Hypoglycemia - First The Truck Hits You, Then You Pass Out

Most of us know that our bodies create insulin to handle the sugary treats we eat. And most of us know we get diabetes if our insulin can't get the job done.

What few of us know is what happens when insulin does its job too well. It's hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, and it's the pits. I've been there and done that, and there's nothing I can say to recommend it.

Here's what happens: You eat some kind of starch, which your body converts to sugar. Your pancreas says, "You want insulin, do ya? Well, take this!" and dumps out way more insulin than you need.

At first, you feel fine. Maybe even get a little energy boost from what you ate. An hour or so later, though, you feel like a truck hit you. Tired like you can't believe. Brain asleep for the duration. Feeling as energetic as a wet noodle. To top it all off, you may even pass out. And the wipe-out lasts for six to eight hours.

What causes hypoglycemia?
? A high-carb diet-lots of bread, pasta, bagels, desserts-a pretty standard diet nowadays
? Vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Not giving our bodies the ammunition they need to fight the good fight takes us down a lot of dead ends, including hypoglycemia.
? Alcohol. Our bodies see alcohol as a poison-and a high-carb poison at that.
? Prescription drugs such as those given to treat infections.
? But most of all, endocrine problems. If your thyroid and/or adrenal glands get in a tizzy, you're kind of a sitting duck. That's how I ended up in hypoglycemic hell.

Testing for hypoglycemia:
Diagnosis comes via a fasting-blood-sugar test. First thing in the morning, after fasting for at least twelve hours, you give a blood sample, then chug down a big glass of what tasted to me like some vile kind of syrup. Then for the next four or six hours, depending on the test ordered, you give regular blood samples so they can track your body's reaction.

Normal blood fasting blood sugar ranges from 80 to 100, although they're monkeying around with the numbers of late. My blood sugar, at its lowest, was 46, so it's no wonder I slept through the whole thing. They roused me enough to stick my arm out for another blood taking as needed, but I don't think World War III could have awakened me.

Fixing hypoglycemia:
? Give up simple carbohydrates and limit all carbohydrates. My doctor put me on a diet of no more than 20 grams of carbohydrate a day-about half a peach, as I remember, if you want to blow the limit all at once.
? Start (or continue) treatment for your thyroid and adrenals.
? Start a good vitamin/mineral program for yourself. The endocrine system pretty much controls what happens in your body, and it's a nutrition hog. Most vitamins and minerals have specific functions in the endocrine system, and you need to help all of that happen.
? Don't fight yourself. Do what you can and get plenty of rest.

A warning:
Some doctors treat hypoglycemia with a recommendation that you eat and drink carbs to "give your body what it needs." Run-do not walk-away from advice like that. Simply put, it's wrong, and guaranteed to make things worse.

Every time your body reacts with too much insulin is a "hypoglycemic event." Research strongly suggests that each hypoglycemic event-which this misguided advice will cause-brings you closer to diabetes, aka hyperglycemia, and all its complications.

Don't go there.

 

First Signs Of Diabetes

Are you suffering from first signs of diabetes? Are you at higher risk of suffering from diabetic complications?

If your answer is yes then it is better to read the following passages. Diabetes is a life threatening ailment. It is a serious medical condition. It is important to be aware of the signs of diabetes especially if you have a family history of diabetes. It is better to go for the routine medical check ups and stay away from wrong food choices. Bad eating habits adversely affect the health.

There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Both types have more or less the same signs and symptoms. Type 1 diabetes is the result of the inability of pancreas to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes onsets when the cells of the body start to ignore the provided insulin. This ignoring behavior of the cells makes it difficult for the body to control levels of blood sugar.

However it is good to note that the first signs of diabetes are not the diabetic symptoms. These are the side effects of elevated blood sugar levels. The most critical part of the ailment is that the problem could not be diagnosed by a naked eye. It means a person cannot detect whether he is suffering from elevated blood sugar levels just by looking at himself. It is important to talk to the health care professional if you suspect you are suffering from signs of diabetes.

Unquenchable thirst is the first sign of diabetes. If a person feels that he is extremely thirsty and his thirst is not being quenched even after drinking plenty of water then it is better to have your blood sugar levels checked. If there is no other external cause of this excessive thirst like direct exposure to elevated temperature, working out in long hours, eating salt rich foods then it is better to discuss the symptoms with your doctor.

Next classical sign of diabetes is extreme hunger. If you feel that either you are eating more frequently or you are over eating then it means that you are suffering from sign of diabetes. The main reason behind overeating is that your body is unable to maintain correct blood sugar levels. The body is unable to utilize the provided food as energy and thinks that it is hungry.

Excessive urination is the next classical sign of diabetes and it is the result or kidney infection, urinary tract infection and bladder problems. It is another most commonly ignored sign of diabetes. Most people ignore this diabetic symptom unless they notice they are getting up at night for using the rest room.

Extreme tired and exhaust feelings are another diabetic symptom. If even after having a full night's uninterrupted sleep, when you are not stressed or ill, you feel that you are tired then it is a sign that you are suffering from signs of diabetes. If these exhausted feelings are more prominent soon after eating the meals then it indicates that your glucose blood levels are not correct.

First Signs Of Diabetes In Children

The onset of first signs of diabetes in children is not like their occurrence in adults. The onsets of these first signs of diabetes also vary with the age. These diabetic symptoms occur even quicker in case of infants. If infants and children are suffering from diabetes type 1 then it means that beta cells have been destroyed by the pancreas. It has been seen that children are more easily affected by ketoacidosis.

The kids who suffer from type 2 diabetes are generally obese or overweight. There are some children who have a family history of diabetes. These kids have an increased tendency of showing the signs and symptoms of insulin resistance like dark patches on skin. This condition is medically termed acanthosis nigricans. The signs of diabetes type 1 are entirely different from signs of diabetes type 2. The diabetic symptoms also develop quickly and within a shorter time span. Kids who are suffering from diabetic symptoms show signs like

Unquenchable Thirst And Excessive Urination: Excessive accumulation of glucose in the blood stream compels the cells to extract excessive fluid from tissues. The increased fluid loss from tissues and vessels of blood cause the child to have a feeling of an unquenchable thirst. Kids drink plenty of water and as a result they have to rush to the restroom as well.

Increases Appetite And Extreme Hunger Even After Eating: The child may also demand for more food. If he is suffering from signs of diabetes he may complain that he is extremely hungry. The child may also tell you that his hunger is not being satisfied even after consuming plenty of food. The glucose of the food is not entering the cells and is staying in the blood stream; this not only disturbs the immunity system but at the same time results in an immense loss of energy. This energy shrinkage triggers hunger in children.

Unexplained Weight Loss: Parents can detect an unexplained and sudden weight loss in kids. This weight loss is the result of an insufficient energy supply to the body cells. The cells then have to extract energy from the fat storage. Excessive body weight loss compels the child to feel extremely tired as well as week. The result is a weaker immunity system which then further invites several infections.

Extreme Tiredness: An insufficient energy supply from food causes the child to feel extremely tired as well as weak.

Yeast infection: Diabetes also serves as a host of yeast infections. There could be rashes on the skin. It is essential to feed the child with healthy, balanced diet and make them to drink plenty of water. It is recommended to drink 10 to 12 glasses of water daily.

Blurriness In Vision: The decreased fluid level in the eye tissues causes vision difficulties. The child may witness seeing double objects.