Hypoglycemia

[flyingmonkey]

Does anyone find here that they experience frequent episodes of hypoglycemia? Also has anyone been tested and can someone give advice for preventing it? (other than staying away from simple sugars and starches and such things, which I am already trying to do.)

I've noticed that if I have things like fruit or chocolate, or even a white potato, I feel absolutely awful afterwards and get more symptomatic, even if there is a time shortly after where I have more energy. Also, I know I've mentioned before that if I don't eat for a certain amount of time, I start getting catatonic, my brain shuts down and I can make decisions at all. Does this sound like an episode of hypoglycemia?

I was recently tested for a bunch of things and the results said I have "low fasting insulin." My doc said it was nothing and wouldn't explain it. What does it mean? I know that too MUCH insulin causes a fall in blood sugar, and not enough causes a rise. SO I have no idea what impact this would have ... I don't know, I'm confuzzled. Also, I don't suppose the ANS controls blood sugar or insulin somehow?

OK, sorry for so many questions.

--flyingmonkey

[deirdra]

Hi there. I think the best thing for preventing hypoglycemic episodes (long term) is the GI diet.Ironically, if you eat something sweet it makes your blood sugars crash further later on.Thats what I can make of the books I've read about the GI diet.So basically you need to avoid alot of sugars and eat complex carbohydrates.My consultant recently found I was suffering from low blood sugars but then discovered they were not due to anything organic like diabetes etc.So i've been reading up on this diet and I intend to start it in the very near future.

[gdomaracki]

I have been suffering from hypoglycemia since I was little. Around age 14, the docs said I had to cut out all simple sugars (thats your candy, chocolate, etc) and white flour also. I have been on a strict high complex carbohydrate diet for years and it helps keep my blood sugar from crashing. I also eat small meals or snacks every two hours to keep my sugars up. This depends on how severely you have hypoglycemia. My best suggestion would be for you to check your blood sugars and see how you react after eating certain foods. If you notice that when you eat alot of sugar you feel worse, eliminate it. Its really difficult cutting out sugar from your diet but you will notice a great difference, and avoid your blood sugar crashing.

Best of luck!

Nicole

[flyingmonkey]

How do you check your blood sugar?

[gdomaracki]

Its called a glucose monitor. You can purchase one at a drug store, but they can be quite costly. (around $90.00) You prick your finger, which I know sounds like no fun, but you get caluses which makes it easier each time. And you put it into the niffy machine~10 seconds later, you have your blood sugar level. And most monitors store your tests. Try talking to your doctor about this first and whether he would suggest you doing this.

Nicole

Feel free to pm if you have more questions.

[Lily Pearl]

Does anyone find here that they experience frequent episodes of hypoglycemia? Also has anyone been tested and can someone give advice for preventing it? (other than staying away from simple sugars and starches and such things, which I am already trying to do.)

I've noticed that if I have things like fruit or chocolate, or even a white potato, I feel absolutely awful afterwards and get more symptomatic, even if there is a time shortly after where I have more energy. Also, I know I've mentioned before that if I don't eat for a certain amount of time, I start getting catatonic, my brain shuts down and I can make decisions at all. Does this sound like an episode of hypoglycemia?

I was recently tested for a bunch of things and the results said I have "low fasting insulin." My doc said it was nothing and wouldn't explain it. What does it mean? I know that too MUCH insulin causes a fall in blood sugar, and not enough causes a rise. SO I have no idea what impact this would have ... I don't know, I'm confuzzled. Also, I don't suppose the ANS controls blood sugar or insulin somehow?

OK, sorry for so many questions.

--flyingmonkey

I, too, have hypoglycemia - the reactive kind. My blood sugar is not low but when I eat sugar or starch, it climbs and then dips to a level that is below the one I started with. A doctor friend who has hypoglycemia himself, told me that it is not always easy to diagnose hypoglycemia when you only have the two hour glucose tolerance test. He told me that it is important to have a five hour test in order to see whether your glucose levels dip or not. My hypoglycemia results in severe anxiety. It took about three or four months of no sugar, bread, pasta, rice or potatoes etc. in order for me to feel half decent. If I eat improperly, I begin to feel anxiety within a week and it takes a good week or two of proper eating to get me on track again. Proper diet has also reduced the nerve damage in my wrists and arms. Apparently high carb diets cause inflammation - this from my heart specialist.

In order to control hypoglycemia, you need to eat meat, eggs, fish, cheese, nuts and seeds and all vegetables. Be careful about eating too many root vegetables and peas and corn as they are full of sugar. Eat six to eight small meals a day and exercise to burn up any extra sugar in your blood. Be sure to have a snack of nuts or seeds at night before you go to sleep to prevent yourself from waking during the night. No caffeine whatsoever. You might also prevent yourself from developing Type II diabetes by adhering to this regimen as hypoglycemia is a stepping stone to this disease.

Take care,

Lily

[MNsue]

I had a really bad stretch about 5 years ago with Hypoglycemia. I was not yet diagnosed with POTS, but was having issues with feeling like I was going to faint in the evening. I went to mayo and had an episode in the Endrocrinologists office, only to find out I was hypoglycemic.

I changed my diet to be more protien based and also started a supplement by the name of Glucobalance. It did wonders to help my hypoglycemia. I believe my hypoglycemia has to do with my adrenal disfunction. When I have more POTS symptoms, the hypoglycemia is much more sensive. I also notice that I can't eat very many carbs in the evening, and save my desserts for earlier in the day or I suffer with Tach all night long.

One other tip my dr. gave me is to eat fiber or protien with carbs to slow down the metabolizaion of sugar. I also could not go without any carbs or I felt very foggy.

Best of luck. I hope you feel better.

Rhonda

[Laura]

Hi! You can also buy fiber in pill form and take a couple pills 1/2 hour before your meals. As Rhonda said, it helps to slow down the metabolism of sugars. Works really well for alot of people.