Xiao Zhang and Xiao Li are a busy pair of professionals, who go out early and return late every day, working hard to give their family a better future. However, such struggles left them with little time to take care of Uncle Zhang at home.
Uncle Zhang is very old, and his health is good and bad. He suffers from diabetes, with gradual loss of pancreatic islet function and unstable blood sugar. Due to the busy work of his son and daughter-in-law, he is often alone at home. On some days, unstable blood sugar caused him to faint suddenly, but luckily, his neighbor, Aunt Li, was always able to spot and take care of him in time.
Aunt Li is very good to Uncle Zhang, but she often complains about Xiao Zhang and Xiao Li. She believes that they have neglected their responsibilities as children and have not taken good care of the elderly. Whenever Xiao Zhang and Xiao Li came home occasionally, Aunt Li couldn't help but criticize them, but they always used their busy work as an excuse and didn't have much time to stop and listen.
As time passed, Uncle Zhang's health became more and more worrying. His islet function was weakening, and it was more difficult to control his blood sugar. But Xiao Zhang and Xiao Li are still busy with their work and have no idea about it.
Finally, on a festive night, Aunt Li was not able to visit Uncle Zhang because she was busy with the festival. That night, Uncle Zhang was home alone, his blood sugar fluctuated violently, and finally left this world quietly. It wasn't until Xiao Zhang and Xiao Li came home in the evening that they noticed the silence in the house, Uncle Zhang was already sitting stiffly in his chair, and the news of his death hit their hearts like a hammer.
1. Persistent hyperglycemia
Blood glucose is an important indicator of islet function. Insulin is a hormone that helps transport blood sugar from the bloodstream to cells for energy. When the islet begins to decline, it may not be able to produce enough insulin to respond to the body's needs, resulting in persistent high blood sugar.
Hyperglycemia is when the concentration of glucose in the blood exceeds a normal level, usually on an empty stomach, and the normal blood sugar level should be between 70 and 100 milligrams of deciliters. If you're consistently maintaining blood sugar levels above this range, it may be because of a problem with your islet function.
1. The harm of high blood sugar
High blood sugar is a serious health hazard. First, high blood sugar can damage various tissues and organs, including the heart, eyes, kidneys, and nervous system. This can lead to serious complications such as cardiovascular disease, diabetic retinopathy, kidney disease, and neuropathy.
Second, high blood sugar may not only reduce the effectiveness of the immune system, but also increase the risk of infection. In a hyperglycemic environment, bacteria and viruses have more opportunities to grow, which can lead to various infections such as urinary tract infections, ** infections, and oral infections.
Persistent hyperglycemia can lead to a continuous decline in pancreatic islet function, creating a vicious cycle. High blood sugar can further raise blood sugar levels by making the islets more damaged and unable to produce enough insulin to lower blood sugar.
2. How to determine whether there is persistent hyperglycemia
1) Fasting blood glucose test: Measure blood sugar levels in the morning after waking up without eating. The normal range should be between 70 and 100 milligrams of deciliters.
2) Random Blood Glucose Test: A blood glucose test that is done at any time. The normal range should be between 70 and 140 milligrams of deciliters.
3) Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) test: This is a blood test that reflects the average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. The normal range is usually between 4% and 56%.
If your blood sugar test results are consistently higher than the normal range, more tests may be needed to determine if there is a problem with islet function decline.
2. Frequent hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is when blood sugar concentrations drop below the normal range, usually less than 70 milligrams of deciliters. Excessive insulin or abnormal islet function can cause a sharp drop in blood sugar, triggering symptoms of hypoglycemia.
1. The harm of hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is also very harmful to the body. When blood sugar is too low, the brain and other tissues can't get enough energy, which can lead to a range of uncomfortable and dangerous symptoms, including dizziness, fatigue, heart palpitations, cold sweats, confusion, and even coma.
Frequent hypoglycemia can also lead to insulin resistance, making the body need more insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels, thereby increasing the burden on pancreatic islet function.
2. How to determine whether there is frequent hypoglycemia
To determine if there is frequent hypoglycemia, there are some symptoms and conditions to look out for:
1) Increased hunger and hunger: If you feel hungry often, especially shortly after eating, it can be a sign of low blood sugar.
2) Feeling trembling or shaking: When blood sugar is low, the body may experience a trembling or trembling sensation.
3) Feeling palpitations or sweating: Hypoglycemia is often accompanied by autonomic symptoms such as palpitations and sweating.
4) Confusion or confusion: Hypoglycemia may lead to unclear thinking and confusion.
5) Coma: In extreme cases, severe hypoglycemia can lead to coma.
Decline in islet function is a serious health problem that can lead to a variety of complications. Persistent hyperglycemia and frequent hypoglycemia are the two main warning signs of pancreatic islet function decline, which should be taken seriously. If you are concerned about your islet function, it is important to consult your doctor for professional advice and options. Don't ignore these warning signs, as they can be important signals from your body to help you and pay attention to your islet health.