Glucose allergy plagues about 57 million people in the US. Know what are the symptoms and treatment for this condition, in this article.
Type II diabetes has become a leading cause of deaths in developed countries. Besides, it also leads to several cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, hypertension etc. Obesity is yet another health concern which stems from type II diabetes. Diabetes does not surface at once, but signs and symptoms of diabetes develop over a period of time. Glucose allergy or intolerance is often a precursor to type II diabetes. If you detect this condition at an early stage, you may be able to avoid an incidence of diabetes altogether. However, early glucose intolerance may go unnoticed due to lack of stronger symptoms. However, as the disease progresses into later stages, you may be able to detect more than subtle signs of diabetes.
What is Glucose Allergy?
Glucose is a type of sugar, which is directly assimilated in the body. It is the main source of energy for cellular function. When you eat carbohydrate rich food, your body converts it into glucose, which can be synthesized by cells for their energy requirement. For proper glucose absorption in the body, a hormone named insulin is required. This insulin is produced by beta cells of islets of Langerhans in pancreas. However, in a condition named insulin resistance, the body develops an immunity for insulin, meaning, it does not respond to the usual levels of insulin. As a result, body has to produce more insulin to ensure proper absorption of glucose.
If it doesn’t produce sufficient insulin, the cells may be deprived of glucose and may break down eventually due to lack of energy. This may disrupt many of the vital functions inside the body. Thus, body goes on producing more and more insulin, which in turn can be detrimental for the other organs. The unabsorbed glucose causes the blood sugar levels to stay elevated. Thus, allergy testing for glucose primarily looks for rise in blood sugar levels. However, the glucose levels are not high enough to treat the disease as type II diabetes. A proper treatment at this stage may improve your chances of avoiding diabetes altogether.
Symptoms
Symptoms erupt when the glucose levels in the body rise significantly. Some of the common glucose intolerance symptoms include, excessive thirst, blurriness of vision, irritability, tender rashes on the body that are painful to touch, muscle cramps, headaches, inability to concentrate etc. Other symptoms include bloated feeling after meals, weakness in knees and legs after meals, itchiness of skin etc. Glucose intolerance may also adversely affect reproductive health of a person by causing erectile dysfunction in men and premature menopause and vaginal dryness in women. Severe symptoms of glucose allergy include wheezing, anaphylaxis and upset digestive system.
Treatment
Lowering levels of glucose in the blood is the first step toward controlling this condition. Diet and a good exercise regimen are the only things that can help you in controlling your glucose levels. People suffering from glucose allergy must consume foods that are low in simple carbohydrates. Glucose allergic reaction is triggered by consumption of simple carbs. As simple carbohydrates get directly converted into glucose, they may further elevate the glucose levels in the blood. Complex carbohydrates are slowly synthesized by the body, thus they provide a steady supply of energy without causing a significant surge in the glucose levels. Ice-creams, pastries, processed, refined foods are some of the foods which you must skip from your diet altogether. Whole grain foods, high protein low fat foods, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats etc, must form a part of your diet. A daily exercise regimen such as jogging, cycling, walking, swimming or a gym workout is essential to curb your sugar levels.
As glucose allergy is a precursor to type II diabetes, it is a must that you keep a check on your glucose levels. A routine check up may help you keep glucose allergies at bay.
