The pathophysiology of “happy” hypoglycemia

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Geraldine Baer¹  Anna Ozguler²  Thomas Loeb²  Michel Baer² 

[1] Department of Emergency Medicine, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA;SAMU des Hauts-de-Seine, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Raymond Poincaré Hospital, University of Paris-Saclay, 104 boulevard Raymond Poincaré, 92 380, Garches, France;

关键词: Hypoglycemia;    Lactate;    Asymptomatic;    Emergency medical service;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12245-021-00348-7

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHypoglycemia usually includes various neurological symptoms, which are the consequence of neuroglycopenia. When it is severe, it is associated with altered mental status, even coma.Case presentationWe report the case of a patient with severe hypoglycemia, completely asymptomatic, due to the increase of lactate production in response to tissue hypoperfusion following a hemorrhagic shock. This illustrates that lactate can substitute glucose as an energy substrate for the brain. It is also a reminder that this metabolite, despite its bad reputation maintained by its role as a marker of severity in critical care patients, has a fundamental role in our metabolism.ConclusionsFollowing the example of the “happy hypoxemia” recently reported in the literature describing asymptomatic hypoxemia in COVID-19 patients, we describe a case of “happy hypoglycemia.”

【 授权许可】

CC BY