Hypoglycemia - those knowledgable, pls read

mariposah · 06-27-2009, 12:09 AM

I've done a little bit of resesarch because I think I may be hypoglycemic. What I want to know is, is it an "episode" or is it a recurring state? I have these symptoms about once a month, and they are quite severe and happen suddently:
[LIST]
profound sweating
rapid heart beat
claminess (face and hands)
feeling of wanting to just lie down
thirst
paleness of color, esp in face
goes away the moment I have some sugar (soda, candy)
faintness[LIST]

It's horrible and good thing it only happens about once a month but once a month is too much! One time I was in class and I was going to faint. It does not happen right after I eat something high in carbs. It comes all of a sudden and any time of the day. Today, I was heavily sweating and could not concentate. Is this a hypoglycemic episode?

babykinz · 06-27-2009, 02:14 AM

Does it happen if you skip a meal , or maybe after you have eaten something really high in sugar ( a spike in sugar can cause a bad crash when it does drop )...have you noticed any patterns at all?

This used to happen to me alot until I started Low Carb.

You may want to be tested for Diabetes.

zizi · 06-27-2009, 05:12 AM

I have food reactive hypoglycemia. I can completely control it by eating LC.

jezzie · 06-27-2009, 05:56 AM

Any one can have hypoglycemic episodes. Ask your doc about a glucose tolerance test.
Preferable longer than three hours. (Mine was a five hour test.)

Houston Heather · 06-27-2009, 08:19 AM

I had/have hypoglycemic attacks due to my medication.

I didn't need to "eat sugar" to make them depart, anything works. I still get the rare attack, when I'm stupid and not eating enough. I just eat a meat stick or some of the sardines I carry, and I'm fine.

A gas-station bunless hot dog works fine, too. My secret is eating frequently, no more than 6 hours between meals, and always having legal food with me.

jem51 · 06-27-2009, 08:48 AM

the only way to really know is to monitor your blood sugar....w a meter. there are other things that cause these symptoms. low blood pressure being the most common.....when BP drops, heart rate increases...drop in BP causes lightheadedness and the feeling of faint, etc. lying down or simply bending over gets the blood back to the head.

ShesSuperCool · 06-27-2009, 08:48 AM

I get it too, but nowhere near as often since I started low-carb, particularly avoiding ALL grains. I found even eating low-carb tortillas and bread could cause it, but it wasn't every time so it was hard to figure out. Before I'd get it maybe once every week or two. Now it generally happens when I eat what I shouldn't.

Do you have a weird tingling or somewhat numb feeling around your nose and lips? I do.

How I'd treat the symptoms before learning about low-carb diets was to have a cup of sweet coffee. I thought caffeine was what I needed at the time but it was probably the sugar.

mariposah · 06-27-2009, 10:13 AM

Baby-it happens anytime of the day, and not necessarily right after I eat sweets. Even if I happen to eat relatively healthy, it can happen.

Thanks for all of your replies. I will take them into consideration

njshoregal · 06-27-2009, 12:58 PM

just adding something - my mom is hypoglycemic and she basically has to eat several small things throughout the day. i have tried to get her to eat almonds, walnuts and other proteins because i think they last her longer than the candy she eats. she doesn't eat low carb so she will have cereal or whatever for breakfast and then in a couple hours she will start to 'dip.' that's what we call it. she experiences the same things you described. she eats the first thing she can see and she usually thinks sugar products are the best. i personally think she would do much better with protein and trying to work low-carb things into her life but i think her doctors have told her so many times to just eat sugar and then you will feel better. good luck!

jezzie · 06-27-2009, 03:59 PM

Quote:

but i think her doctors have told her so many times to just eat sugar
and then you will feel better

I'm sure the advice depends on the doctor.
Mine said a small amount of protein every two hours.
Kept me stable - when I followed his advice.

zizi · 06-27-2009, 04:04 PM

Threadjack, MY APOLOGIES!

JEZZIE, YOUOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best,

Z

JoSkids · 06-29-2009, 10:52 AM

When I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia many years ago (pre LC) the doctor said that the best way to combat a sugar drop is to eat protein. Since I started LCing, my blood sugar stays pretty stable and I rarely, if ever, have any kind of drop that I have to deal with.

brit67chick · 06-29-2009, 01:42 PM

My son and I have reactive hypoglycemia (I get hypoglycemic 1-2 hours after I eat). Like you, about once a month I would have it really bad. I made some major diet changes, including cutting out meat, useless carbs (white bread, pasta), sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and starchy items like potatoes.

Like Jezzie, I eat protein (nut and seed mix) and small snacks throughout the day. No candy or sugar!

I have not had an episode since starting this diet. You can read what I typically eat in a day here: a typical day's diet for reactive hypoglycemia.

Good luck!

Houston Heather · 06-29-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShesSuperCool

Do you have a weird tingling or somewhat numb feeling around your nose and lips? I do.

YES! I thought it was just me! Big time tingling in my lips, if I don't eat then I feel like I'm about to black out.

06-27-2009, 12:09 AM	#1
mariposah Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 74 Gallery: mariposah	Hypoglycemia - those knowledgable, pls read I've done a little bit of resesarch because I think I may be hypoglycemic. What I want to know is, is it an "episode" or is it a recurring state? I have these symptoms about once a month, and they are quite severe and happen suddently: [LIST] profound sweating rapid heart beat claminess (face and hands) feeling of wanting to just lie down thirst paleness of color, esp in face goes away the moment I have some sugar (soda, candy) faintness[LIST] It's horrible and good thing it only happens about once a month but once a month is too much! One time I was in class and I was going to faint. It does not happen right after I eat something high in carbs. It comes all of a sudden and any time of the day. Today, I was heavily sweating and could not concentate. Is this a hypoglycemic episode?

