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Some Interesting Information on Hypoglycemia
http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/under...l#anchor700068
Hypoglycemia WB Thomas D.V.M Dipl.ACVIM(Neurology)
"Hypoglycemia is an abnormally low level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. The brain requires sugar for normal function, and unlike many other organs, the brain has a very limited ability to store glucose. This means that the brain is the organ predominantly affected when blood glucose gets too low. Hypoglycemia can be caused by abnormal function of the hormones that regulate blood sugar or the inability of the body to store adequate amounts of glucose. Specific causes include insulinoma ( a tumor of the pancreas that produces excess insulin), overwhelming infection, an overdose of insulin used to treat diabetes, and hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease), a deficiency in hormones normally produced by the adrenal glands. Puppies, especially toy breed puppies, are predisposed to developing hypoglycemia because they have less ability to store and mobilize glucose, compared to older animals. Stress, low body temperature, ineffective nursing, infections, and premature birth may precipitate hypoglycemia. A common cause of hypoglycemia" is inadequate handling of the blood sample. If a blood sample is taken but not tested for several hours, the glucose measurement may be artificially low.
"The signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia are similar regardless of the cause. These include lethargy, weakness, incoordination, seizures, nervousness, tremors, and hunger. In severe cases the dog may become unconscious.
"A diagnosis of hypoglycemia as a cause of neurological problems is based on three criteria: (1) The patient has clinical signs of hypoglycemia, (2) A blood glucose concentration of less than 45 mg/dl is measured, and (3) The clinical signs go away when glucose is administered to the patient.
"Once it is determined the neurological signs are due to hypoglycemia, the cause of the hypoglycemia must be found. In addition to a medical history and examination, laboratory tests are usually performed. If an insulinoma is suspected the insulin concentration in the blood can be measured. Hypoadrenocorticism can be diagnosed on the basis of measuring cortisol levels in the blood.
"Emergency treatment of hypoglycemia involves administration of glucose. Usually this is done by intravenous injection. Giving a quickly absorbed source of sugar (syrup, honey, or jam) by mouth may be effective. Care should be taken when giving any substance by mouth to a dog that is seizing or unconscious as the substance may be inhaled into the lungs instead of being swallowed.
"Any underlying cause of the hypoglycemia should be corrected if possible. Surgery is recommended in many cases of insulinoma. Medication is helpful in preventing low blood glucose in some patients. Dietary management usually entails frequent small meals consisting of food that is high in protein, fat, and complex carbohydrates. Paradoxically, frequent administration of simple sugars may be counterproductive as this often stimulates insulin production. This lowers blood glucose and may precipitate a hypoglycemic episode." This would be true in non-diabetics only, because those with diabetes have lost the capability to produce enough insulin; the only way to get on the road to correcting diabetic hypoglycemia is to start with giving a quick source of sugar.
It's interesting to note that the doctor talks about glucose in a blood sample degrading with time; this would tend to say that the testing done where a hospital or clinic has its own "in house" equipment would be more accurate in a true picture of blood glucose than one who needs to send the blood samples out to an outside lab.
Dr. Mike talks about it too:
http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dhypogly...20Hypoglycemia
"It is important to note that blood sugar levels drop pretty rapidly in blood
once it is drawn unless serum is promptly separated from the cells.
Sometimes blood that is separated in serum separator tubes will still
undergo a loss of glucose, since contact with cells can sometimes still
occur in these tubes."
He continues with a good discussion of complex carbohydrates vs simple carbs:
"How long does it take a complex carbohydrate to turn into the sugar he needs?
"It takes a while, since carbohydrates are pretty much broken down into
disaccharides and monosaccharides to be absorbed into the digestive tract.
The advantage of complex carbohydrates is slower absorbtion which
theoretically leads to more efficient utilization. The idea is to make
glycogen (the form that the body stores sugar in) so that glucose is
available in times of need. When he is actually having a seizure due to
hypoglycemia it is much better to use simple sugars to provide the glucose
he needs --- corn syrup, sugar syrups (almost any pancake syrup), honey,
fruit juices and sugar solutions."
Even though this is not about diabetic hypoglycemia, the same is true for giving a source of sugar first, followed by food when there's a diabetic low or hypo.
Again, neither of these articles are about diabetic hypoglycemia, but the diabetic hypos and lows have a lot in common with hypos and lows from other causes and it looks like we might be able to learn something from them too.
