[JediSurfer]

What exactly is happen to our bodies and minds when we are hypo?

[JediSkipdogg]

Your body is being starved of glucose that it needs to survive. The body gets it's energy from glucose, which is broken down carbs. That's the simple version.

[shockme]

our brains need glucose to function. w/o it we get confused and spacey. we may hallucinate. we may not recognize friends/loved ones. etcetera,etcetera.......trish

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by JediSurfer

What exactly is happen to our bodies and minds when we are hypo?

When blood glucose drops too low, our bodies are able to make it go up again, but it is not a straightforward process. When this mechanism is activated, we experience all those hypo symptoms. Because stress hormones are involved, it is not a pleasant experience.

Messages are sent to the adrenal glands to spit out adrenalin. The pancreas responds to the raised level of adrenalin by producing glucagon, which in turn mobilises glycogen in the liver. The result is that blood glucose goes up. But the adrenalin causes your body to go into shock. It makes you sweat and get the shakes. It also affects your thinking, causing that sense of paranoia and impending doom . If you go very low, your body will start producing keytones, which also affect the ability to think. As the availability of glucose drops, the brain has increasing difficulty sending messages, further reducing your ability to function. This is why you feel that you are "losing it" and need to deal with the situation quickly.

[JediSurfer]

It would be very interesting to have an MRI scan during a hypo. To see which areas of the brain cease fuction first. My hypos can vary wildly. Sometimes it can be purely physical, other times completely mental and then a mixture of both to varying degrees. I am looking into finding out what is happening on a cellular level and how this affects the bodys organs inclueding the brain.

[ant hill]

Originally Posted by JediSurfer

It would be very interesting to have an MRI scan during a hypo. To see which areas of the brain cease fuction first. My hypos can vary wildly. Sometimes it can be purely physical, other times completely mental and then a mixture of both to varying degrees.

Yes Jedi, That would be a good observation to see what dose go on in our bodies, Especially now with the advent of 3D MRI scanners.

I am looking into finding out what is happening on a cellular level and how this affects the body's organs inclueding the brain.

I think we know that already with complications that we can get.

[shockme]

Originally Posted by JediSurfer

It would be very interesting to have an MRI scan during a hypo. To see which areas of the brain cease fuction first. My hypos can vary wildly. Sometimes it can be purely physical, other times completely mental and then a mixture of both to varying degrees. I am looking into finding out what is happening on a cellular level and how this affects the bodys organs inclueding the brain.

that would be cool to see! trish

[miss_ok_ish]

This may sound silly to some

i try to see it as the adrenalin is the main thing you feel, doesn't feel nice but its the thing that makes you feel horrible at first before anything major is happening.

When i'm having one i try to reason with myself that all it is adrenalin and nothing more, and if i treat it quickly thats all it will be... I'm not so scared now i know exactly what a hypo is... when i first had one i didn't know the ins and outs and thought i was losing it... now i'm not so scared of them anymore.. (even the really bad ones)

also if i did pass out my body would eventually wake itself up by using its stored glucose in my liver. (not that i have ever passed out, touch wood)

I'm more scared about getting a tummy bug and DKAing all over the place... hopefully that will never happen, again touch wood

lol

[jen_slc]

Originally Posted by JediSurfer

It would be very interesting to have an MRI scan during a hypo. To see which areas of the brain cease fuction first. My hypos can vary wildly. Sometimes it can be purely physical, other times completely mental and then a mixture of both to varying degrees. I am looking into finding out what is happening on a cellular level and how this affects the bodys organs inclueding the brain.

I agree, it would be very interesting. One of the most vulnerable areas of the brain to hypoglycemia is the hippocampus, which is a tiny little area that plays a significant role in memory and in spatial location and navigation.

As for what's happening at the molecular level, a researcher at UCSF showed that hypoglycemic brain cell death was due to the activation of a particular enzyme that prevented neurons from metabolizing glucose into pyruvate, another fuel. So without pyruvate, neurons essentially starve and die. I believe hypoglycemia has to be severe and prolonged for this to happen, but who knows what effect all our "typical" little non-serious hypos are having on our brain cells. Best just not to have them!

[lgvincent]

I was under the impression that the brain needs glucose in order to absorb oxygen so when low, we suffer from oxygen deprivation among other things.

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by JediSurfer

It would be very interesting to have an MRI scan during a hypo. To see which areas of the brain cease fuction first. My hypos can vary wildly. Sometimes it can be purely physical, other times completely mental and then a mixture of both to varying degrees. I am looking into finding out what is happening on a cellular level and how this affects the bodys organs inclueding the brain.

I would love to see that as well, but the problem is how do you do that? I truely don't see a line of people signing up to volunteer for a self induced hypo with no knowledge if a hypo causes long term brain damage. It would be great, but seems very unfeasable.

[ant hill]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

I truely don't see a line of people signing up to volunteer for a self induced hypo with no knowledge if a hypo causes long term brain damage.

Hey Kev, They should be arrested to do that. Just the comments here would tell you that, The brain needs some form of glucose to think!!
Now whare was I, Ho yeah that rib eye steak.