Re: Reaction to false hypos

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/25/01 1:10:42 PM Central Daylight Time,

jtbolen@... writes:

<< When, in either case, is it

reasonable to " feed " the symptom with carbs? Is such " feeding "

counterproductive or helpful in some or most cases when BG's are not really

low, particularly if carb addiction is the issue?

>>

I have not seen any info but I make it a policy not to eat if at all possible

until my numbers are at 100...no sense adding fuel to the fire. If I am

really losing it a couple of peanuts is usually enough. Usually if I wait

15 minutes my liver kicks in and raises it to 100....stupid liver.....dumb

liver....needs a new thermostat for the liver

ressy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/25/01 3:08:01 PM Central Daylight Time, maryato@...

writes:

<<

I don't remember exactly where I read this, but false hypos are often

a sign of relatively high insulin levels at times when glucose isn't

high. That's why they produce the same feeling associated with real

hypos.. >>

I totally agree with this one. It seems when I have gotten too high that

between 1.5 and 2 hours later I get that feeling. It seems like to me that

for about 20 minutes I have more insulin than sugar floating around and my

body is just reacting to the balance change....after 20 minutes it goes

away....but I sure could eat the walls....

ressy

[Guest guest]

I don't remember exactly where I read this, but false hypos are often

a sign of relatively high insulin levels at times when glucose isn't

high. That's why they produce the same feeling associated with real

hypos...a hypo could happen potentially whenever you have too much

insulin in your system for the amount of glucose currently in your

blood, with glucagon not yet coming in to potentially stimulate the

liver to send the glucose level back up.

Essentially, the body is sending out signals of potential distress

because it thinks a hypo might be coming soon (remember b.g.'s can go

up and down quickly)... " Help! S.O.S...don't have much glucose here in

the blood but lots of insulin and no glucagon anywhere around! Maybe

I'm going to drop down too low if this keeps going on! "

That type of insulin-glucose-glucagon imbalance stimulates

norepinephrine and epinephrine (a.k.a. adrenaline) and produces hypo

symptoms including shakes.

If all goes well the norepinephrine and epinephrine will stimulate

the pancreas to cut back the insulin level and produce some glucagon

(only if necessary).

Type 2's are prone to false hypos because we're insulin resistant and

because we have disturbed insulin responses from our pancreases.

Insulin starts up too slowly, then comes in a big wad, sending bg's

rapidly down.

That's also why false hypos happen when we cut carbs way back

suddenly...our pancreases are revved up to produce too much insulin

due to our previous higher carb habits and it takes them a little

while to realize they don't have to kick out so much. Pancreases

want to " anticipate " how much to produce to avoid spikes. That's why

non-caloric sweeteners actually stimulate the production of insulin.

For some of us, even thinking sweet will start up the insulin!

I believe that the above is true because since I went on Atenolol, a

beta blocker, for high blood pressure, I don't get false hypos any

more (beta blockers block the action of norepinephrine/epinephrine on

the central nervous system). For that reason they are not

recommended for anyone taking insulin or any drug that can cause

hypos (when you're on a beta blocker some of the hypo symptoms

disappear so you could have a hypo without knowing it).

T

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 01-04-25 17:28:23 EDT, you write:

<< he fire. If I am

really losing it a couple of peanuts is usually enough. Usually if I wait

15 minutes my liver kicks in and raises it to 100....stupid liver.....dumb

liver....needs a new thermostat for the liver

ressy >>

Love your posts, ressy...here's one for you...when complaining to a nurse

friend about how my BGs were all over the place she said I " had a pancreas

with attitude " . <g>