Insulin-dependent diabetics can find themselves low on blood sugar if they overdose on insulin or go too long without eating. This is very dangerous to the brain, and quickly leads to coma. Such individuals commonly use glucose drinks to significant benefit and with essentially no side effects. Most individuals who are free from disease have very little reason to use glucose drinks routinely. Glucose drinks may have significant side effects if used by a non-diabetic, however.
Side Effects of a Glucose Drink
Insulin-dependent diabetics can find themselves low on blood sugar if they overdose on insulin or go too long without eating. This is very dangerous to the brain, and quickly leads to coma. Such individuals commonly use glucose drinks to significant benefit and with essentially no side effects. Most individuals who are free from disease have very little reason to use glucose drinks routinely. Glucose drinks may have significant side effects if used by a non-diabetic, however.
Sugar Overdose
One of the first effects of a glucose drink not medically indicated is a simple sugar overdose. While this isn't dangerous, it is associated with some potentially uncomfortable symptoms similar to those an individual would feel if she drank too much soda or ate too much candy. Sugar highs can cause a feelings of excitation, particularly in children. Note Drs. Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham in their book "Biochemistry," glucose is absorbed very quickly into the bloodstream from the digestive tract, so sugar highs typically begin within ten minutes after consumption of large quantities of sugar.
Hypoglycemia
Oddly, exceedingly low blood sugar is the second effect of sugar overdose resulting from non-diabetic glucose use. The reason for this paradoxical response is that the body attempts to maintain blood sugar within strict parameters. If levels rise too high in a very short period of time, as they do in the case of sugar overdose, the pancreas secretes large quantities of the hormone insulin, explains Dr. Lauralee Sherwood in her book, "Human Physiology." The large amounts of insulin cause rapid uptake of glucose by cells, which depletes blood sugar and leads to hunger, shakiness, and feelings of weakness.
Fat Synthesis
The human body is designed to store excess energy for later use. Two primary storage mechanisms include storing glucose as the carbohydrate glycogen in the liver and converting glucose to fat for storage in fat cells, explain Drs. Mary Campbell and Shawn Farrell in their book, "Biochemistry." Very high levels of insulin release that occur following a sugar overdose lead to significant conversion of glucose to fat. For this to occur, glucose is partially metabolized to the smaller molecule acetyl-CoA, which is then converted to longer chain fatty acid molecules and eventually triglycerides, or storage fat.
Low Blood Sugar
Blood sugar levels are considered to be normal if they fall between 70 and 140 mg/dl. However, if serum glucose levels fall below 70 mg/dl, hypoglycemia or low blood sugar can occur. Not eating enough is a common cause of low blood sugar. A person may experience symptoms such as hunger, rapid heartbeat, trembling, sweating and shakiness when blood sugar drops too low. Depending on whether low blood sugar is mild or moderate, headache, mental confusion and seizures can also occur. Severe low blood sugar can lead to seizures, loss of consciousness, coma, brain damage and even death. In cases of short-term fasting, glucose levels in the blood should rise after eating a meal. A study published in a 2005 issue of "Clinical Nutrition” concluded that fasting is not a healthy way for people to diet. Researchers found that diabetics and overweight individuals without diabetes had problems with insulin and blood sugar after 60 hours of fasting.
Glucose
The digestive system is responsible for breaking food down into glucose, which is the body’s primary source of energy. Glucose then travels in the bloodstream to cells throughout the body. This causes a rise in blood sugar levels. The pancreas releases insulin to aid cells in absorbing glucose for energy. For individuals with Type 2 diabetes who are insulin resistant, the cells do not respond to insulin the way they should. Excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream resulting in high blood sugar levels. But when a person does not eat, the body runs out of fuel, and blood sugar levels drop. In order to keep blood glucose levels stable, you need to eat several meals throughout the day.
Glycogen
When the body is in a fasting state, it relies on stored energy. This energy comes from glycogen, protein and fat tissue. Glycogen stored in the muscles and liver is utilized as needed. Liver glycogen can supply any of the body’s cells, but muscle glycogen can only be used by the cells in the muscle in which it is stored. When the body fasts, it depletes glycogen by using this stored energy to fuel the normal activity of the brain and other body systems. Simply sleeping at night is a fasting state that uses up most of the glycogen in the liver.
