The Body is Static
The body has an amazing tendency to keep its functions static. Normally, devices like the brain, heart, lungs and endocrine system generally all work the same as they did the day before; the blood sugar level helps to make this happen. This is termed as "biological homeostasis." There is also an interesting relationship between the body's chemical function and blood sugar--how your body chemistry behaves is very much dependent on how much or how little blood sugar level you maintain. This chemistry affects human biological functions. When a person eats, he digests food; this food turns to glucose in the bloodstream, and the liver stores extra as glycogen to save energy as fat for the cells later. The pancreas uses glucose, and glycogen to create a hormone called insulin, which is responsible for taking sugar out of the blood. Too much sugar or insulin in the body can cause a host of other serious illnesses like hypo- or hyperglycemia, diabetes, and kidney failure.
Why do I Feel Sick to My Stomach When I Don't Eat?
People can feel sick to their stomach or even become nauseous if their blood sugar levels get too low for too long. Lack of food interrupts that ever-diligent biological homeostasis people establish over time. The body reacts adversely to change of not eating, and the brain and hypothalamus are the proverbial "tattle-tales," as well. When you do not eat, the brain sends the hypothalamus a danger signal that it is not getting what it needs to sustain itself. The hypothalamus then "talks" to the thyroid, kidneys, and pancreas using a collection of chemicals and hormones, one of which is insulin. Remember that the pancreas releases insulin into the blood. If the body doesn't get enough sustenance, two things can happen after this. First, the body cannot get enough insulin pumped into the bloodstream to remove sugar. If you have too much sugar, essential chemical reactions in the body may be inhibited or stop entirely. In some circumstances, the chemical systems essentially forget what it is they need to do--convulsions, paralysis, and even coma can result. Also, when the bloodstream does not maintain enough sugar, the adrenal glands pump adrenaline into the bloodstream, causing the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys to react as if they are in danger. This dramatically inhibits glucose from getting to a person's cells causing cellular starvation. Organs may never recover, at this point.
Alcohol, and Blood Sugar Level
Alcohol can have a seriously adverse affect on the body's ability to control blood sugar level. Cells need energy provided by glucose. When the body runs out, hormones in the body change stored glycogen into glucose. Alcohol is also a sugar, and it interrupts food glucose absorption, and prevents the liver, kidneys and pancreas from processing sugar normally. The body reads the alcohol just as if it were food. Alcohol does not contain complex chemicals that food does, so blood sugar levels may go "hay-wire," especially if a person drinks excessively or even constantly. Cells in the kidneys, pancreas, and liver may starve, too. This in turn, sparks an adrenal reflex again to make the body pump out even more adrenaline instead of insulin, thereby again reducing the amount of sugar in the bloodstream or body blood sugar level. Blood levels dramatically fluctuate, causing dizziness, confusion or even fainting.
Tags: blood sugar, blood sugar level, kidneys pancreas, biological homeostasis, blood sugar levels