oh lol noshy.
I didn't post it because I think it directly applies to RHers, but a lot of RHers go on to develop T2 (like me) so we can have multiple things going on simultaneously, which is always going to muddy the water, and make RH even more difficult to diagnose.
But that article is very informative on what happens to T2s... so comparisons can be made - highlighting the similarities as well as the differences. When I discovered that article I found it fascinating mainly because there is so much going on before T2 diagnosis - and most people (doctors) don't even know this happens.
The trouble is, there seems to be so little research on RHers.
I mean, I have always wondered do I produce too much insulin?
- is my insulin
off switch the faulty thing?
- or do I produce
too little glucagon?
- are those two the same, or slightly different?
- or do I just have
mis-timed releases, which puts everything out of wack?
I have never come across any research that even looks at these questions, and frankly, I have just about given up looking...
If anyone knows of such research, please let me know!
I am in my expert view (ha!) Gonna try and answer your questions honestly as I can!
But, I could be wrong and I've asked various similar questions often beginning with why? And why me?
First, yes you probably do! My endo calls it an overshoot.
Second, as far as I'm aware the whole hormonal imbalance thing starts with your glucose/glucagon/ insulin ratio dictated by your alpha and beta cells. Once you eat and the trigger is pulled the initial glucose load is swamped by insulin and your pancreas keeps producing more until it's happy it's got rid of the glucose.
Third, don't know, but would suspect it. If we are to assume that glucagon works to offset insulin, then having more insulin than glucagon is not good, maybe because insulin drowns and floods the blood, glucose is got rid of glucose fast and with the excess, the glucagon is swamped and ineffectual. There is also glycogen, which forms part of a liver dump when necessary and because that we are low carb, then when that is released, the effect is not as bad as glucose or glucagon.
Four, as above, I think!
Five, could be! Because it is a blood glucose/hormonal/insulin imbalance disorder. (Wow! Sounding so professional now!) There must be something not quite right!
The trigger, the quick use of glucose, too low glucagon and the excess insulin must be up and down, especially as now we have trained our systems to anticipate too much or too little carbs!
Hence our awareness of hypos!
And our reactions to them, my last one in hospital was a doozie!
Had me ill for a couple of days.
I know it is not a factual or scientific answers you wanted and I do know my endo is doing some good work on RH, But (again!) The treatment is what is important, rather than the scientific mumbo jumbo, that we scratched our heads over the past few years.
Knowledge is a dangerous thing, and I think I may have the hang of it, and I am always looking for other research especially the relationship between glucose and carb overloading in sport.
I have read some reports from universities in the United States that are looking at the collaboration between diabetes and glucose and the advent of RH in long distance sportsmen and women, especially endurance sports! Also too much fructose!
I read somewhere, that you would be better putting a spoonful of cane sugar in water, than drink glucose. The recovery benefits are much better than fruit juice or just water. And nutritionally better! Believe it or not.