icon-nav-help
Need Help

Submit your question to our team of health care professionals.

icon-nav-current-questions
Current Question

See what's on the mind of the community right now.

icon-conf-speakers-at-a-glance
Meet the Team

Learn more about our world-renowned team.

icon-nav-archives
CWD Answers Archives

Review the entire archive according to the date it was posted.

CWD_Answers_Icon
July 1, 1999

Diagnosis and Symptoms, Hypoglycemia

advertisement
Question from Bethesda, Maryland, USA:

I have heard that hypoglycemia in children and young adults is now considered a possible pre-diabetic condition. What metabolic changes lead from hypoglycemia to hyperglycemia with aging?

Answer:

From: DTeam Staff

The hypoglycemia that is an occasional predictor of clinical diabetes is due to a delay in what is called ‘first phase insulin release’. What this means is that the normal prompt response of the islet cells to a rise in blood sugar is not yet absent; but is delayed for several hours. This in turn leads to inappropriate hyperinsulinemia at a time after a meal when the glucose rise has subsided.

DOB