question about intersex andhypoglycemia

[mlle de carabas]

As my roommate has noticed that 3 out of the three intersex people she knows have hypoglycemia, it's started me wondering whether anyone’s tried figuring out if there's any connection betwen the two, and I'm curious as to if anyone else on here has both?

[Peter]

I don't have hypoglycemia at this time, but I was diagnosed with it in the past. I am not sure if there is a direct link between hypoglycemia and being intersex on a limited physiological level. My understanding of hypoglycemia is that it is often related to physical and psychological stress. There may be a connection between the possible stress of being intersex in a world that is not very accepting of who we are and hypoglycemia. I suspect that if the prevailing social conditions were to improve, that the lives of intersex people might be less stressful, and there would be less stress related hypoglycemia among intersex people. I know that this might sound convoluted, but it is my initial reaction to your interesting question.

Peter

[miriam]

I think there is a connection between hypoglycemia and CAH:

http://www.fred.net/slowup/hcauses.txt

...Hormone deficiency. Adrenal Insuffiency, severe hypothyroidism, and
hypopituartism can all cause Fasting Hypoglycemia. The good news is that the HG goes away when these disorders are treated with hormone replacement....


http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/89/2/591

...Whether the combination of epinephrine and cortisol deficiency poses a risk for hypoglycemia and/or decreased endurance during long-term physical stress has to be determined. ...


http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/specialties/categorypages/intersex/sd6.html

...Sex hormone therapy is usually initiated at puberty and glucocorticoids are administered when appropriate much earlier, usually at the time of diagnosis. Whether patients take male hormones, female hormones or glucocorticoids, it is important to continue with these medications throughout life. For example, male hormones are needed in adulthood to maintain masculine sexual characteristics, female hormones to protect against osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, and glucocorticoids to protect against hypoglycemia and stress-related illnesses....

Groeten, Miriam