Side Effects of a Glucose Drink
Insulin-dependent diabetics can find themselves low on blood sugar if they overdose on insulin or go too long without eating. This is very dangerous to the brain, and quickly leads to coma. Such individuals commonly use glucose drinks to significant benefit and with essentially no side effects. Most individuals who are free from disease have very little reason to use glucose drinks routinely. Glucose drinks may have significant side effects if used by a non-diabetic, however.
Sugar Overdose
One of the first effects of a glucose drink not medically indicated is a simple sugar overdose. While this isn't dangerous, it is associated with some potentially uncomfortable symptoms similar to those an individual would feel if she drank too much soda or ate too much candy. Sugar highs can cause a feelings of excitation, particularly in children. Note Drs. Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham in their book "Biochemistry," glucose is absorbed very quickly into the bloodstream from the digestive tract, so sugar highs typically begin within ten minutes after consumption of large quantities of sugar.
Hypoglycemia
Oddly, exceedingly low blood sugar is the second effect of sugar overdose resulting from non-diabetic glucose use. The reason for this paradoxical response is that the body attempts to maintain blood sugar within strict parameters. If levels rise too high in a very short period of time, as they do in the case of sugar overdose, the pancreas secretes large quantities of the hormone insulin, explains Dr. Lauralee Sherwood in her book, "Human Physiology." The large amounts of insulin cause rapid uptake of glucose by cells, which depletes blood sugar and leads to hunger, shakiness, and feelings of weakness.
Fat Synthesis
The human body is designed to store excess energy for later use. Two primary storage mechanisms include storing glucose as the carbohydrate glycogen in the liver and converting glucose to fat for storage in fat cells, explain Drs. Mary Campbell and Shawn Farrell in their book, "Biochemistry." Very high levels of insulin release that occur following a sugar overdose lead to significant conversion of glucose to fat. For this to occur, glucose is partially metabolized to the smaller molecule acetyl-CoA, which is then converted to longer chain fatty acid molecules and eventually triglycerides, or storage fat.
Low Blood Sugar
Blood sugar levels are considered to be normal if they fall between 70 and 140 mg/dl. However, if serum glucose levels fall below 70 mg/dl, hypoglycemia or low blood sugar can occur. Not eating enough is a common cause of low blood sugar. A person may experience symptoms such as hunger, rapid heartbeat, trembling, sweating and shakiness when blood sugar drops too low. Depending on whether low blood sugar is mild or moderate, headache, mental confusion and seizures can also occur. Severe low blood sugar can lead to seizures, loss of consciousness, coma, brain damage and even death. In cases of short-term fasting, glucose levels in the blood should rise after eating a meal. A study published in a 2005 issue of "Clinical Nutrition” concluded that fasting is not a healthy way for people to diet. Researchers found that diabetics and overweight individuals without diabetes had problems with insulin and blood sugar after 60 hours of fasting.
Glucose
The digestive system is responsible for breaking food down into glucose, which is the body’s primary source of energy. Glucose then travels in the bloodstream to cells throughout the body. This causes a rise in blood sugar levels. The pancreas releases insulin to aid cells in absorbing glucose for energy. For individuals with Type 2 diabetes who are insulin resistant, the cells do not respond to insulin the way they should. Excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream resulting in high blood sugar levels. But when a person does not eat, the body runs out of fuel, and blood sugar levels drop. In order to keep blood glucose levels stable, you need to eat several meals throughout the day.
Glycogen
When the body is in a fasting state, it relies on stored energy. This energy comes from glycogen, protein and fat tissue. Glycogen stored in the muscles and liver is utilized as needed. Liver glycogen can supply any of the body’s cells, but muscle glycogen can only be used by the cells in the muscle in which it is stored. When the body fasts, it depletes glycogen by using this stored energy to fuel the normal activity of the brain and other body systems. Simply sleeping at night is a fasting state that uses up most of the glycogen in the liver.
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