View source for Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia

{{More citations needed|date=September 2020}}
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'''Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia''' describes the condition and effects of low blood [[glucose]] caused by excessive [[insulin]]. [[Hypoglycemia]] due to excess insulin is the most common type of serious hypoglycemia. It can be due to endogenous or injected insulin.

==Signs and symptoms==
Manifestations of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia vary by age and severity of the hypoglycemia. In general, most signs and symptoms can be attributed to (1) the effects on the brain of insufficient glucose ([[neuroglycopenia]]) or (2) to the [[adrenaline|adrenergic]] response of the [[autonomic nervous system]] to hypoglycemia. A few miscellaneous symptoms are harder to attribute to either of these causes. In most cases, all effects are reversed when normal glucose levels are restored.

There are uncommon cases of more persistent harm, and rarely even death due to severe hypoglycemia of this type. One reason hypoglycemia due to excessive insulin can be more dangerous is that insulin lowers the available amounts of most alternate brain fuels, such as [[ketone]]s. Brain damage of various types ranging from [[stroke]]-like focal effects to impaired memory and thinking can occur. Children who have prolonged or recurrent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in infancy can suffer harm to their brains and may be [[Developmental disability|developmentally delayed]].

==Causes==
Hypoglycemia due to endogenous insulin can be congenital or acquired, apparent in the newborn period, or many years later. The hypoglycemia can be severe and life-threatening or a minor, occasional nuisance. By far the most common type of severe but transient hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia occurs accidentally in persons with [[type 1 diabetes]] who take insulin.
* Hypoglycemia due to endogenous insulin
** [[Congenital hyperinsulinism]]
*** Transient neonatal hyperinsulinism (mechanism not known)
*** Focal hyperinsulinism (K<sub>ATP</sub> channel disorders)
**** Paternal SUR1 [[mutation]] with clonal loss of heterozygosity of 11p15
**** Paternal Kir6.2 mutation with clonal loss of heterozygosity of 11p15
*** Diffuse hyperinsulinism
**** K<sub>ATP</sub> channel disorders
***** SUR1 mutations
***** Kir6.2 mutations
**** [[Glucokinase]] gain-of-function mutations
**** [[hyperammonemia|Hyperammonemic]] hyperinsulinism (glutamate dehydrogenase gain-of-function mutations)
**** [[Short chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency]]
**** [[Carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome]] ([[Jaeken's Disease]])
**** [[Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome]](suspected due to hyperinsulinism but pathophysiology uncertain: 11p15 mutation or [[IGF2]] excess)
** Acquired forms of hyperinsulinism
** [[Insulinoma]]s (insulin-secreting [[tumor]]s)
*** [[Islet cell adenoma]] or adenomatosis
*** [[Islet cell carcinoma]]
** Adult [[nesidioblastosis]]
** [[Autoimmune insulin syndrome]]
** [[Noninsulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycemia]]
** [[Reactive hypoglycemia]] (also see [[idiopathic postprandial syndrome]])
** [[Gastric dumping syndrome]]
* Drug induced hyperinsulinism
** [[Sulfonylurea]]
** [[Aspirin]]
** [[Pentamidine]]
** [[Quinine]]
** [[Disopyramide]]
** [[Bordetella pertussis]] [[vaccine]] or infection
** D-chiro-inositol and myo-inositol<ref name="pmid19059532">{{cite journal|last=Villeneuve|first=MC |author2=Ostlund RE, Jr |author3=Baillargeon, JP|title=Hyperinsulinemia is closely related to low urinary clearance of D-chiro-inositol in men with a wide range of insulin sensitivity.|journal=Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental|date=January 2009|volume=58|issue=1|pages=62–8|pmid=19059532|doi=10.1016/j.metabol.2008.08.007|doi-access=free}}</ref>
* Hypoglycemia due to exogenous (injected) insulin
** Insulin self-injected for treatment of [[diabetes]] (i.e., [[diabetic hypoglycemia]])
** Insulin self-injected surreptitiously (e.g., [[Munchausen syndrome]])
** Insulin self-injected in a suicide attempt or fatality
** Various forms of diagnostic challenge or "tolerance tests"
*** Insulin tolerance test for [[pituitary]] or [[autonomic nervous system|adrenergic]] response assessment
*** [[Protein]] challenge
*** [[Leucine]] challenge
*** [[Tolbutamide]] challenge
** [[Insulin potentiation therapy]]
** Insulin-induced coma for [[clinical depression|depression]] treatment

