3) THE BASIC CAUSES OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
k) The Hypoglycemic Spike Effect
In most cases of type 2 diabetes the pancreas is still capable of putting out some insulin and, in some cases, of putting out relatively large quantities of insulin (this varies greatly among individuals). In most individuals with type 2 diabetes it can be years before beta cell death gets to the point where lack of insulin becomes more important a factor than insulin resistance. So, typically, it is the individuals who have had type 2 diabetes for a long time who cannot produce any insulin at all. Unfortunately it is not uncommon for an individual to go undiagnosed until the time they need insulin.
Sugar can move into the blood steam from the digestive track very rapidly. Production of insulin in the pancreas normally takes considerable time, anywhere from half an hour to one hour from the time the sugar enters the bloodstream. The reason behind this is that there are a whole series of cascading sequential hormone outputs in the endocrine glandular system that need to occur before the pancreas starts putting out insulin. To accommodate this time lag a "normal" pancreas makes a store of insulin and holds it for the sole purpose of reducing and leveling out any rapid sugar spikes. One of the unusual effects of even early type 2 diabetes (and in some cases even "pre-diabetes") is that the pancreas does not make a store of insulin which it can rapidly release to overcome a rapid spike in blood sugar levels. So a large influx of sugar into the blood of a person with early non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes can result in a delayed spike in blood insulin, it simply takes a while for the pancreas to get cranked up and start producing insulin.
Because of this lack of a ready reserve of insulin in the pancreas, if a person with early non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes eats a refined carbohydrate meal, the blood sugar can rapidly shoot up to high levels. Because the blood sugar goes so high, the endocrine system signals the pancreas to produce as much insulin as it can, in many cases too much insulin. This delayed high spike of insulin can then drop the blood sugar too low, resulting in "hypoglycemia". Hypoglycemia is where the blood sugar level (i.e. the blood glucose level) gets too low. The symptoms of low blood sugar are: hunger, nervousness, shakiness, perspiration, dizziness, light-headedness, sleepiness, confusion, difficulty speaking and feeling anxious or weak. If the individual eats refined carbohydrate food to overcome the low blood sugar induced hunger, the cycle can repeat itself. It is not uncommon for persons with early non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes to cycle up and down this way all day long. This cycling occurs even in "pre-diabetics". This cycling will result in overeating and weight gain and needs to be avoided.
It is also not at all uncommon for persons with type 2 diabetes in the beginning stages of the disease to be told by their physicians that they are "hypoglycemic" (i.e. have constant low blood sugar due to overproduction of insulin by the pancreas). "Pure" hypoglycemia is where the pancreas just produces too much insulin and the blood sugar levels are always too low. "Pure" hypoglycemia is an uncommon medical condition that is largely confined to children. We would recommend a second opinion from an endocrinologist for any diagnosis of hypoglycemia in an adult.
Current Chapter: 3) THE BASIC CAUSES OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
a) Underlying Mechanism of Type 2 Diabetes
b) Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
c) Tests for Diabetes
d) Insulin Resistance
e) The Complexity of Diabetes
f) Poisoning of Body Protein
g) Diabetes, Protein Poisoning and Cognitive Thinking
h) Protein Poisoning and A1c
i) Well Cooked Meat and Protein Poisoning
j) Beta Cell Death in Type 2 Diabetes
k) The Hypoglycemic Spike Effect
l) The "Dawn Phenomenon"
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