HYPOGLYCEMIA

Tevin Erlambang & Chelsea Taylor

BIOL 3410 -1: Biochemistry
Term Paper Presentation
May 3, 2016
Dr. Ratna Gupta
Our Lady of the Lake College

WHAT IS HYPOGLYCEMIA?
Hypo = low,
glyc = meaning sugar,
-emia = meaning blood
It is a condition of low blood sugar or low blood
glucose.

CAUSES OF HYPOGLYCEMIA
There are several causes of hypoglycemia
These causes can be split into a few main groups:

Endocrine
Metabolic
Idiopathic
Other

CATEGORIES OF
HYPOGLYCEMIA
Diabetic
Non-diabetic
Fasting
Ketotic
Reactive

 Hunger
Fatigue
Shakiness
Nervousne
ss
Confusion

Sweating

Dizziness

Difficulty speaking

Anxiety

Weakness

WHY IS HYPOGLYCEMIA IMPORTANT?

GLUCOSE
Glucose is the only fuel
that the brain uses under
non-starvation conditions
.
It is the only fuel that red
blood cells use at all.

DIGESTION & GLUCOSE

Digestion of food yields glucose.

Glucose is transported from the gut

to the blood.

GLUCOSE HOMEOSTASIS
Too much insulin = Too much glucose taken from the blood.
Blood glucose levels drop too low.
Low blood glucose = Glucagon secretion

GLUCAGON
Glucagon Effects:
Liver and Skeletal Muscle
Adipose or Fatty tissue
Liver

GLUCOSE TRANSPORTERS
GLUT 1: Present in all mammalian tissues
Normally responsible for transporting glucose into the cell at a
constant rate.

GLUT 2: Present in liver and pancreatic beta cells

Pancreas senses the level of glucose in the blood and adjusts insulin
secretion

GLUT 3: Similar to GLUT 1 transporter

GLUT 4: Present in the muscle and fat cells
Promotes insulin uptake of glucose by muscle and fat

GLUT 5: Present in the small intestine

Functions as a fructose transporter

GLUCONEOGENESIS

GLYCOGENOLYSI
S

REFERENCES
Bonham, J., Reed, C., Lang, T., & Losty, H. (2011). National Metabolic Biochemistry
Network Guidelines for the Investigation of Hypoglycemia in Infants and Children
(pp. 18). UK: University Hospital of North Durham. Retrieved from
http://www.metbio.net/docs/MetBio-Guideline-GARU968012-23-01-2012.pdf
Ensling, M., Steinmann, W., & Whaley-Connell, A. (2011). Hypoglycemia: A Possible
Link between Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Dyslipidemia, and Heart and Kidney
Disease (the Cardiorenal Syndrome). Cardiorenal Medicine, 1(1), 6774.
http://doi.org/10.1159/000322886
Fonseca, V. A., Martin, C. L., & White, N. H. (2008, October). Hypoglycemia.
Retrieved April 5, 2016, from http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/healthtopics/Diabetes/hypoglycemia/Pages/index.aspx
Hypoglycemia.co.uk. (2016). Hypoglycemia, Low Blood Sugar Causes, Symptoms,
Diagnosis & Treatment. Retrieved April 5, 2016, from
http://www.hypoglycemia.co.uk/
Tymoczko, J. L., Berg, J. M., & Stryer, L. (2010). Biochemistry: A Short Course (1st
ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman & Company.