The Truth about Brain Damage and Hypoglycemia

A lot of people underestimate the effects of hypoglycemia.



For many, hypoglycemia is simply a common symptom suffered by diabetics when their blood sugar level is too low. Since it's easy to prevent and cure however, many people are unmindful of the consequences when they fail to give themselves proper medication or treatment.



And that, unfortunately, is when they're badly mistaken.



Hypoglycemia is, yes, a common condition, especially with diabetics. But it's still a fatal condition, and it can lead to irreparable brain damage.



How Hypoglycemia Can Lead to Brain Damage
We'll try to explain the process as simply as possible. Firstly, it's important to remember that brain tissues work similarly with animal tissues. The brain also needs blood sugar or glucose to operate efficiently. While the body has some sort of in-house production of glucose, this supply is severely limited and consumed almost immediately. As a result, the brain relies on the additional supply of glucose from the blood circulating in the body. This additional supply, of course, also comes from the food that we eat.



Thus, when the amount of blood sugar in our body reaches a dangerously low level, the brain is one of the first organs to be affected. The disastrous effects appear gradually:



Below 65mg - The mental efficiency of an individual is reduced.



Below 40mg - The decision-making process of the mind is affected.



Below 10ml - Neurons are electrically silenced and become unable to function; such effects are known as neuroglycopenia.



Treatment for Hypoglycemia
It is important to treat hypoglycemia immediately. Ignoring it will only lead to life-endangering consequences. There are several treatments available for people to choose from:



Drugs - Oral medication or drugs intravenously administered may be necessary for individuals who are experiencing hypoglycemia as a symptom of a more serious disease.



Complementary Treatment - Additional steps may be taken alongside the primary choice of treatment to lessen the effects of hypoglycemia. Individuals can either increase their intake of food high on sugar on certain circumstances or abstain from alcohol. They may also choose to give up caffeine and nicotine. Lastly, vitamins and minerals such as the following can help prevent attacks of hypoglycemia: magnesium, vitamin B, C, and E, and zinc.



Herbal Treatment - Although a lot of people express doubt regarding the efficacy of herbal treatment, the use of herbs for curing illnesses has been around thousands of years already. Always consult your doctor prior to using any herbal medication because you may be allergic to one of the ingredients used in the medicine. Herbs may be taken raw, digested as pills, tablets or capsules, or drunk in liquid form. Siberian ginseng, for instance, is one of the most popular herbs used to treat hypoglycemia.



Acupuncture - This technique primarily helps the individual by decreasing stress, which is another possible cause for hypoglycemia.



The Worst Effects of Hypoglycemia
When the effects of hypoglycemia are especially critical, there's a possibility that putting the glucose level back to normal is not enough to save the patient from brain damage. Kids are also more vulnerable than usual because their brains and bodies are not fully developed.



With the use of pyruvate however, the chances of a patient undergoing neuron death is significantly minimized.



If you once thought that hypoglycemia is a laughing matter, we hope that you've now understood the seriousness of this condition. While losing one of your senses is no doubt painful, you should remember that losing your sight or hearing is nothing compared to losing the ability to think. And that's what could happen to you if you don't manage hypoglycemia properly.

Diabetes and Nerve Damage

Neuropathy is nerve damage as a result of constantly high blood glucose levels. This is a complication of diabetes that can impact any part of the body. When damage occurs it can strike any of our vital organs. Some individuals never have any symptoms of nerve damage while others may have numbness or pain in their hands, feet, arms and legs.



Nerve damage is very commonplace affecting nearly 60% - 70% of all diabetics. You have a greater chance of getting neuropathy as you age and if you've had diabetes for a number of years. If you have suffered from diabetes for 25 years or even longer then you are at the greatest risk of developing nerve damage. Some of the other factors which could make you a high risk for nerve damage are not managing your blood sugar effectively, being too heavy, having high concentrations of blood fat as well as having high blood pressure.



It is unknown what actually causes nerve damage but there are those who believe several factors contribute to this complication. Below are some possibilities:



* Autoimmune disorder - when the body attacks its own cells



* Metabolism - your sugar levels are too high and you've had diabetes for a long time



* Behavior - consuming alcoholic beverages and smoking



* Your genes - you may have inherited a sensitivity to this disorder



There are different types of symptoms with neuropathy based on which nerves are affected. As mentioned previously there may be no symptoms at all, but others may feel pain or tingling in their hands, legs, arms and feet. The symptoms can be so subtle that you may not even realize that you have any. On the other hand, for some individuals the pain comes on suddenly and is severe especially for those with focal neuropathy.



The following lists some of the possible symptoms:



* Pain, numbness or tingling located in the feet, legs, arms and hands



* Having diarrhea, vomiting, nausea or being constipated



* Being dizzy, faint or light-headed



* Trouble focusing or pain behind one eye



* Sexual problems



* Bladder problems



* Irregular heart beat



* Weakness in the legs



The following shows the four different types of nerve damage and how they affect the body:



* Autonomic neuropathy - impacts the involuntary system like your heart, lungs and digestion. Should the autonomic nervous system be compromised problems will be experienced with the eyes, heart, lungs, digestion, bowel movements, sexual response and others functions. The area that is affected will determine the type and severity of your symptoms.



* Peripheral Neuropathy - targets the nerves to your feet, hands,legs and arms and is the most common type of neuropathy. The leg contains the longest nerves and as a result these are the ones that are damaged more frequently.



* Focal neuropathy - depending on the nerve that is damaged is can cause muscle weakness or pain. The areas that can be affected are the legs, torso and more commonly the head, in particular the eyes.



* Proximal neuropathy - affects the legs, hips, buttocks and thighs causing pain as well as muscle weakness. This will affect your ability to move around and is most often found the elderly.



Both a physical exam and a neurological exam are necessary to determine if you have any nerve damage. In addition to the routine medical checkup that all doctors give they will also look for any tender or painful region and will also check your mobility. In addition, there will be tests to check your reaction to different stimuli such as touch, temperature and vibration.



Maintaining safe blood glucose levels is the best treatment for nerve damage. This is actually the only means you have which will keep this disorder from getting worse. Although medication is available they only relieve the symptoms.