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An insulinoma is a rare tumor that forms in the pancreas. These tumors are functional, meaning they actively produce and release excessive amounts of insulin into the bloodstream, independently of the body's actual needs.
read more about insulinoma ...The cause is the uncontrolled growth of insulin-producing cells (beta cells) in the pancreas. The tumor secretes excessive insulin, which pushes glucose out of the blood and into the cells, leading to severe and dangerous hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). The excessive insulin production is continuous and disregulated. This causes severe symptoms when the patient fasts or skips meals, as there is no sugar to balance the high insulin levels.
Symptoms define a severe attack of hypoglycemia. These include weakness, confusion, sweating, tremors, and a rapid heartbeat. In severe cases, the brain is deprived of glucose, leading to seizures, neurological deficits, or loss of consciousness. Symptoms are often relieved instantly by consuming sugar. The attacks can be highly unpredictable and occur several times per day, demanding urgent diagnosis.
An insulinoma directly impacts eye health during hypoglycemic episodes. The severe lack of glucose to the brain and retina causes temporary visual disturbances, including blurred vision, double vision, or temporary loss of sight (amaurosis fugax). Vision recovers quickly once blood sugar levels are stabilized.
Diagnosis is challenging but relies on the Whipple's triad: symptoms of hypoglycemia, low blood sugar confirmed by testing, and symptom relief upon glucose administration. A supervised fast (up to 72 hours) is often performed in a hospital setting to confirm that the tumor is still secreting insulin when it should not be. Imaging tests locate the tumor.
The necessary treatment is surgical removal of the tumor (enucleation or pancreatectomy). Since the tumor is usually small and benign, surgery often cures the condition. Medications are used temporarily to control blood sugar before surgery.
No, the vast majority of insulinomas are benign (non-cancerous).
No, the tumor causes the opposite problem (hypoglycemia).
The supervised fast is performed in a hospital under strict medical supervision to manage the symptoms of severe hypoglycemia.
If you experience sudden confusion, fainting, or "blurred vision" that resolves after eating, see an endocrinologist. During episodes of severe low sugar, the eye muscles may fail to coordinate, leading to temporary double vision (diplopia) which requires immediate glucose stabilization.
Cleveland Clinic. Insulinoma (clevelandclinic.org). 2024.
Mayo Clinic. Insulinoma Symptoms (mayoclinic.org). 2024.
StatPearls. Insulinoma (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). 2024.
Endocrine Society. Hypoglycemia Disorders (endocrine.org). 2024.