View Full Version : hypoglycemia worry
Hiya everyone. Having bad time at moment. I am really worrying as I constantly seem to be having low blood sugar which is causing me to have palpations. I was tested for diabetes before and it came back I wasn't. It sometimes does seem to be worse Just before and during my menstrual cycle. Sometime I can even breath in without my heart feeling jumpy. I do try and eat little and often but sometimes even that doesn't seem to help. Always suffered with this low blood sugar feeling but it Just seems worse at the min
It would be sensible to get it checked out, but it's quite a common thing to feel and certainly not forced to be diabetes. I sometimes feel as though I have low blood sugar, but I've never had diabetes. Do you get thirsty? Personally I'd talk to the doctor, see if he decides you need to have a check, and read up on which foods help you to balance the sugar in your body. (Glycaemic Index will find what you need).
xvolatileheart
21-07-13, 09:30
I am going through the same thing. I would definitely recommend bringing it up to your GP and see if they can advise or test further.
Suffering from hypoglycaemia chronically is not considered a sign of diabetes mellitus, as this is almost always due to overuse of medication in diabetes. It is virtually never seen in diet-controlled only diabetes. There are no real tests for the hypoglycaemias, although there is a glucose tolerance test which can show whether it is reactive hypoglycaemia (which I suffer from myself). This occurs after eating carbohydrate-heavy meals or simple sugars. The best way of maintaining blood glucose levels is to avoid lots of carbohydrates and sugars - carbohydrate does not actually stabilise blood sugar, but destabilises it, leading to the insulin response. The best way to avoid this is to ensure there is enough protein and fat in the diet. The idea of eating little and often is not a very good practice - this causes your insulin to repeatedly peak throughout the day.
It should be remembered of course that hypoglycaemia in diabetics is a medical emergency, and so you would not simply have passing phases. Drops in blood sugar are quite common, and are also a leading cause of panic attacks - when blood sugar concentration drops, glucagon and adrenalin are released to create glucose from stores in the body (mostly in the liver as glycogen), and so the classic panic symptoms appear.
Hi everyone and Thanku for your replies. I will get it checked. I have been about it before but since Thursday it Just seems worse. Sorry about the late reply, and Joelhall Thanku for the detailed advice it's hard to know What to do
I was convinced I had low blood sugar..had tests, nothing wrong ..turned out I had very low blood pressure, causing my symptoms .
I feel shaky and have palpation and feel weak. When I eat a weetabix I feel better afterwards. Well not Just weetabix but that's an example. It's a horrid feeling
almamatters
21-07-13, 19:02
I agree it is a awful feeling, when I get shaky and weak from low blood sugar, my anxiety kicks in and I start to feel even worse. I would get it checked my your GP for reassurance, no cause has ever been found for mine all diabetes tests normal , I usually just have a biscuit or small bit of chocolate and it soon disappears.
I've been trying but nothing seems to be helping and taking the feeling totally away. It's more the palpation that worry me. Did get checked for diabetes before because of feeling like this. Just seems to have been worse lately.
Like I said the best way to control it is protein and fat. Carbohydrates are not so good, and sugars are only really good for quickly replenishing glucose. Remember the golden rule of eating - we don't eat to gain, but to replace nutrients which have been used by the body. Most cannot be stored, other than excess glucose as glycogen and fat, and the fat soluble vitamins, etc. This is why I never eat before training or usually during the day until early evening (among other reasons).
Slow-release carbs are good for maintaining constant energy levels and also your blood sugar levels - things like brown rice and bran. Even if low blood sugar isn't the problem, these are good sources of fibre and preferable to refined carbs.
Pip
In all honesty carbohydrates are not classed as essential to humans, nor do they regulated blood glucose. Complex carbohydrates do not really get broken down in the GI tract nice and evenly and flow at a constant rate. Glycemic load is more important than glycemic index, as the disgestion of polysaccharides begins with enzymes secreted in the mouth.
mummyanxious
21-07-13, 20:42
I had diabetes when pregnant (fine now) and I found the whole blood sugar balancing a nightmare as I was diet controlled. As they others have said bread and pasta etc were big no nos. I could eat eggs and a fry up till it was coming out of my ears...though that would lead to other problems if you we're munching fry ups all the time lol.
Mornings were always the worst too to get it right, by evening things had calmed down a lot for me.
AuntieMoosie
22-07-13, 04:16
I'm finding this thread very interesting :)
Joel I'm diabetic with diabetes type 2, I have been for about 7 years now and I'm taking 1000mgs of Metformin per day.
