driving. However, those who don’t have to deal with hypoglycemia on a daily basis may not know what it all entails. The truth is that the symptoms of hypoglycemia range from simple faintness, to those that mimic an anxiety attack. Hypoglycemia is more than just hunger pains; it is a complicated and somewhat annoying condition that can seriously hinder even everyday functionality. Cause and Effect
Before getting into the various effects that hypoglycemia can have on a person, it might be helpful to first understand the chemical and hormonal changes that cause it. Hypoglycemia is synonymous with the term “low blood sugar” for this is exactly what hypoglycemia is, a low level of sugar or glucose in a person’s bloodstream. Though what is considered a “comfortable” blood sugar range can vary from person to person, most medical professionals agree that a healthy blood sugar level lies between 80-120 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter) of sugar to blood. This range is also the usual prescribed goal for people who deal with endocrine related illnesses because this is the average level found in those without such a disease.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia can occur anywhere below the range of 80 mg/dl, yet the question that needs to be answered is, what could cause a person’s blood sugar level to drop to so low? Some of the most common reasons for sudden drops in sugar levels include random, excessive production of insulin by the pancreas, or too high a dose of synthetic insulin taken by a person with diabetes, for example, to compensate for the amount of food they had eaten. Complications from diabetes or other endocrine disorders, such as abnormality in liver function, could also lead to low amounts of needed sugar being present in a person’s body; this is because the liver is the organ responsible for removing excess sugar from the bloodstream, and storing it in the form of a sugar compound called glycogen. If the levels of sugar in the bloodstream reach an abnormally low level, the body responds by releasing specific hormones from the adrenal glands and other body systems. “The hormones that are produced,” explains Ernest M. Post, M.D., FAAP, who practices Pediatric Endocrinology at Children’s Regional Hospital in Camden, NJ, “include glucagon, cortisol, growth hormone, and epinephrine (commonly known as adrenaline).” While both cortisol and glucagon are specifically designed to raise blood sugar levels, the release of epinephrine and growth hormone further aid in this process by stimulating the release of glycogen from the liver. The glycogen is then converted to glucose (the body’s basic sugar) to complete the final step in the body’s endeavor to balance out its sugar levels. Symptoms and Psychoses
One might question why people suffer from hypoglycemia at all; if the body is capable of balancing itself out, how can there still be problems? The answer is that though the release of certain hormones is the body’s way of trying to correct the imbalance, it is this same release that is the primary source for the specific and unwanted consequences of hypoglycemia. Some of the most common effects of hypoglycemia include faintness, quivering, palpitations (accelerated heartbeat), sweats, hunger and headache to name a few. “It’s these hormones that lead to the visible effects of hypoglycemia,” says Post. For example, “it’s the epinephrine that causes…a person to suddenly feel shaky, sweaty, or have an increased heart beat.”
Though the already outlined symptoms of hypoglycemia are not a real treat in themselves, it can get a lot worse. For example, the increased heart beat and slight shakes can be accompanied by a feeling of panic or confusion; a combination of symptoms that mimic those of an anxiety attack. Also, in severe cases, if the brain is deprived of glucose long enough, a person may suffer from dizziness and be unable to concentrate. In addition, glucose deprivation can lead to random or inappropriate behavior, including actions that are comparable and might be confused with those of someone who is intoxicated. Physicians who deal with those suffering from endocrine related illnesses, as well as those who study such diseases, are well versed in the seemingly “psychological” effects of hypoglycemia. Michelle Laranko, R.N., C.D.E. (Certified Diabetes Educator) frequently notices the effects hypoglycemia has on her patients. “It’s like they have a completely different personality,” remarks Laranko, “they are just not as responsive as usual.” Laranko, who herself has Type 1 diabetes, adds that she “definitely notices” the mood-related effects of hypoglycemia in herself.
Those who study hypoglycemia also admit to the seemingly psychological side-effects low blood sugar can have on an individual. In May 2002, for a research article for “Diabetes Care,” Christopher M. Ryan, Ph.D. and associates acknowledged how increased hormone levels can cause a person to act out of character. Twenty-nine percent of the 53 adolescents (12-18) and 19 adults (19-30) studied during induced hypoglycemia, reported an increase in neuroglycopenic (seemingly mental or not visibly physical in nature) symptoms including sleepiness, dizziness, and a difficultly in thinking ability. In addition, many patients also reported an increase in overall anxiety while in a hypoglycemic state. So Now You Know It should be clear now that hunger and hypoglycemia are not one in the same. The effects of hypoglycemia can have dangerous consequences which amount to more than just a prolonged case of the munchies. From slight shakes and simple mood swings to random changes in behavior comparable to intoxication, hypoglycemia isn’t something pleasant to deal with. Yet, the plus side is that once you realize what hypoglycemia truly entails, you are better equipped to understand the plight of those who deal with it daily, and not simply think that they are complaining because they missed breakfast. Other resources
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Patrick
Dresh is a junior journalism/professional writing major at The College
of New Jersey. Dresh is also currently the lifestyles section editor
for unbound. This is Dresh’s second article to appear in the
health section. |
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