| 9.1 Why do I feel the negative effects of a bad meal still days later? |
| 9.2 Why can hypoglycemia cause visual problems and aching muscles? |
| 9.3 Can a hypo be dangerous? |
Food does not completely metabolize and clear the system for three to five days therefore the negative feelings caused by these foods can last for several days. Sugary foods and alcohol raise the level of blood sugar quickly but an hour or so later the blood sugar lowers and symptoms may begin to occur. Starchy foods also converts to blood sugar, but not as quickly as sugar and alcohol.
All of your body's cells need blood sugar (glucose) for energy and are notable to function to their best ability when there is not sufficient glucose available to them. The retina of the eye can use only blood glucose for energy because it doesn't have energy storage capabilities. So when the blood glucose is low, visual disturbance occur. Muscles can store some energy in them, but when the muscles don't have sufficient glucose to do the activity you want them to do they hurt or get achy and crampy.
Yes, it can be, but most times it isn't. Suppose you have a very strong reaction to sugar and eat (drink!) a whole lot of it, then you have a fair chance of getting very low blood sugar values. In the range 1-2 mmol/l (=20-35 mg/dl) most people loose consciousness, and can go into hypoglycemic shock (coma), comparable to diabetics who take too much insulin. This is a life-threatening condition that has to be treated by eating, if possible, or else intravenous injection of glucose to get blood sugar levels within normal range again. You shouldn't be worried about getting such an injection in case of emergency; the amount of glucose will be carefully measured to your needs, so your hypoglycemia won't be triggered.
Where an insulin shock can lead to death with diabetics no reports are known of hypoglycemics who died because of a food (or activity) reaction. Needless to say you *can* cause damage to yourself and/or others while you have a hypo and drive, or control a machine otherwise. Around the house, loss of coordination might cause you to bump into objects, fall to the ground, not pay attention while crossing, etc. Would this be the reason most people prefer the couch when they have a hypo? :-) I found and article on the Web stating that hypoglycemia slows down reaction times and increases the risk to get an accident: http://www.minimed.com/files/mmn003.htm .
Hypoglycemics who suffer from a bad hypo can get unconscious and may end up in hospital on an incidental basis. Most people, however, never get hospitalized because of their hypo, but do become so tired that they are not able to move a single muscle ('fainted', but are actually awake) or just fall into deep sleep. You may look at it as if the body is saving energy to at least provide for the basic functions (cardio-respiratory system, digestion processes, brain fuel). Most hypoglycemics first loose their alertness, then their muscle strength and coordination, clear thinking processes and finally fall asleep.
The above holds true for food triggered (postprandial/reactive) hypoglycemia. With fasting hypoglycemia, insulinoma (pancreatic tumor) or certain liver diseases blood sugar levels *can* drop until coma and possibly death follows. Only a thorough medical check-up could rule out these diseases, as their symptoms are very much the same as those of reactive hypoglycemia.
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Hypoglycemia Homepage Holland: http://huizen.dds.nl/~hypo/faq