Reactive Hypoglycemia Research Paper

Let’s revisit Maria’s case. She is a 35-year-old insulin-dependent diabetic who currently takes good care herself. She did not take a good care of herself as a teenager. She is on an insulin pump to try to control her blood sugar, but has recently passed out in public several times.

Plasma insulin/glucagon concentration differed significantly. Insulin levels were at their lowest during the fasting time period at about 68 while

Pittas (2003) expressed that, Diabetes Mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a chronic hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar level) condition, resulting from the deficit of insulin secretion, insulin action or both. There are two main types of diabetes mellitus: Type 1 diabetes mellitus, also called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, and is cause by lack of insulin secretion by beta cells of the pancreas; Type 2 diabetes mellitus, also called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, is caused by decreased sensitivity of target tissues to insulin. In both types of diabetes mellitus, metabolism of all the food is altered. The effect of lack if insulin or insulin resistance of glucose metabolism is to prevent the efficient uptake and utilization of glucose by most cells of the body, except those of the brain. As a result of this, blood glucose concentration increases, cell utilization of glucose falls increasingly lower and utilization of fats and proteins

Glucagon is the other hormone produced by the Islets of Langerhans. This hormone is produced by the alpha cells in the islets, which detect when blood sugar levels are too low (around 70 mg/dL) and respond by releasing glucagon. Glucagon stimulates the breakdown of stored glycogen into glucose through a process called glycogenolysis, and releases the glucose back into the bloodstream, thus raising blood sugar levels to a higher concentration. As blood glucose levels return to its equilibrium, the concentration of glucagon lowers until the time when glucose levels rise again. In reaction to this, insulin levels rise and fall with the levels of blood glucose concentration.

While typical healthy individuals use insulin to draw sugar into their cells for energy usage,

According to the textbook, Understanding Medical Surgical Nursing, 5th ed., by Linda S. Williams and Paula D. Hopper, “reactive hypoglycemia, also called postprandial hypoglycemia, occurs when the blood glucose drops below a normal level following meals, usually below 50 mg/dL. Hypoglycemia is most often a complication of diabetes treatment, but at times, it may occur without the presence of diabetes. It may be a warning sign of impending diabetes” (Williams, Hopper 2015). In other words, it is an abnormally low blood glucose following eating when blood glucose would typically rise. This can be caused by many different reasons, not solely because someone is a diabetic exhibiting complications. Symptoms are very similar to those of regular

Insulin resistance is the first physiological change occurring in type two diabetes. In these type two diabetic patients, insulin is unable to move glucose into liver, kidney and muscle cells although insulin is able to attach properly to the cell surface receptors. In order to rectify this, most patients with type two diabetes start secreting normal to very high levels of insulin, which can initially overcome this resistance. After a while, the pancreas cannot keep up with this high insulin production and the cells become resistant to glucose intake. Persistent hyperglycemia or high blood glucose levels are not desirable since this causes damage to the beta cells of the pancreas that produces the insulin hormone. This damage to beta cells further hampers insulin synthesis and patients at this stage are categorized as full-blown diabetic. Such patients consistently show a hyperglycemia state even after hours of fasting ( Hinkle & Cheever,

The researchers demonstrated that human liver cells would secrete insulin as well as control blood glucose levels in vivo by testing diabetic immunedeficient mice. They observed how well a mouse would improve the state of hyperglycemia. They observed the immunodeficient mice before and during the times of the study to attribute the change in the glucose blood levels were due to the liver

In the course of insulin deficiency, levels of catecholamine’s, cortisol, epinephrine, growth hormone and glucagon become higher, in this turn hepatic glucose production results in enhanced gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis.

Following the ingestion of carbohydrates and proteins, insulin is released from pancreatic islet cells. Whilst the brain is not insulin dependent, the arcuate nucleus contains protein receptors that respond to insulin (as well as Leptin)[7]. As insulin inhibits NPY/AgRP-secreting neurons and activates POMC-releasing neurons, it reduces the appetite and as a result regulates body weight. This is backed up even further by scientific claims that insulin resistance is linked to obesity, and type II diabetes can be associated with a loss in insulin regulation[8].

This audit provides an insight into the prevalence of hypoglycemia in subacute setting with the aim of identifying precipitant factors and implementing prevention strategies. From this audit we found that there were 10% of patient with type 2 diabetes has moderate hypoglycemia episode whilst in the subacute hospital. This number is smaller than expected from previous audit done in Kingston center, estimating 20-30 cases of hypoglycemia per month. The team hypothesis that if hypoglycemia was defined as blood glucose level of less than 4.0mmol/l, we will have recorded a greater amount of episodes. December has recorded highest number of hypoglycemia. The reasons for this are unclear but could include festive season related variation

Did you know that you can die from drinking too much water? Water intoxication can also be referred to as “water poisoning.” It can cause fatal disturbances in the brain functions. Meaning the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside safe limits by overhydration. If your electrolytes drop too low too quickly, it can be fatal. Death by overhydration is rare, but it can still happen.

Type 2 Diabetes, unlike people with Type 1 Diabetes are able to make insulin. To enhance our understanding of Type 2 Diabetes, knowing what Diabetes is crucial. When a person has diabetes; the body either does not make enough insulin or cannot use his or her own insulin properly, causing glucose (sugar) to build up in the body. It is the seventh leading cause of death in United States in 2010. In this paper, I provide an overview of the function of pancreas in controlling the sugar level in the human body and the function of insulin and glucagon hormones in the pancreatic process. I also present an anatomy of the human pancreas. Finally, I review the signs and symptoms, causes, treatments,

As mentioned, insulin is a premier hormone in the regulation of blood glucose levels; however, resistance to insulin stimulation is a common phenomenon and plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of several human diseases. Himsworth first demonstrated the fact that a sufficient amount of the patients with diabetes are “insulin insensitive” about 50 years ago; on the basis of this finding, he suggested that patients with diabetes are either insulin sensitive or insulin insensitive (Himsworth, 1936).

Hypoglycemia is when a diabetic’s blood glucose is too low. This can happen because of one’s diet, over exercising, or consuming alcoholic beverages. A diabetic with this condition may be sweaty, confused, or have difficulty speaking. This condition is incorrectly referred to as “insulin shock” (Nuzum and Merz, 2009). This condition could also happen if the person is sleeping. The person may suddenly wake up and be sweating, confused, or be very weak. When this happens, the person should drink about four