Maintaining normal blood sugar values is very important to overall health. Normal blood sugars are between eighty and one hundred twenty milligrams per deciliter. A blood sugar of seventy milligrams per deciliter will make a person feel extremely hungry. Under seventy is considered hypoglycemia, meaning low blood sugar. Blood sugar over one hundred twenty for an extended time is referred to as hyperglycemia or high blood sugar.
The main hormones that regulate blood sugar are insulin and glucagon. These are produced by the pancreas. Insulin allows sugar to pass from the bloodstream into muscles and other tissues, lowering blood sugar. Glucagon breaks down glycogen stores, releases glucose from the liver, and fatty acids from fat tissue to liberate sugar into the blood. Insulin is a fifty-one amino acid peptide that is released in response to rising blood glucose values and glucagon, a twenty-nine amino acid peptide, in response to low blood glucose. Insulin is produced by beta cells of islets of Langerhans and glucagon by alpha cells of the pancreas. Glucagon injections are available for people susceptible to hypoglycemia.
Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia. Type 1 or juvenile onset is characterized by lack of adequate insulin production. Type 2 is called adult onset and is caused by insulin resistance at the receptor level. Hormones have receptors where the hormone binds to trigger its regulatory effect. Type1 is treated by insulin therapy, glucose monitoring, exercise, and proper nutrition program. Type 2 diabetes is treated with oral medication like Glucophage that helps lower sugar by increasing insulin sensitivity, exercise, glucose monitoring, and proper nutrition program.
Uncontrolled or untreated diabetes mellitus can cause a large variety of damage to the body. Complications include heart disease or stroke, kidney disease, eye damage, nerve damage, and erectile dysfunction. Symptoms include bowel and bladder distress, hearing impairment, dry or damaged skin, periodontal disease, dry mouth, excessive thirst, frequent urination, and neuropathy. In the treatment of this disease many will also experience hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia may demonstrate the symptoms of confusion, excessive sweating, excessive hunger, fainting, fatigue, lightheadedness, shakiness, anxiety, headache, blurred vision, irritability, pallor palpitations, slurred speech, tremor, sleepiness, and unsteadiness. Prolonged or extreme low sugar may lead to comma or death.