06-27-2009, 08:48 AM	#7
ShesSuperCool Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Memphis Posts: 331 Gallery: ShesSuperCool Stats: Tossed the scale; this ain't about weight loss! WOE: Atkins-ish Start Date: November 12, 2008	I get it too, but nowhere near as often since I started low-carb, particularly avoiding ALL grains. I found even eating low-carb tortillas and bread could cause it, but it wasn't every time so it was hard to figure out. Before I'd get it maybe once every week or two. Now it generally happens when I eat what I shouldn't. Do you have a weird tingling or somewhat numb feeling around your nose and lips? I do. How I'd treat the symptoms before learning about low-carb diets was to have a cup of sweet coffee. I thought caffeine was what I needed at the time but it was probably the sugar. __________________ -Cyndi What a happy family looks like:http://www.flickr.com/photos/bellabrigido/

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06-27-2009, 02:14 AM	#2
babykinz MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: P'Cola Florida Posts: 1,231 Gallery: babykinz Stats: 235/209/150 WOE: Strict Low Carb Start Date: 4/17/2009	Does it happen if you skip a meal , or maybe after you have eaten something really high in sugar ( a spike in sugar can cause a bad crash when it does drop )...have you noticed any patterns at all? This used to happen to me alot until I started Low Carb. You may want to be tested for Diabetes.

06-27-2009, 05:12 AM	#3
zizi MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 2,458 Gallery: zizi WOE: Low Carb Eclectic Start Date: one day at a time...	I have food reactive hypoglycemia. I can completely control it by eating LC.

06-27-2009, 05:56 AM	#4
jezzie Old Wise One Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Hudson River Valley Posts: 39,880 Blog Entries: 78 Gallery: jezzie Stats: choosing to be scale-free; WOE: YOU:on a Diet - Dr. Oz Start Date: 05/22/07 - lightbulb; started YOU at 209.	Any one can have hypoglycemic episodes. Ask your doc about a glucose tolerance test. Preferable longer than three hours. (Mine was a five hour test.)

06-27-2009, 08:19 AM	#5
Houston Heather Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 8,914 Gallery: Houston Heather Stats: 228/169/160 Waist: 42/31/31 WOE: Atkins 2002 Ongoing Weight Loss/pre maintenance Start Date: Feb 26, 2008 (second and last time)	I had/have hypoglycemic attacks due to my medication. I didn't need to "eat sugar" to make them depart, anything works. I still get the rare attack, when I'm stupid and not eating enough. I just eat a meat stick or some of the sardines I carry, and I'm fine. A gas-station bunless hot dog works fine, too. My secret is eating frequently, no more than 6 hours between meals, and always having legal food with me.

06-27-2009, 08:48 AM	#6
jem51 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: south central OR Posts: 2,452 Gallery: jem51 Stats: oh so happy at 120 WOE: EFGT Start Date: controlled carb '97-98	the only way to really know is to monitor your blood sugar....w a meter. there are other things that cause these symptoms. low blood pressure being the most common.....when BP drops, heart rate increases...drop in BP causes lightheadedness and the feeling of faint, etc. lying down or simply bending over gets the blood back to the head.

06-27-2009, 10:13 AM	#8
mariposah Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 74 Gallery: mariposah	Baby-it happens anytime of the day, and not necessarily right after I eat sweets. Even if I happen to eat relatively healthy, it can happen. Thanks for all of your replies. I will take them into consideration

06-27-2009, 12:58 PM	#9
njshoregal Junior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: sea isle city, nj Posts: 15 Gallery: njshoregal Stats: 140/115 and 5'4, 25 yrs. old WOE: doing my own low carb thing Start Date: October 2008	just adding something - my mom is hypoglycemic and she basically has to eat several small things throughout the day. i have tried to get her to eat almonds, walnuts and other proteins because i think they last her longer than the candy she eats. she doesn't eat low carb so she will have cereal or whatever for breakfast and then in a couple hours she will start to 'dip.' that's what we call it. she experiences the same things you described. she eats the first thing she can see and she usually thinks sugar products are the best. i personally think she would do much better with protein and trying to work low-carb things into her life but i think her doctors have told her so many times to just eat sugar and then you will feel better. good luck!

06-27-2009, 04:04 PM	#11
zizi MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 2,458 Gallery: zizi WOE: Low Carb Eclectic Start Date: one day at a time...	Threadjack, MY APOLOGIES! JEZZIE, YOUOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best, Z

06-29-2009, 10:52 AM	#12
JoSkids Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 5,079 Gallery: JoSkids	When I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia many years ago (pre LC) the doctor said that the best way to combat a sugar drop is to eat protein. Since I started LCing, my blood sugar stays pretty stable and I rarely, if ever, have any kind of drop that I have to deal with.

06-29-2009, 01:42 PM	#13
brit67chick Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4 Gallery: brit67chick	My son and I have reactive hypoglycemia (I get hypoglycemic 1-2 hours after I eat). Like you, about once a month I would have it really bad. I made some major diet changes, including cutting out meat, useless carbs (white bread, pasta), sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and starchy items like potatoes. Like Jezzie, I eat protein (nut and seed mix) and small snacks throughout the day. No candy or sugar! I have not had an episode since starting this diet. You can read what I typically eat in a day here: a typical day's diet for reactive hypoglycemia. Good luck!