Glycogen serves as the primary fuel reserve for the energy needs of your body. Glycogen storage diseases are genetically linked metabolic disorders that involve the enzymes regulating glycogen metabolism. They affect the processing of glycogen synthesis or breakdown within muscles, liver and other cell types.
There are more than 10 types of glycogen storage diseases. The most common forms are Types I, II, III, and IV. These are thought to account for more than 90% of all cases.
The types of glycogen storage diseases include:
Type Ia, or von Gierke's disease may affect you with an enlarged fatty liver, elevated levels of lactate, lipids and uric acid in your blood, low blood sugar, impairment in growth, delaying of puberty and bones weakened by osteoporosis. Gout, liver cancer, liver tumors and chronic renal disease may develop.
Type Ib is similar to Type Ia. In addition, your immune system is weakened and there is the danger of bacterial infections like gum and mouth infections, pneumonia and inflammatory bowel disease.
Type II, or Pompe's disease or acid maltase deficiency, is classified according to the age of onset.
Type III, or Cori's disease has effects that are similar to Type 1a. It also causes an enlarged heart, muscles prone to wasting and high levels of lipids in your blood.
Type IV, or Andersen's disease is usually fatal to infants.
Type V, or McArdle's disease may affect you with muscle weakness and cramping caused by exercise and burgundy-colored urine after exercise.
Type VI, or Hers' disease may affect you by causing low blood sugar, mildly retarded growth and an enlarged liver.
Type VII, or Tarui's disease has effects that are similar to type V, but also include increased levels of uric acid and anemia.
Types VIII and XI have symptoms similar to Type VI.
·Type IX has effects that are similar to Type VI.
Type X has effects that are like Type VI and IX.
You or a loved one may have a glycogen storage disease. It may be the reason you or your loved one is disabled and unable to work.
If this is true, you or your loved one may need assistance. You may need financial help.
You or your loved one may have applied for that help from the Social Security Administration by applying for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits because of the disability caused by a glycogen storage disease. Were you or your loved one denied?
If you or your loved one is going to appeal the denial by the Social Security Administration, here is something that you need to consider. People who are represented and aided by a disability attorney like the one you will find here are approved more often than those people who do not have a lawyer.