Kathy
http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/under...l#anchor700068
Hypoglycemia WB Thomas D.V.M Dipl.ACVIM(Neurology)
"Hypoglycemia is an abnormally low level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. The brain requires sugar for normal function, and unlike many other organs, the brain has a very limited ability to store glucose. This means that the brain is the organ predominantly affected when blood glucose gets too low. Hypoglycemia can be caused by abnormal function of the hormones that regulate blood sugar or the inability of the body to store adequate amounts of glucose. Specific causes include insulinoma ( a tumor of the pancreas that produces excess insulin), overwhelming infection, an overdose of insulin used to treat diabetes, and hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease), a deficiency in hormones normally produced by the adrenal glands. Puppies, especially toy breed puppies, are predisposed to developing hypoglycemia because they have less ability to store and mobilize glucose, compared to older animals. Stress, low body temperature, ineffective nursing, infections, and premature birth may precipitate hypoglycemia. A common cause of hypoglycemia" is inadequate handling of the blood sample. If a blood sample is taken but not tested for several hours, the glucose measurement may be artificially low.
"The signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia are similar regardless of the cause. These include lethargy, weakness, incoordination, seizures, nervousness, tremors, and hunger. In severe cases the dog may become unconscious.
"A diagnosis of hypoglycemia as a cause of neurological problems is based on three criteria: (1) The patient has clinical signs of hypoglycemia, (2) A blood glucose concentration of less than 45 mg/dl is measured, and (3) The clinical signs go away when glucose is administered to the patient.
"Once it is determined the neurological signs are due to hypoglycemia, the cause of the hypoglycemia must be found. In addition to a medical history and examination, laboratory tests are usually performed. If an insulinoma is suspected the insulin concentration in the blood can be measured. Hypoadrenocorticism can be diagnosed on the basis of measuring cortisol levels in the blood.
"Emergency treatment of hypoglycemia involves administration of glucose. Usually this is done by intravenous injection. Giving a quickly absorbed source of sugar (syrup, honey, or jam) by mouth may be effective. Care should be taken when giving any substance by mouth to a dog that is seizing or unconscious as the substance may be inhaled into the lungs instead of being swallowed.
"Any underlying cause of the hypoglycemia should be corrected if possible. Surgery is recommended in many cases of insulinoma. Medication is helpful in preventing low blood glucose in some patients. Dietary management usually entails frequent small meals consisting of food that is high in protein, fat, and complex carbohydrates. Paradoxically, frequent administration of simple sugars may be counterproductive as this often stimulates insulin production. This lowers blood glucose and may precipitate a hypoglycemic episode." This would be true in non-diabetics only, because those with diabetes have lost the capability to produce enough insulin; the only way to get on the road to correcting diabetic hypoglycemia is to start with giving a quick source of sugar.
It's interesting to note that the doctor talks about glucose in a blood sample degrading with time; this would tend to say that the testing done where a hospital or clinic has its own "in house" equipment would be more accurate in a true picture of blood glucose than one who needs to send the blood samples out to an outside lab.
Dr. Mike talks about it too:
http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dhypogly...20Hypoglycemia
"It is important to note that blood sugar levels drop pretty rapidly in blood
once it is drawn unless serum is promptly separated from the cells.
Sometimes blood that is separated in serum separator tubes will still
undergo a loss of glucose, since contact with cells can sometimes still
occur in these tubes."
He continues with a good discussion of complex carbohydrates vs simple carbs:
"How long does it take a complex carbohydrate to turn into the sugar he needs?
"It takes a while, since carbohydrates are pretty much broken down into
disaccharides and monosaccharides to be absorbed into the digestive tract.
The advantage of complex carbohydrates is slower absorbtion which
theoretically leads to more efficient utilization. The idea is to make
glycogen (the form that the body stores sugar in) so that glucose is
available in times of need. When he is actually having a seizure due to
hypoglycemia it is much better to use simple sugars to provide the glucose
he needs --- corn syrup, sugar syrups (almost any pancake syrup), honey,
fruit juices and sugar solutions."
Even though this is not about diabetic hypoglycemia, the same is true for giving a source of sugar first, followed by food when there's a diabetic low or hypo.
Again, neither of these articles are about diabetic hypoglycemia, but the diabetic hypos and lows have a lot in common with hypos and lows from other causes and it looks like we might be able to learn something from them too.
Kathy
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