Example 1: Jenny woke up, like she does every morning, and got ready for her daily run. The past few mornings when she has gotten out of bed, she has felt a bit light-headed and weak. Despite her uneasy feelings, she went on her run just the same. When she got home from her 10 mile run, she could barely unlock her door from her shaky hands. She got inside and began to feel very flushed. Her heart rate seemed to be increasing, even though she was already done with her run. After her runs, Jenny normally drinks a smoothie, so she dug up the energy to make herself one this morning. After drinking her smoothie, she jumps in the shower to get ready for work. By the time she is ready to leave her house again for work Jenny’s dizziness is starting to go away. Just before lunch time, she starts to feel her heart rate increase, and the dizziness comes back. After lunch, she begins to feel better.
You are Jenny’s doctor. After reading her reasons for coming into the office, what do you suspect is going on with her body?
How can Jenny help to keep herself from becoming dizzy or ‘faint’ feeling during the day?
Describe the function of Jenny’s pancreas in this example? Is it functioning as it should? Should Jenny have a supply of some insulin or glucose on hand? Explain.
