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Researchers unravel why episodes of low blood sugar worsen eye disease in people with diabetes
Medical Xpress / Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine / Cell Reports ^ | Jan. 26, 2023 | Chuanyu Guo et al

Posted on 01/31/2023 9:32:42 PM PST by ConservativeMind

People with diabetes who experience periods of low blood sugar—a common occurrence in those new to blood sugar management—are more likely to have worsening diabetic eye disease. Now, researchers say they have linked such low blood sugar levels with a molecular pathway that is turned on in oxygen-starved cells in the eye.

"Temporary episodes of low glucose happen once or twice a day in people with insulin-dependent diabetes and often among people newly diagnosed with the condition," says Akrit Sodhi, M.D., Ph.D.

Low glucose levels can also occur during sleep in people with non-insulin dependent diabetes. "Our results show these periodic low glucose levels cause an increase in certain retinal cell proteins, resulting in an overgrowth of blood vessels and worsening diabetic eye disease," adds Sodhi.

Eye disease among people with diabetes is among the most preventable causes of blindness. Diabetic retinopathy occurs in up to a third of people with diabetes.

Sodhi says the study suggests people with diabetic retinopathy may be particularly vulnerable to periods of low glucose, and keeping glucose levels stable should be an important part of glucose control.

The researchers found that low glucose levels in human and mouse retinal cells caused a cascade of molecular changes that can lead to blood vessel overgrowth. First, the researchers saw that low glucose caused a decrease in retinal cells' ability to break down glucose for energy.

In low-oxygen environments, as occurs in the retinas of patients with diabetic eye disease, this normal, physiologic response to low glucose triggered a flood of HIF-1α protein into the cells' nucleus, the cell's control center.

This resulted in an increase in the production of proteins such as VEGF and ANGPTL4, which cause the growth of abnormal, leaky blood vessels—the key culprit of vision loss in people with diabetic eye disease.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS:
Keep your blood sugar at healthy levels, if diabetic. Note the keto diet can keep blood sugar very consistent and even some cells of the eye are known to do well while in ketosis. I recently read about mice bred for glaucoma didn’t get it when fed a keto diet for just one month prior to the normal glaucoma point.
1 posted on 01/31/2023 9:32:42 PM PST by ConservativeMind
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To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; BusterDog; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

2 posted on 01/31/2023 9:33:18 PM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Guessing low blood sugar is the result of poor meds management.


3 posted on 01/31/2023 9:39:36 PM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: Gene Eric

Because managing insulin dependent diabetes is a piece of cake.


4 posted on 01/31/2023 9:51:14 PM PST by MarMema (Orange Putin Bad)
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To: ConservativeMind

Take loads of vitamin D3 for your eyes. I have proved this to myself. Based on my own experience.
Never wear sunglasses. I never have. They weaken your eye’s resilience.
Though I would make an exception if you are in a glaring sunlight environment all day. Such as a fisherman. Or a mountain climber or skier in the snow.


5 posted on 01/31/2023 9:53:30 PM PST by dennisw ("You don't have to like it. You just have to do it")
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To: MarMema

piece of cake?

have less cake ;)


6 posted on 01/31/2023 9:53:53 PM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: Gene Eric

I raised a child with it. It is horribly difficult.

I forgot the /s


7 posted on 01/31/2023 10:13:39 PM PST by MarMema (Orange Putin Bad)
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To: ConservativeMind

Explains a lot relating to wet and dry macular degeneration.. and hypoxia..


8 posted on 01/31/2023 10:15:42 PM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: Gene Eric

“Guessing low blood sugar is the result of poor meds management.”

____

Not necessarily. I know someone who takes their meds as directed, on time, etc, eats a proper low carb, low sugar diet, and their glucose still sometimes drops dangerously low during the night. Doctors change the dosage and glucose levels are monitored, diet is managed, maintained, and recorded, and it still sometimes drops for apparently no rhyme or reason. It can be extremely frustrating.


9 posted on 01/31/2023 10:23:18 PM PST by CFW (old and retired)
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To: CFW; MarMema

I had acquired T2 in mind. Didn’t intend to minimize the more complex cases.


10 posted on 01/31/2023 10:41:26 PM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: Gene Eric
"Guessing low blood sugar is the result of poor meds management."
Bad guess, you uninformed, callous, stupid, insensitive jerk. Respond for details.
11 posted on 01/31/2023 11:11:40 PM PST by Tunehead54 (Nothing funny here ;-)
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To: Tunehead54

>> Bad guess, you uninformed, callous, stupid, insensitive jerk. Respond for details.

Poor you, so bent on my guess. Try again with something meaningful other than your misplaced misery.


12 posted on 02/01/2023 12:11:09 AM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: ConservativeMind

It may, but it sure HATES YOUR GI TRACT.

I have both, type 2, and Gastroparesis, opposite diets, Keto tears my stomach up. All the damn docs do is tell me what I can’t eat, which is mostly food. Eggs digest best. They have the money to buy them, but I’m struggling to handle food costs, meds, utilities, and gas.

Their meds get into my vision worse than low sugar.


13 posted on 02/01/2023 6:55:05 AM PST by GailA (Constitution vs evil Treasonous political Apparatchiks, Constitutional Conservative.)
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To: GailA

You describe a situation with the delayed stomach emptying that I just read about and I think it could apply to you. It appears a high fat, high carb diet (the standard definition for a “High Fat Diet” among the scientific community) causes relatively quick dysfunction in cells that are responsible for emptying our stomach. It forces delayed emptying, which is generally what Gastroparesis is. If you could either go true low fat or low carb for your diet, that might curb your gastroparesis, at least, it would seem.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-high-fat-diet-brain-ability-food.html


14 posted on 02/01/2023 7:11:39 AM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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