Hypoglycemia Essay, Research Paper
Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar or low fuel in the blood. It also
refers to a distubed carbohydrate metabolism, since some people change
between high and low blood sugar levels. When the body tries to work under
these conditions, mental processes are impaired and body systems are
broken. Hypoglycemia is sometimes related to other conditions like drug
addiction, alcoholism, allergies, arthritis, diabetes, mental illness, anti-social
behavio, an juvenile deliquency.
There are numerous causes of hypoglycemia including; inborn errors of
metabolism, defects in enzyme systsms, disorders of various glands and
organs (hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenals, nervous system, kidneys, and
liver). The most common cause is a diet high in carbohydrates and caffiend,
which disturbs the blood-sugar regulating systems of the body.
THere are a number of symptoms of Hypoglycemia that can be
identified. The major symptoms are depression, insomnia, irritability, lack of
concentration, crying spells, phobias, forgetfulness, confusion, unsocial or
anti-social behavior and suicidal tendencies. The early symptoms of
hypoglycemia are similar to those which occur as the result of experiencing
a sudden and violent fear: fainting, tremulousness, and ?inward tremblind?,
emotional disturbances, chilliness, numbness and pallor encirling th nmouth,
hunger, apprehencion, hand tremors, mild degree ofmental cloudiness,
dilated pupils and pale skin. As the hypoglycemia progress, a variety of
symptoms occur such as headaches, difficulty inconcentration,
disoreientation, mental confusion, dizziness, faintness, double vision,
coldness of the extremities, staggering or inability to walk, muscle
twitching, depression, restlessness, and excessive excitement. Unless these
symptoms are recognized and treated, hypoglcemia can lead to convulsions,
amnesia, and unconciousness.
In 1924, Seale Harris M.D., a diabetic specialist noticed that many
peopl had symptoms without having diaetes. Their blood sugar would drop
too low after eating a sugary refined carbohyudrate meal, or after drinking
cafeine or alcohol. After an initial rise but not into the diabetic range, their
blood sugar would then fall into a hypoglemic range with many different
symptoms depending on the indivvidual, the immune system, and the
metabolis. He was the first person to notice Hypoglycemia and to
differentiate it from Diabetes.
Hypoglycemia can be treated a umber of ways. THe diet should
exclude things that can cause stress on thebody, such as caffeine, nicotine,
alcohol, and rapidly absorbed carbohudrates such as sugars, honey, and many
grains and cereals. Frequent feedings are essential,k withhearty breakfasts
and bedtime snacks. Many symptoms will dissapear when the blood sugar is
stablilized. THe most important thing to remember is that the average
adult has between one and twot easpoons of blood sugar circulating in his
body at one time, with a small amount stored in his liver foremergencies. A
child has less in relationto its height and weitht. Eating foods such as 4 ozs
of chocolate cake withicing and 6 ozs of Coke, which is too quickly absorbed
into the blood, can cause a mess from the sugar overload as the body has to
bring the blood sugar down to a normal range by a very complicated process.