Can Low Blood Sugar Cause Syncope? Dysautonomia Related?

[MikeO]

Over the last few years i have been struggling with a unknown cause of syncope. while i have made great progress in understanding my orthostatics and adjusting to it along with everything else i have found that i have health wise the syncope cause has been elusive.

I have been haltered numerous times, had a ILR put in, two tilt tables tests, stress tests, echo's and tracked my blood pressure to no end and nothing popped out as a cause to the episodes.

Last year a smart university dietician suspected hypoglycemia and had a OGTT test ordered which showed a atypical glucose response which got me a diagnoses for diabetes.

so the DM diagnose open up the door for support. right off the bat i had a CGM put on so we could see what was going on and it did clearly show periods of low blood sugars (was dismissed by the DM trainers sigh) but at least i was able to recognize symptoms that came with the lows (suspect i am a bit hypo unaware) but feeling anxiety and walking like i am drunk is consistent. The CGM also showed that if i eat the same foods i can either go low or go high which is confusing. Blood sugars are about as liable as my HR and blood pressures.

Not sure how much a dysfunctional functional autonomic system (has been suggested) affects my blood sugars but it seems to me that my system either pumps out a ton of insulin or at times none at all.

So i have trended my blood sugars (1219 sticks so far) and have seen the highs and low but earlier this week i caught a really low reading (23 mg/dl) started feeling anxiety and drunk so i immediately went for corrective measures and by chance had purchased some glucose packs. so took the pack and followed it up with a half sandwich and my blood sugars recovered 106 mg/dl.

This is kinda scary and i get a feeling when i have gone full syncope it was BG related. I feel i was working on automatic during the low. i don't even remember where or what i was doing prior (which is consistent when i flat out pass out) 

Not sure if other folks have seen or have to deal low blood sugars or have any tips      

[MikeO]

well more to add to this. can't wait to see endo in a week.

 

[Pistol]

@MikeO I have neuro-cardiogenic syncope from sudden drop in BP and HR ( following a period of tachycardia and hypertension ) as caught on TTT and ILR. I also have glucose intolerance causing periods of severe hypog;ycemia, meaning eating something rich in sugar will spike insulin and then -, once the food is digested, usually 1 1/2 hour after eating - my sugar bottoms out, causing severe hypoglycemia. I have passed out from both scenarios, although I can tell the difference and also see that the sugar-low comes on slower than the syncope. 

The biggest difference I see between the two symptoms is that when my BS drops I get clammy ( especially on my upper lip ), very weak , shaky and hungry. juice and a protein rich snack helps fast. When I get the circulation-related presyncope it comes on fast, my hands and feet get ice cold and I begin to have tremors ( but entire different than the low sugar shakes ). 

I barely ever experience hypoglycemia anymore since i have adjusted my diet and follow a six-feedings-a-day regimen. So - in your case I can see it will be difficult to determine what is causing your syncope unless you can tell the difference between the two based on how you FEEL. And it is crucial to respond quickly when you feel unbalanced or in any way symptomatic. As always - we can be our best advocates and healers if we learn to LISTEN to our bodies. Our symptoms are usually a warning sign that something is wrong. 

[MikeO]

6 hours ago, Pistol said:

I can see it will be difficult to determine what is causing your syncope unless you can tell the difference between the two based on how you FEEL.

This one is tuff. I have fight left in me. I have the presyncope down and even can tell you the BP's when this happens (low diastolics ) despite a normal systolic is a indicator. sure when i feel a low my bp's are not what i record but then i do not want to faceplant trying to get the numbers. get into the 60's diastolic wise is consistent. sample event is a 123/62. upside i have learned how to recover from this.

[Pistol]

@MikeO try to get away from numbers and go by how you experience your body ( how you FEEL ). Numbers - in our case - are simply data collected before and after, not WHILE it happens. The symptoms before we have an episode are only apparent to US, therefore it is US that need to respond ASAP. 

I hope you know what I am trying to convey ..?

[MikeO]

12 hours ago, Pistol said:

@MikeO try to get away from numbers and go by how you experience your body ( how you FEEL ). Numbers - in our case - are simply data collected before and after, not WHILE it happens. The symptoms before we have an episode are only apparent to US, therefore it is US that need to respond ASAP. 

I hope you know what I am trying to convey ..?

So yes i know what you are trying to convey but the BP data has been helpful when dealing with providers especially ferreting out the postprandial hypo and drug treatments albeit i don't need vitals to know when i am feeling orthostatic (have this down for sure). Blood sugars i need to track. i do know when they are high cuz i become symptomatic but the lows i get a feeling i lost my ability to adequate recognize them. excessive high BG's i need to keep a eye on as well while elevated.