Poll: Are most ME symptoms in beginning driven by drastic impairment of glucose metabolism?

[leokitten]

Here's the full poll question (because I couldn't fit it):

Are all ME cases and most of the symptoms, at least at onset and in early disease, driven by the drastic intracellular impairment of glucose metabolism?

The realm of intracellular glucose metabolism impairments suggested by the various findings found by ME research labs these last couple years, ie PDK activation, PDH inhibition, or other affecting glucose pathway in TCA cycle.

Not insulin or diabetes I or II related.

Just to clarify, not looking for yes/no responses on upstream drivers or causes (e.g. infections, autoimmunity, trauma, etc). But whether whatever heterogeneous upstream causes result in the downstream intracellular impairment of glucose metabolism.

Also my personal belief is as the disease goes on for years, PWME accumulate more ME-driven issues, comorbidities, etc, that also drive the disease and symptoms. Therefore I only asked what you believe happens in the beginning and in early disease process

 

[Trish]

Can you add an option for Don't know?

Since the scientists researching ME have not, as far as I know, established anything biomedical about the initial stage of ME straight after onset, how on earth are we expected to know? All we can do is guess.

There does seem to be a problem with glucose metabolism found in various studies, but I think people taking part in ME studies have usually been ill for some years. Whether it's there in the early days and weeks, we can only guess, since by definition, you have to have had ME symptoms for at least 6 months for it to be called ME.

 

[leokitten]

Can you add an option for Don't know?

Since the scientists researching ME have not, as far as I know, established anything biomedical about the initial stage of ME straight after onset, how on earth are we expected to know? All we can do is guess.

There does seem to be a problem with glucose metabolism found in various studies, but I think people taking part in ME studies have usually been ill for some years. Whether it's there in the early days and weeks, we can only guess, since by definition, you have to have had ME symptoms for at least 6 months for it to be called ME.

Done.

It could be that all people who get the exact symptoms of ME have impaired intracellular glucose metabolism driving most symptoms. Those who recover in a few months are due to the impairment righting itself.

 

[Hutan]

There does seem to be a problem with glucose metabolism found in various studies, but I think people taking part in ME studies have usually been ill for some years. Whether it's there in the early days and weeks, we can only guess, since by definition, you have to have had ME symptoms for at least 6 months for it to be called ME.

We really need a prospective study, where everyone coming down with one of the illnesses known to trigger ME (or at least one type of ME) in a defined area has a blood sample taken as soon as they present to the doctor. And then, they have blood samples taken every month and we see if there is any difference between those who recover and those who develop ME symptoms.

 

[Trish]

Did they take any blood from the Dubbo study, and if so, has any been biobanked for later analysis?

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

What exactly do you mean by impairment of glucose metabolism? That could mean all sorts of things. Some might show up on blood tests, others not.

 

[leokitten]

What exactly do you mean by impairment of glucose metabolism? That could mean all sorts of things. Some might show up on blood tests, others not.

The realm of intracellular glucose metabolism impairments suggested by the various findings found by ME research labs these last couple years, ie PDK activation, PDH inhibition, or other affecting glucose pathway in TCA cycle.

Not insulin or diabetes I or II related.

 

[Milo]

I responded ‘I don’t know’ but would have answered ‘I would suspect so’. I have gained a significant amount of weight (100 lbs) in the first year i got sick without changing my diet. Of course i was more sedentary, but i believe there was more to it than simply becoming a couch potato.

Of course this is N=1. I believe the topic warrants further studies.

Edit: I do not have diabetes and my fasting blood sugars have all been normal.