I have for a long time been completely confused with this carbo stuff, some people say to eat it, others say to keep it right down:wacko:
My GP, who also specialises in diabetes, is always very pleased with my 6 monthly blood results, he tells me that I have good control and that I'm doing things right, which is all fine and dandy :)
Now I do eat carbo's, bread, potato's and such like. I'm wondering if I would feel better, with more energy and less tired, if I cut the carbo's right down and increased protein and fat??
I always seem to feel sluggish and I get a lot of that "brain fog" feeling and often I feel drained. It makes it a little more tricky because I have a few other health problems as well as my medication for depression/anxiety.
I know that I'm not at all healthy, I'm overweight and am in the obese bit of the chart, I'm trying to address that now, but I feel if I could feel more alert with more energy that I could get myself a lot fitter and a lot quicker.
So would eating carbs make me feel like I do feel?? Would it be worth my while trying to cut them down and increase the protein and fats just to see if it makes any difference? And what sort of fats should I be eating, because I get confused with them too!! lol
Many thanks in advance for any advice you may have for me Joel :)
In all honesty carbohydrates are not classed as essential to humans, nor do they regulated blood glucose. Complex carbohydrates do not really get broken down in the GI tract nice and evenly and flow at a constant rate. Glycemic load is more important than glycemic index, as the disgestion of polysaccharides begins with enzymes secreted in the mouth.
Just a reminder that none of us is on here in a medical capacity despite what medical training we may have had. To recap, diddler has had her blood sugar levels tested and they were normal. If she had uncontrolled diabetes, we would be talking about hyperglycaemia, not hypo, but as it stands, her blood sugar levels tested normal.
In terms of carbs, I believe the current thinking is that intake levels need to be carefully controlled in type 1 and 2 diabetes. However, slow-release carbs can have a role to play in moderating blood sugar by slowing digestion. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 'Slow-release carbs ... are healthier options to keep your blood sugar levels more stable between meals and help you feel more satiated so that you can reach and maintain a healthy weight and prevent chronic diseases.'
I wouldn't want anyone to think that completely cutting out carbs was a good thing in the long term because human nature will compensate by increasing the craving for fatty foods, possibly increasing the risk of heart disease.
Pip
I'm finding this thread very interesting :)
Joel I'm diabetic with diabetes type 2, I have been for about 7 years now and I'm taking 1000mgs of Metformin per day.
I have for a long time been completely confused with this carbo stuff, some people say to eat it, others say to keep it right down:wacko:
My GP, who also specialises in diabetes, is always very pleased with my 6 monthly blood results, he tells me that I have good control and that I'm doing things right, which is all fine and dandy :)
Now I do eat carbo's, bread, potato's and such like. I'm wondering if I would feel better, with more energy and less tired, if I cut the carbo's right down and increased protein and fat??
I always seem to feel sluggish and I get a lot of that "brain fog" feeling and often I feel drained. It makes it a little more tricky because I have a few other health problems as well as my medication for depression/anxiety.
I know that I'm not at all healthy, I'm overweight and am in the obese bit of the chart, I'm trying to address that now, but I feel if I could feel more alert with more energy that I could get myself a lot fitter and a lot quicker.
So would eating carbs make me feel like I do feel?? Would it be worth my while trying to cut them down and increase the protein and fats just to see if it makes any difference? And what sort of fats should I be eating, because I get confused with them too!! lol
Many thanks in advance for any advice you may have for me Joel :)
I would not recommend cutting out carbohydrates while taking metformin! The only person who can advise you of those changes while being treated is your primary care provider or dietician, as they will need to evaluate any changes.
---------- Post added at 11:59 ---------- Previous post was at 11:55 ----------
Just a reminder that none of us is on here in a medical capacity despite what medical training we may have had. To recap, diddler has had her blood sugar levels tested and they were normal. If she had uncontrolled diabetes, we would be talking about hyperglycaemia, not hypo, but as it stands, her blood sugar levels tested normal.
In terms of carbs, I believe the current thinking is that intake levels need to be carefully controlled in type 1 and 2 diabetes. However, slow-release carbs can have a role to play in moderating blood sugar by slowing digestion. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 'Slow-release carbs ... are healthier options to keep your blood sugar levels more stable between meals and help you feel more satiated so that you can reach and maintain a healthy weight and prevent chronic diseases.'
