40 Does falling blood glucose feel like hypoglycemia?
Description
This article is from the Diabetes FAQ, by Edward Reid edward@paleo.org with numerous contributions by others.
40 Does falling blood glucose feel like hypoglycemia?
Sometimes. Symptoms of hypoglycemia are divided into the adrenergic and the
neuroglycopenic. Adrenergic responses are caused by increased activity of
the autonomic nervous system and may be triggered by a rapid fall in blood
glucose (bG) or by low absolute bG levels; symptoms include
weakness
sweating
tachycardia
palpitations
tremor
nervousness
irritability (sound familiar?)
tingling of mouth and fingers
hunger
nausea or vomiting (unusual)
The autonomic nervous system activity also causes the secretion of epinephrine,
glucagon, cortisol and growth hormone. The first two are secreted rapidly and
eliminated rapidly. The second two are secreted slowly and remain active for
4-6 hours, and may cause reactive hyperglycemia.
Neuroglycopenic responses are caused by decreased activity of the central
nervous system and are triggered only by low absolute bG levels; symptoms
include
headache
hypothermia
visual disturbances
mental dullness
confusion
amnesia
seizures
coma
The above information is from Mayer Davidson's "Diabetes Mellitus: Diagnosis
and Treatment".
Remember, as always, that individual responses vary greatly. The exact set of
symptoms encountered will vary. It's not impossible that some of the symptoms
will fall in the other category for some individuals.
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