Meissner’s article “Exercise Induced Hypoglycaemic Hyperinsulinism” provides relevant information about hyperinsulinism in childhood, examines thoroughly the issue and draws logical conclusions. The article provides thorough examination of the causes and consequences and therefore it is worth reading. Actually this article is of great importance not only for medical students, but also for physicians and scientists, because it would assists in solving problems and identifying diagnoses. The article’s information is new and fits to the requirements of modern medicine.
It is necessary to outline that findings presented in the article significantly contribute the evidence that hyperinsulinism is really genetic disease. (Meissner et al. 2001) The authors of the article define hyperinsulinism in childhood as a genetic disease that involves the regulation of the insulin secretion. Thus it is stated that regulation of insulin leads to recurrent episodes of hypoglycaemia, brain damage and coma. The disease may be caused by molecular defects and biochemical disturbances.
Therefore tests were conducted on two teenage patients with exercise induced hypoglycaemia to find out the evidence of the theory mentioned. Patients underwent standardized short exercise tests. It means that they were provided with plasma insulin and frequent blood glucose. (Meissner et al. 2001) The article provides also the results and conclusions of the teats. It is apparent that short-term exercises inevitable resulted in increased insulin secretion after the end of the exercise. After exercises starting the massive insulin secretion was observed in both patients, whereas insulin concentrations as well as glucose were unchanged.
Therefore the authors assert that hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia may be actually described as phenotype of hyperinsulinism. The disease thus is able to cause disturbance of consciousness and molecular defects. Nevertheless, the defect in insulin secretion remains still unknown, though genetic basis is suspected. (Meissner et al. 2001)
References Meissner, T. , Otonkoski, T. , Feneberg, R. , Apostolidou, S. , Sipila, I. , Mayatepek, E. (2001). Exercise Induced Hypoglycaemic Hyperinsulinism. Arch Dis Child, 84, 254-257.