The Role of GLP-1 Signaling in Hypoglycemia due to Hyperinsulinism

Hypoglycemia Unawareness-A Review on Pathophysiology and Clinical Implications

Hypoglycemia is a particular problem in people with diabetes while it can also occur in other clinical circumstances. Hypoglycemia unawareness describes a condition in which autonomic and neuroglycopenic symptoms of hypoglycemia decrease and hence are hardly perceivable. A failure to recognize hypoglycemia in time can lead to unconsciousness, seizure, and even death. The risk factors include intensive glycemic control, prior episodes of severe hypoglycemia, long duration of diabetes, alcohol consumption, exercise, renal failure, and sepsis. The pathophysiological mechanisms are manifold, but mainly concern altered brain glucose sensing, cerebral adaptations, and an impaired hormonal counterregulation with an attenuated release of glucagon, epinephrine, growth hormone, and other hormones, as well as impaired autonomous and neuroglycopenic symptoms. Physiologically, this counterregulatory response causes blood glucose levels to rise. The impaired hormonal counterregulatory response to recurrent hypoglycemia can lead to a vicious cycle of frequent and poorly recognized hypoglycemic episodes. There is a shift in glycemic threshold to trigger hormonal counterregulation, resulting in hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure and leading to the clinical syndrome of hypoglycemia unawareness. This clinical syndrome represents a particularly great challenge in diabetes treatment and, thus, prevention of hypoglycemia is crucial in diabetes management. This mini-review provides an overview of hypoglycemia and the associated severe complication of impaired hypoglycemia awareness and its symptoms, pathophysiology, risk factors, consequences, as well as therapeutic strategies.

Hypoglycemia in Children: Major Endocrine-Metabolic Causes and Novel Therapeutic Perspectives

Hypoglycemia is due to defects in the metabolic systems involved in the transition from the fed to the fasting state or in the hormone control of these systems. In children, hypoglycemia is considered a metabolic-endocrine emergency, because it may lead to brain injury, permanent neurological sequelae and, in rare cases, death. Symptoms are nonspecific, particularly in infants and young children. Diagnosis is based on laboratory investigations during a hypoglycemic event, but it may also require biochemical tests between episodes, dynamic endocrine tests and molecular genetics. This narrative review presents the age-related definitions of hypoglycemia, its pathophysiology and main causes, and discusses the current diagnostic and modern therapeutic approaches.

Incidence, predictors and outcomes of redo pancreatectomy in infants with congenital hyperinsulinism: a 16-year tertiary center experience

PURPOSE

Recurrent severe hypoglycemic attacks often persist even after performing pancreatectomy for medically unresponsive congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI). In this study, we present our experience with redo pancreatectomy for CHI.

METHODS

We reviewed all children who underwent pancreatectomy for CHI between January 2005 and April 2021 in our center. A comparison was made between patients whose hypoglycemia was controlled after primary pancreatectomy and patients who required reoperation.

RESULTS

A total of 58 patients underwent pancreatectomy for CHI. Refractory hypoglycemia after pancreatectomy occurred in 10 patients (17%), who subsequently underwent redo pancreatectomy. All patients who required redo pancreatectomy had positive family history of CHI (p = 0.0031). Median extent of initial pancreatectomy was lesser in the redo group with borderline level of statistical significance (95% vs. 98%, p = 0.0561). Aggressive pancreatectomy at the initial surgery significantly (p = 0.0279) decreased the risk for the need to redo pancreatectomy; OR 0.793 (95% CI 0.645-0.975). Incidence of diabetes was significantly higher in the redo group (40% vs. 9%, p = 0.033).

CONCLUSION

Pancreatectomy with 98% extent of resection for diffuse CHI, especially with positive family history of CHI, is warranted to decrease the chance of reoperation for persistent severe hypoglycemia.

Congenital hyperinsulinism in clinical practice: From biochemical pathophysiology to new monitoring techniques

Congenital hyperinsulinism comprises a group of diseases characterized by a persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, due to mutation in the genes involved in the regulation of insulin secretion. The severity and the duration of hypoglycemic episodes, primarily in the neonatal period, can lead to neurological impairment. Detecting blood sugar is relatively simple but, unfortunately, symptoms associated with hypoglycemia may be non-specific. Research in this field has led to novel insight in diagnosis, monitoring and treatment, leading to a better neurological outcome. Given the increased availability of continuous glucose monitoring systems that allow glucose level recognition in a minimally invasive way, monitoring the glycemic trend becomes easier and there are more possibilities of a better follow-up of patients. We aim to provide an overview of new available technologies and new discoveries and their potential impact on clinical practice, convinced that only with a better awareness of the disease and available tools we can have a better impact on CHI diagnosis, prevention and clinical sequelae.