I wouldn't want anyone to think that completely cutting out carbs was a good thing in the long term because human nature will compensate by increasing the craving for fatty foods, possibly increasing the risk of heart disease.
Pip
Again, all I can say is that carbohydrate has never been classed as essential, as the human body is capable of making enough glucose itself. As far as increasing cravings for fatty foods and increasing risk of heart disease - the jury still seems to be out on this oddly. There's little evidence that high fat intake in the absence of significant carbohydrate intake affects risk of disease. However, it is known that general calorie restriction, especially from dietary carbohydrate which has virtually no structural importance, increases life span.
Really. see I would Probably start shaking after about an hour and not eating. fat as in? What would you recommend?
Meat, fish, eggs, nuts... Basically natural fat sources.
Thanku. I will definitely try that, I always wondered why sometimes after a big meal I would feel like I was having a sugar rush. I stopped smoking 8 weeks ago and have been eating more bread and stuff. and obviously put weight on so maybe it's been my eating habit change that's caused it to be worse. Thanku again though that's been helpful.
Yeah grains are not so good if you want to lose weight. Regardless of the advice often trotted out, these things just don't seem to work in practice. The major problem is everyone seems obsessed with energy intake, which is kind of backwards thinking - it should be focussed around foods high in nutrients - vitamins, minerals, etc. Wheat has virtually no nutritional value, cannot be digeted and is eaten as processed food - I would not recommend eating raw wheat as it is actually poisonous!
Sorry missed the other messages. Thanku for taking time to reply you've all been really helpful
---------- Post added at 14:01 ---------- Previous post was at 13:59 ----------
Usually to be honest if I need a quick fix to one I would have a rusk or weetabix. Coca cola and chocolate bar doesn't really seem to do anything. I noticed I was really bad in this heat wave and sometimes if I have a hot bath, that's why I usually stick to a shower. Or if I've had a busy day. It's like I constantly have to think about low blood sugar
Sugary things will simply give you a faster and higher insulin reaction, which brings the blood sugar back down again. Remember of course, that smoking cessation can lower blood sugar.
Hi diddler,
I would say that a healthy, balanced diet is always best with a good mix of the main food groups. Don't forget you need fibre too, which can be whole-grain foods or fruit and veg, and plenty of liquids. This is a good site if you're not sure:
http://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/healthyeating/a-healthy-varied-diet
As for wheat being poison, I recall a report last year about the way wheat has been modified over the years to increase yield and, as a result, it's possibly less digestible, nutritious and that it increases the craving for food. I also recall someone stating that giving up wheat will cure all your ills. It's not my field and I don't know enough to comment except to say that if we avoided every food when we read the latest report which sensationally described something as poisonous, we'd all be malnourished. I've been waiting since 1988 to get salmonella from eggs with no sign of it yet.
There are risks with most things in life and, to be honest, I've got quite enough to worry about as it is without believing every report that appears in the Daily Mail. I don't think you're going to eat your morning weetabix and keel over just yet.
If in doubt, speak to your GP.
Pip
Hiya pipkin. Thanks for advice, Yeah that's true there is always something there telling you isn't good for you. I have gone from not eating to eating all the time. Obviously stopping smoking makes you sometimes replace cigarettes with food. I suppose it's trying to find the right diet for me. And I get What your saying about the sugary things. I think it is a quick fix. Would I know if I was diabetic or is low blood sugar a good sign that I Might be?
Hiya pipkin. Thanks for advice, Yeah that's true there is always something there telling you isn't good for you. I have gone from not eating to eating all the time. Obviously stopping smoking makes you sometimes replace cigarettes with food. I suppose it's trying to find the right diet for me. And I get What your saying about the sugary things. I think it is a quick fix. Would I know if I was diabetic or is low blood sugar a good sign that I Might be?
Diddler,
It's not my area but I believe it's more likely you would have raised blood sugar levels if you were diabetic. It's very unlikely though as you've had a blood sugar test and it was normal.
You're right about stopping smoking. Not only does it increase the appetite but habit can make you snack instead of smoking. You could try some healthy nibbles or having a glass of water. Not as good as a cig, I know, but much better for you. Well done on stopping! I've been there and I know it's not easy.
Pip
Ahhhh Thanku. I know Did it cold Turkey and the first couple of weeks is awful. I needed to put weight on because was under 8St. I can safely say I'm a healthy weight now Haha. I will try with the healthy stuff it's Just not as much fun :-D
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