You make your litter mates proud! All 39 of them!

Now for a little science-

1)

1. Int J Neurosci. 1993 Mar-Apr;69(1-4):125-30.

The relationship between diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's disease.

Sandyk R.

NeuroCommunication Research Laboratories, Danbury, CT.

It has been reported that 50% to 80% of patients with Parkinson's disease have
abnormal glucose tolerance which may be further exacerbated by levodopa therapy.
Little is known about the impact of chronic hyperglycemia on the severity of the
motor manifestations and the course of the disease as well as its impact on the
efficacy of levodopa or other dopaminergic drugs. This issue, which has been
largely ignored, is of clinical relevance since animal studies indicate that
chronic hyperglycemia decreases striatal dopaminergic transmission and increases
the sensitivity of postsynaptic dopamine receptors. In addition, evidence from
experimental animal studies indicates that diabetic rats are resistant to the
locomotor and behavioral effects of the dopamine agonist amphetamine. The
resistance to the central effects of amphetamine is largely restored with chronic
insulin therapy. In the present communication, I propose that in Parkinson's
disease diabetes may exacerbate the severity of the motor disability and
attenuate the therapeutic efficacy of levodopa or other dopaminergic agents as
well as increase the risk of levodopa-induced motor dyskinesias. Thus, it is
advocated that Parkinsonian patients should be routinely screened for evidence of
glucose intolerance and that if found aggressive treatment of the hyperglycemia
may improve the response to levodopa and potentially diminish the risk of
levodopa-induced motor dyskinesias.

PMID: 8082998 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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2)
From Kathryn Holden, dietician over at NPF-

"Regarding sugar, I would mention this as well; a large amount of sugar or simple carbohydrates, in sensitive persons, can cause a blood glucose spike, followed by an insulin rush. The insulin removes all the glucose, leaving you in a mildly hypoglycemic state temporarily. You may be particularly susceptible, or even be mildly hypoglycemic, and it would be best to rule this out. Let us know how you are doing."

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3)
From Life Extension's excellent "HYpoglycemia" (nine pages of nothing but meat!). Go to http://www.lef.org/ and then do a search for it-
"....In contrast to the potentially devastating consequences of over-aggressive drug treatment of hyperglycemia in diabetes patients with
insulin and/or sulfonylureas, reactive hypoglycemia (or postprandial hypoglycemia) is a phenomenon in which blood sugar levels
drop a few hours after eating (UW Health 2013). Typically, reactive hypoglycemia strikes people who are not diabetic but
nevertheless manifest less than optimal glucose control (eg, individuals with prediabetes). These individuals are more prone to
reactive hypoglycemia than healthy people. Reactive hypoglycemia is also more common in people who have undergone gastric
bypass surgery for severe obesity. The drop in blood sugar level (or “crash”) observed in reactive hypoglycemia is the result of an
overly exaggerated insulin spike following ingestion of carbohydrate, with a subsequent reactive plunge in blood sugar level due to
the exaggerated spike in insulin (Brun 2000; Roslin 2011; Middleton 2012; Bell 1985). ....

.... Among people who
experience reactive hypoglycemia, effective prevention hinges upon avoidance of post-meal surges in glucose concentrations
through diet modulation and a variety of natural interventions. For example, the rate of carbohydrate absorption can be slowed by
inhibiting the alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase enzymes via supplementation with green coffee extract and Irvingia gabonensis
(Ishikawa 2007; Oben 2008). Moreover, the prescription anti-diabetic drug acarbose also inhibits the alpha-glucosidase enzyme and
slows the absorption of glucose. Unfortunately, many physicians overlook the potential of this well-studied drug to stabilize post-
meal glucose levels and mitigate the exaggerated insulin spike that leads to hypoglycemia (Bavenholm 2006; Hanefeld 2007;
Ozgen 1998). ....

"....With regard to hypoglycemia, the contribution of diet is somewhat counterintuitive. If too much rapidly-digested carbohydrate is
consumed and absorbed quickly, an ensuing hypoglycemic episode can follow if the body generates an exaggerated insulin
response to bring post-meal glucose levels back down (Kuipers 1999). This is called reactive hypoglycemia (Bell 1985). Thus,
interventions aimed at reducing the rapid absorption of dietary carbohydrate can help avoid the reactive drop in blood sugar following
an overly exaggerated insulin spike. ....

....Hypoglycemic symptoms including anxiety, sweating, tremors, and fatigue do not always correlate with glucose levels (Nippoldt
2013). Individuals with low glucose levels may be asymptomatic or unaware of their hypoglycemia, and others with normal glucose
levels may display hypoglycemic symptoms (Bakatselos 2011; Alken 2008; Palardy 1989). .....

.... "
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That's enough for now. The bottom line is that we can have glucose and insulin problems that unbeknown to us play hell with our PD and which may account for things like going off, freezing, and who know what. And by the way, one of the drugs that can cause problems along these lines is levodopa. Known since 1930......