Diabetic Diet & Blood Gluecose

OK, so i know hypoglycemia is low blood sugar and something about not being able to turn glucose into glycogen, but why can’t it? and what does insulin have to do with it? whats the best way to manage not fainting if you do have it?

Dear Chan Ell,

Your question actually asks about the 2 sides of the blood glucose issue. HYPOglycemia indicates that either you consume too few carbohydrates (sugars) or your pancreas produces too much of the hormone that metabolizes (uses up) your carbs. HYPERglycemia indicates that your pancreas produces too little or no insulin to metabolize the carbs, so the sugar will be too high (not metabolized).

Fainting can occur in either extreme, but fainting from low blood sugar (HYPOglycemia) can be fatal. If you have diabetes, please be sure that someone in your household is informed that he/she must feed you something very sweet – like orange juice, Pepsi or Coca Cola immediately. You should also have pure glucose (tubes sold in any drug store), gel or tablets, and let family/friends know where it is at all times to be used in an emergency.

Insulin must only be used in case of HYPERglycemia (high blood sugar) and can only be gotten with a doctor’s prescription.

Your question(s) indicate that you really should speak with your doctor about this whole matter. If it is for you or a family member, a simple, routine blood test (called A1c) can be done to learn whether someone has HYPO or HYPERglycemia. Please don’t wait. Then you’ll have nothing to wonder about or fear. OK?

one of my friends has diabetes….the other is hyperglycemic… and they were trying to explain to me that they’re the opposite of each other but i don’t get it. help??

Hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose, happens when there is too much sugar in the blood.
Causes of hyperglycemia
* Skipping or forgetting your insulin or oral glucose-lowering medication
* Eating the wrong foods
* Eating too much food
* Infection
* Illness
* Increased stress
* Decreased activity

Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugar to build up in your blood.

Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Interesting.. they look the same to me – are you sure they weren’t talking about HYPO-glycemic??