The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-05-31

this is rare. People had appendi-
citis thousands of years before il
was recognized that the particular
set Of symptoms involved was due
to Inflammation of the vermiform
appendix.
So when l say that hyperin-
sulinism is a new disease entity,
simply mean that we have lately
learned to recognize the connection
between a certain set of symp-
toms, of which many people have
complained in the past, and their
cause.
Functions Of Islets Of Langerhans
A few years ago we found that
the familiar old disease, diabetes,
was due to a degeneration Of GER
tain cells in the pancreas, called
the lslets Of Langerhans, which
produce insulin. Insulin is the
substance in the body which pro-
vides the spark to burn the starch.
es and sugar and furnish US with
energy. Since the diabetic is lack
ing in this substance, it is possible
to make him comfortable by sup
plying it artifcially by the hypo-
dermic injection Of pure insulin.
AS with all the other ductless
glands in the body, it is theoreti-
cally possible that the cells which
reduce insulin can either degen.
crate so less insulin is formed, as
is the case in diabetes, or they can
increase in size and amount and
produce sudden flooding Of the
body with insulin. We now have
definite proof that this actually
occurs. The condition is known as
hyperinsulinism.
The diagnosis can now be made
by the experienced physician over
the telephone. Somebody calls
the doctor up and tells him that
he has had a sudden attack of
tremendous hunger and muscle
trembling, with free perspiratioa.
Treatment is to eat some candy
or cracker-anything sweet or
starchy.
Hyperinsulinism
A typical case is that Of a wom-
an 90 years old whose first attack
of this kind occurred at the age
of &c. She first noticed the onset
Of dizzy spells at IL o'clock in the
morning, during which she felt
faint and weak. She was almost
continuously hungry. About Q
year later the spells became worse.
She perspired freely and she
said her mind became paralyzed
and she went into a kind Of coma
which lasted for seven hours. The
attacks usually came on before
meal time. On examining her
blood it was found that she had q
sugar level of 35 when it should
normally be 90. She could always
prevent her attacks Of uncon-
seriousness by drinking cocoa or
coffee with sugar.
1t should be noticed in this case
history that the onset was sudden
in adult life. You do not have TO
be born this way; it may come on
later. In this particular case a
surgical operation revealed that
in a certain part of the pancreas
there was &glandular growth
which involved the Islets Of Lam
germans. This was removed with
complete recovery. Her attacks
stopped and she is now healthy
and happy. Her blood sugar level
has risen to 30.
II is interesting to note that
while she was having the attacks,
she gained forty pounds in weight
due to the fact that she ate in
order to prevent the attacks. She
found out herself, without any
body telling her, that this was the
proper treatment.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
R. Win your column you
said you recently saw an elderly
patient with appendicitis with a
large abscess, who had no pain.
Will you please explain how you
knew the man had appendicitis if
he had no pain?"
Answer-He had fever, high
white blood cell count and abscess
tumor in the side. He was oper-
ated on and an appendicial abscess
and diseased appendix were dis
closed.
N. XII would like TO know
what sciatica is and what the
treatment for it is"
Answer: Sciatica is a neuralgia
Of the sciatic nerve. 1t may be due
TO arthritis, dislocation of the
sacro-iliac joint, or to focal infec-
ton somewhere, such as in the
teeth or tonsils. Often no cause
for it can be found. The best treat
ment is by manipulation, massage
and removal Of the focal infection.
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