==Genetics==
There are several genetic forms of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Type
! [[OMIM]]
! Gene
! Locus
|-
| HHF1
| {{OMIM|256450||none}}
| ''[[ABCC8]]''
| 11p15.1
|-
| HHF2
| {{OMIM|601820||none}}
| ''[[KCNJ11]]''
| 11p15.1
|-
| HHF3
| {{OMIM|602485||none}}
| ''[[glucokinase|GCK]]''
| 7p15-p13
|-
| HHF4
| {{OMIM|609975||none}}
| ''[[HADH]]''
| 4q22-q26
|-
| HHF5
| {{OMIM|609968||none}}
| ''[[INSR]]''
| 19p13.2
|-
| HHF6
| {{OMIM|606762||none}}
| ''[[GLUD1]]''
| 10q23.3
|-
| HHF7
| {{OMIM|610021||none}}
| ''[[SLC16A1]]''
| 1p13.2-p12
|}

==Diagnosis==
When the cause of hypoglycemia is not obvious, the most valuable diagnostic information is obtained from a blood sample (a "critical specimen") drawn during the hypoglycemia. Detectable amounts of insulin are abnormal and indicate that hyperinsulinism is likely to be the cause. Other aspects of the person's metabolic state, especially low levels of [[free fatty acid]]s, [[beta-hydroxybutyrate]] and [[ketone]]s, and either high or low levels of [[C-peptide]] and [[proinsulin]] can provide confirmation.

Clinical features and circumstances can provide other indirect evidence of hyperinsulinism. For instance, babies with neonatal hyperinsulinism are often [[large for gestational age]] and may have other features such as enlarged heart and liver. Knowing that someone takes insulin or [[oral hypoglycemic agent]]s for diabetes obviously makes insulin excess the presumptive cause of any hypoglycemia.

Most sulfonylureas and aspirin can be detected on a blood or urine [[drug screen]] tests, but insulin cannot. Endogenous and exogenous insulin can be distinguished by the presence or absence of [[C-peptide]], a by-product of endogenous insulin secretion which is not present in pharmaceutical insulin. Some of the newer [[insulin analog|analog]] insulins are not measured by the usual insulin level assays.

==Treatment==
Acute hypoglycemia is reversed by raising the blood glucose. Glucagon should be injected intramuscularly or intravenously, or [[dextrose]] can be infused intravenously to raise the blood glucose. Oral administration of glucose can worsen the outcome, as more insulin is eventually produced. Most people recover fully even from severe hypoglycemia after the blood glucose is restored to normal. Recovery time varies from minutes to hours depending on the severity and duration of the hypoglycemia. Death or permanent brain damage resembling [[stroke]] can occur rarely as a result of severe hypoglycemia. See [[hypoglycemia]] for more on effects, recovery, and risks.

Further therapy and prevention depends upon the specific cause.

Most hypoglycemia due to excessive insulin occurs in people who take insulin for [[Diabetes mellitus|type 1 diabetes]]. Management of [[diabetic hypoglycemia|this hypoglycemia]] is sugar or starch by mouth (or in severe cases, an injection of [[glucagon]] or intravenous [[dextrose]]). When the glucose has been restored, recovery is usually complete. Prevention of further episodes consists of maintaining balance between insulin, food, and exercise. Management of hypoglycemia due to treatment of [[Diabetes mellitus type 2|type 2 diabetes]] is similar, and the dose of the [[oral hypoglycemic agent]] may need to be reduced. Reversal and prevention of hypoglycemia is a major aspect of the management of type 1 diabetes.

Hypoglycemia due to drug overdose or effect is supported with extra glucose until the drugs have been metabolized. The drug doses or combination often needs to be altered.

Hypoglycemia due to a [[tumor]] of the pancreas or elsewhere is usually curable by surgical removal. Most of these tumors are benign. [[Streptozotocin]] is a specific [[beta cell]] toxin and has been used to treat insulin-producing pancreatic [[carcinoma]].

Hyperinsulinism due to diffuse overactivity of beta cells, such as in many of the forms of [[congenital hyperinsulinism]], and more rarely in adults, can often be treated with [[diazoxide]] or a [[somatostatin]] analog called [[octreotide]]. Diazoxide is given by mouth, octreotide by injection or continuous subcutaneous pump infusion. When congenital hyperinsulinism is due to focal defects of the insulin-secretion mechanism, surgical removal of that part of the pancreas may cure the problem. In more severe cases of persistent congenital hyperinsulinism unresponsive to drugs, a near-total [[pancreatectomy]] may be needed to prevent continuing hypoglycemia. Even after pancreatectomy, continuous glucose may be needed in the form of gastric infusion of [[infant formula|formula]] or dextrose.

High dose [[glucocorticoid]] is an older treatment used for presumptive transient hyperinsulinism but incurs side effects with prolonged use.

==See also==
* [[Congenital hyperinsulinism]]
* [[Idiopathic hypoglycemia]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{ABC transporter disorders}}
{{Inborn errors of carbohydrate metabolism}}
{{Solute carrier disorders}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia}}
[[Category:Disorders of endocrine pancreas]]
[[Category:Insulin therapies]]