Insulinoma – What is it, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!
This allows your blood sugar levels to return to normal. When an insulinoma forms in your pancreas, however, it will continue to produce insulin, even when your blood sugar is very low. This can lead to severe hypoglycemia or low blood sugar . Hypoglycemia is a dangerous condition that can cause blurred vision , dizziness and unconsciousness. It can also be fatal. So, check now Insulinoma – What is it, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments:
What Causes an Insulinoma: Doctors don’t know exactly why people get Insulinomas . Tumors often appear without warning. When you eat food, the pancreas creates insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body store the sugar in your food. Once the sugar has been absorbed, the pancreas stops producing insulin.
This process usually keeps blood sugar levels stable. However, it can be stopped when an insulinoma develops. The tumor continues to produce insulin even when blood sugar drops too low. This can lead to hypoglycemia, a serious condition characterized by low blood sugar levels .
Symptoms of an Insulinoma: People with Insulinomas do not always have visible symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can vary depending on the severity of the condition. Mild symptoms include:
- Double vision or blurred vision:
- confusion:
- Anxiety and irritability:
- dizziness:
- mood swings :
- weakness:
- sweating:
- fome:
- Tremors:
- Sudden weight gain:
The most serious symptoms of Insulinoma can affect the brain. They can also affect the adrenal glands, which regulate the stress response and heart rate. Sometimes the symptoms seem similar to those of epilepsy, a neurological disorder that causes seizures. Symptoms that are seen in more severe cases of Insulinoma may include:
- Seizures or convulsions:
- A fast heart rate (greater than 95 beats per minute):
- Difficulty concentrating:
- Loss of consciousness or coma:
In some cases, insulinomas can enlarge and spread to other parts of the body. When this occurs, you may experience the following symptoms:
How an Insulinoma is Treated: The best treatment for an Insulinoma is surgical removal of the tumor . A small part of the pancreas may also be removed if there is more than one tumor . This normally cures the condition. There are several types of surgery that can be performed to remove Insulinoma . The location and number of tumors determine which surgery will be used.
Laparoscopic surgery is the preferred option if there is only a small pancreatic tumor. This is a low-risk, minimally invasive procedure. During laparoscopic surgery, your surgeon makes several small incisions in your abdomen and inserts a laparoscope through the incisions. A laparoscope is a long, thin tube with high-intensity light and a high-resolution camera on the front.
The camera will display the images on a screen, allowing the surgeon to see inside your abdomen and guide instruments. When the Insulinoma is found, it will be removed. Part of the pancreas may need to be removed if there are multiple insulinomas . Sometimes, part of the stomach or liver may also be removed. In rare cases, Insulinoma removal will not cure the condition. This is usually true when the tumors are cancerous. Treatments for cancerous insulinomas include:
- Radiofrequency ablation, which uses radio waves to kill cancer cells in the body:
- Cryotherapy, which involves using extreme cold to destroy cancer cells:
- Chemotherapy, which is an aggressive form of chemical drug therapy that helps to destroy cancer cells:
Your doctor may also prescribe medication to control blood sugar levels if surgery is not effective.