Muscle wasting, also called muscle atrophy, may be a result of glucose levels in your body. Glucose is a sugar in the body that if not broken down properly can lead to certain medical conditions, such as diabetes. If your doctor suspects your muscles are wasting and you have symptoms of diabetes, a glucose tolerance test will be performed to clinically diagnose your condition. Muscle wasting can lead to serious health complications.
Muscle Wasting
Muscle wasting occurs when the physical muscle begins to weaken and prevent physical activity. Atrophy of the muscles can occur for various reasons, such as a lack of physical movement and exercise, medical conditions and malnourishment, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Muscle wasting related to glucose levels in the body is most likely related to diabetes, which can cause the most severe type of wasting -- neurogenic atrophy. This type of atrophy is related to degeneration of the nerves in the muscles that help promote mobility.
Diabetes and Muscle Atrophy
If you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down sugar appropriately in the body, which can lead to high blood glucose levels. Glucose helps to provide energy for cells that form your tissues and muscles and it is the substance that fuels the brain, according to MayoClinic.com. The inability to break down glucose can lead to severe damage to the nerves and muscles. If left untreated, too much sugar will cause harm to capillaries that provide nourishment for your nerves and muscles. People diagnosed with diabetes commonly experience numbness or tingling in the legs or fingers because of minor damage to the nerves that affects the muscles.
Glucose Testing
Glucose testing can determine how your body processes sugar. The most common glucose tolerance test used by doctors is an oral test, according to MedlinePlus. Before the test you are not permitted to eat or drink after midnight the night before testing. At the doctor's office, you are given a liquid solution to ingest that contains glucose. Before drinking the solution, your blood is drawn. After taking the solution, your blood is drawn again to compare your glucose levels.
Considerations
Depending on the diagnosis, your doctor may require you to go on a modified diet, increase your physical exercise and monitor your blood sugar levels throughout the day. The only way to prevent further muscle wasting from abnormal glucose levels is to keep your glucose blood levels regulated.
