In this thread there is a discussion about the role of insulin resistance and obesity. The dangers of too much insulin resistance are well known (diabetes). Are there risks of too much insulin sensitivity? If so, what kinds?
Is it possible someone who is too insulin sensitive will end up getting too much glucose to some tissues and not enough to others? Or is that not a real risk?
What about hypoglycemia, can that come about from too much sensitivity?
There are rare cases where a person might produce too much insulin. Usually, when they develop an insulin producing tumor, which can be on the pancreas or the adrenal glands. The excess insulin causes the blood sugar to drop to a dangerous level.
When type I diabetics become brittle, they may have unexplained drops in glucose levels, but most times it’s because they took their insulin and forgot, their activity level has changed dramaticly, or they’re sick.
Whatever the cause, very low blood sugar is a life threatening situation. With a blood sugar below 30mg/dL, brain cells begin to die at a rapid rate.
I’m not sure I’ve answered your question, but insulin sensitivity is measured by how the person responds to a given amount. Whe the healthcare professional orders an insulin dose, the patient’s blood sugar is monitored very frequently.
A condition where you have a tumor creating too much insulin is one thing, but what happens if a person doesn’t have that condition, just is very genetically prone to insulin sensitivity?
Does their blood sugar drop too low too fast causing hypoglycemia? Do certain organs not get enough glucose because it is taken up by the muscles before it can get to the organs?
Actually, the main causes of brittleness in type one diabetes, given that the patient is taking their insulin the way they are supposed to, are (in no particular order) thyroid disease, kidney problems, and alcohol consumption. The kidneys have a role in insulin metabolism, and if they’re messed up, it throws everything off. Alcohol consumption interferes with the liver’s control of glucose levels and can actually drop blood sugar levels dramatically, not in a good way.
There are a LOT of factors that influence how the body uses insulin, more than most people know about. I learned a lot studying for my CDE that, even having been a nurse for over 20 years, I had never heard about.