NCJ Number
57602
Journal
Prevention Volume: 31 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 110-115
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
HYPOGLYCEMIA (LOW BLOOD SUGAR), A CONDITION ASSOCIATED WITH A VARIETY OF BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS, IS DISCUSSED IN AN ARTICLE FROM A MAGAZINE ON PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE.
Abstract
BLOOD SUGAR IS GLUCOSE, THE BODY'S FUEL. THE BRAIN, MORE THAN MUSCLES AND MORE THAN ANY OTHER ORGAN, DEMANDS GLUCOSE. WHEN THE BRAIN DOES NOT GET A STEADY SUPPLY OF GLUCOSE, MENTAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING NERVOUSNESS, ANXIETY, IRRITABILITY, DEPRESSION, POOR CONCENTRATION, INDECISIVENESS, CAN RESULT. STUDIES HAVE FOUND HYPOGLYCEMIA IN 205 OF 220 NEUROTIC PATIENTS WITH OBVIOUS SYMPTOMS OF LOW BLOOD SUGAR AND IN 600 OF 700 MILDLY NEUROTIC PEOPLE WITH NO PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS. HYPOGLYCEMIA HAS BEEN FOUND IN 78 PERCENT OF 144 LEARNING-DISABLED CHILDREN IN ILLINOIS AND IN 44 OF 48 SUCH CHILDREN IN CALIFORNIA. LOW BLOOD SUGAR HAS BEEN LINKED TO DEPRESSION, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, EXPLOSIVE TEMPER, UNHAPPY MARRIAGES, WIFE BEATING, CHILD ABUSE, AND OTHER BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS. IRONICALLY, LOW BLOOD SUGAR IS TRIGGERED BY EATING TOO MUCH SUGAR. NORMALLY THE BODY CIRCULATES ABOUT 2 TEASPOONSFUL OF SUGAR IN THE BLOOD. EXTRA SUGAR IS STORED IN THE LIVER AND MUSCLES BY INSULIN, A HORMONE SECRETED BY THE PANCREAS. EATING TOO MUCH SUGAR PRODUCES A SURPLUS OF BLOOD SUGAR, CAUSING THE PANCREAS TO PUMP EXTRA INSULIN, WHICH SWEEPS OUT OF THE BLOOD STREAM THE GLUSCOSE THAT SHOULD BE CIRCULATING. THE RESULT IS LOW BLOOD SUGAR AND ITS ATTENDANT PROBLEMS. A RELATED MECHANISM ACCOUNTS FOR THE PHYSIOLOGICAL IMPACT OF CAFFEINE, NICOTINE, AND ALCOHOL. SOME RESEARCHERS BELIEVE THAT ALCOHOLISM CAN BE CAUSED BY HYPOGLYCEMIA. LOW BLOOD SUGAR CAN BE CONTROLLED THROUGH DIETARY RESTRICTIONS AND SUPPLEMENTS. SEE NCJ-57601 FOR A SIMILAR DISCUSSION OF CAFFEINE. (LKM)