Lowering blood sugar - not as good as it sounds - Causes

Reasons for decreasing blood sugar

Everyone knows that high levels of sugar in the blood - it's bad. And if the amount of sugar in the blood less than normal? It turns out it is not very good, since the activity of the brain is disrupted. Of the decline in blood sugar can lead to serious damage to the central nervous system, up to dementia.

A condition in which the blood sugar level is lowered, it is usually associated with diabetes. Most often it is the result of the fact that diabetics taking certain medications, skip meals, or very active in sports. Much less low blood sugar Blood sugar - a very important indicator   observed in people without diabetes - about the reasons that we still talk.

Blood sugar level is considered to be low when it falls below 4 mmol / L. The first signs of lowering blood sugar levels may be hunger, trembling and sweating. In more severe cases, possible confusion and trouble concentrating.

Sometimes the blood sugar level goes down during sleep, resulting in becoming heavy sweating, insomnia and fatigue in the morning.

Scientists have identified the cause of the sharp drop in blood sugar

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar Low blood sugar levels in people suffering from various diseases   - A fairly common disorder often encountered in diabetic patients and in people with disorders that lead to the development of excessive amounts of insulin. However, approximately 1 in 100,000 people from birth has a genetic defect which causes severe hypoglycemia, which causes a sharp drop in blood sugar levels. Using standard assays detect insulin in the blood of such patients is not possible. For their treatment are currently conducting a special tube implantation into the anterior wall of the stomach; therethrough into the body of the patient may be administered glucose at night (day to maintain an acceptable level of blood sugar apply other methods). This prevents lowering blood sugar to dangerous levels during sleep, when the patient may not notice that the deterioration occurred.

Often in life of patients and their families becomes the dominant feeling constant fear of reduction in blood sugar levels, and before its possible consequences.

Until recently, the cause of this disorder remains unknown, and it is not conducive to optimism in people, which threatens every hour sharp drop in blood sugar. An explanation of why a rare disease often brings some relief even itself - known threat is almost always preferable to the unknown. But in this case the situation is even better - scientists have discovered the cause of severe congenital hypoglycemia, which opens up the possibility to create ways to treat it in the future.

Experts examined three children with a rare severe hypoglycemia. By studying their genetic code, the researchers were able to detect a birth defect that causes the constant threat of a rare drop in blood sugar. All of these children was discovered gene mutation AKT2. None of the parents of such a mutation has been identified. AKT2 plays an important role in insulin signaling cells tissues. A defect in this gene leads to the fact that this signal is constant, even between meals. At this time, the absence of such a signal is extremely important so that the liver can normally processed sugar.

Why may decrease blood sugar

Normal blood sugar levels - 3, 5-6, 1 mmol / L, the rate is maintained constant, so that the sugar as an energy source is constantly supplied to the fabric, but it is not excreted in the urine. A large amount of sugar in the blood is called hyperglycemia, and usually accompanies such diseases as diabetes mellitus Diabetes - threatening and incurable disease . And what is dangerously low blood sugar?

It appears to decrease the usual body sugar concentration in the liquid portion of blood (plasma) is reflected primarily on the brain, it does not occur slowly and gradually, and very quickly, within a few minutes. Our brain can not exist without the two necessary for his life substances: oxygen and sugar (glucose). Lack of blood glucose is called hypoglycemia, it can cause a serious condition, until the death of the patient.

Therefore, in patients with diabetes is always a danger, as the sharp increase and a sharp decline in blood sugar.

Another cause of hypoglycemia can be various pancreatic tumors, accompanied by the growth of its tissue, including the islets of Langerhans that produce insulin, the hormone which promotes the absorption of glucose: more insulin in the blood, the smaller the glucose.

Severe hypoglycemia can be one of the symptoms of various diseases, such as severe liver disease, conditions after resection of the stomach and intestines, congenital deficiency of certain enzymes (eg, glucose-6-phosphatase, participates in the formation of glucose from glycogen liver glycogen - it reserves glucose liver "rainy day"), diseases of the adrenal glands (they reduced production of hormones - insulin antagonists).

Lowering blood sugar is often observed in the rate of, for example, heavy physical work (all glucose went to work the muscles), in women during breast-feeding the child (glucose enters the cells of the breast), and so on.

The reasons for lowering blood sugar in diabetics

• Antidiabetic drugs. One of the most common reasons for lowering blood sugar levels in diabetics is receiving too high doses of insulin. Reducing sugar levels may also be caused by the ingestion of certain oral drugs that stimulate insulin production.
• Physical activity, food and alcohol. To maintain normal blood sugar levels Blood sugar - one of the main indicators of human health , People with type 1 diabetes need to keep a balance between the amount of insulin that they are regularly introduced into the body, and the amount of food consumed and energy they spend on a daily basis, including - in for sports. Decreased blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can result from the fact that the man took a normal dose of insulin but has used fewer carbohydrates or spent them faster than usual. Therefore, people with such a diagnosis can not skip meals; They also need to carefully control the amount of carbohydrates consumed and intensity of physical activity.
• Hypoglycaemia in diabetics may develop as a result of drinking alcohol on an empty stomach.

The reasons for lowering blood sugar in people without diabetes

Reactive hypoglycemia. Excess insulin levels in people without diabetes, may result from the use of large amounts of carbohydrate foods. This condition is called reactive hypoglycemia. The reasons for its development are not clear, although it is believed that it is most common among people who are overweight and some disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

In rare cases, benign tumor of the pancreas could lead to the development of excessive amounts of insulin, and sometimes the tumor may use too much glucose.

Other reasons

The cause of lowering the blood sugar level may be the following factors:

• Malnutrition. Nutritional deficiencies can lead to the fact that the body will not function properly - this is often reflected in the development of insulin;
• Alcohol abuse;
• Addison's disease - a disease in which disturbed the functioning of the adrenal glands;
• Certain drugs. Hypoglycemia can occur in people who take quinine (a medicine for malaria), salicylates (rheumatism) and propranolol (used for high blood pressure);
• Serious diseases affecting the liver, kidney and thyroid.