Hormone-related diseases
In principle, disorders of hormone metabolism can affect any hormone gland. These disorders are called endocrinopathies and are usually manifested as over- or underfunction of the endocrine gland for a variety of reasons. As a result of the functional disorder, hormone production increases or decreases, which in turn is responsible for the development of the clinical picture.
An insensitivity of the target cells to the hormones can also be a possible cause of endocrinopathy. Insulin: Diabetes mellitus is an important clinical picture in connection with the hormone insulin. The cause of this disease is a deficiency or insensitivity of the cells to the hormone insulin.
As a result, changes in glucose, protein and fat metabolism occur, which in the long term lead to severe changes in the vessels (microangiopathy), nerves (polyneuropathy) or wound healing. Affected organs include kidney, heart, eye and brain. At the kidney, the diabetic damage manifests itself as so-called diabetic nephropathy, which is caused by microangiopathic changes.
At the eyes, diabetes manifests itself as diabetic retinopathy, which is a change in the retina, also caused by microangiopathy. Diabetes mellitus is treated with insulin or medication (oral antidiabetics). As a result of this therapy, an overdose of insulin can occur, which causes symptoms in both diabetics and healthy individuals.
An insulin-producing tumor (insulinoma) can also trigger an overdose of this hormone. The consequences of this insulin overdose are a reduction in blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) and a reduction in potassium levels (hypokalemia). Hypoglycaemia manifests itself as feelings of hunger, trembling, nervousness, sweating, palpitations and an increase in blood pressure.
In addition, there is a reduced cognitive performance up to unconsciousness. Since the brain is dependent on glucose as its sole source of energy, long-term hypoglycemia results in brain damage. Hypokalemia as the second consequence of insulin overdose causes cardiac arrhythmia.
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