Beware of hypoglycemia symptoms in liver cancer patients

A small number of liver cancer patients will experience panic, cold sweats, and even go to the hospital due to sudden coma. Blood sugar tests will reveal severe hypoglycemia, which is caused by liver cancer complicated by hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia is one of the common complications of liver cancer. In clinical practice, about 10% to 30% of patients may experience varying degrees of spontaneous hypoglycemia. Common manifestations include dizziness, palpitations, cold sweats, blacking out of the eyes, etc. Severe cases may lead to coma, shock, and even death.

So why do liver cancer patients experience hypoglycemia and what is its pathogenesis?

1. Liver cancer cells secrete insulin or insulin-like substances, or secrete a pancreatic beta cell stimulating factor, which can lower blood sugar.

Second, because the survival or proliferation of liver cells requires the metabolism of glucose, and the residual liver tissue has insufficient glycogen reserves, and liver cancer can consume a large amount of glucose when it is huge.

3. The tumor compresses unknown receptors in the peritoneum, blocking the sympathetic nerves from stimulating the liver, and is unable to activate glycogen and effectively buffer blood sugar levels.

4. Liver patients have decreased appetite, digestion and absorption disorders, leading to insufficient glucose intake.

For patients with hypoglycemia, those with mild symptoms can eat some candy or drink an appropriate amount of sugar water to correct the hypoglycemia. Under normal circumstances, the symptoms of hypoglycemia can be quickly relieved through dietary supplements, but if the symptoms are more severe, the patient needs intravenous glucose to correct the hypoglycemia.