OK, I know someone who has quite a few symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and it was even suggested by a doctor that he might have it, but he tested his blood sugar several times, and it was in the normal range. Is it possible that he could still have hypoglycemia, or could there be another cause for these symptoms which closely resemble hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia symptoms, but normal blood sugar?
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Hello, and thank you for bringing us your concerns for your friend. If a doctor has already been consulted, it seems practical to me to return to the doctor for more testing. I'm sure there are many maladies than manifest these symptoms, and since none of us are medical professionals, we best not make judgments.
If this has been going on very long, I would suggest seeing the doctor soon.
take care,
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If this has been going on very long, I would suggest seeing the doctor soon.
take care,
Symptoms
I have dealt with those type of symptoms for sometime now and in the last 4 yrs I have had extreme fatigue along with nauseous to name a few. It would hit about the same time each day, between 4:30-6:00pm. I would find myself in the wrong lane on a state highway going 60mph. I would have to stop and sleep on the way home. 4 yrs later and 5 different doctors, finally a doctor tested my insulin and found it to be high and has diagnosed me as insulin resistant "pre-diabetic". For some reason, it seems doctors test the glucose but not the insulin. I just had a 3 hour glucose tolerance test back in October and was told everything is okay but in fact, it is not.
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been there done that, he should see a endocrinologist to be sure. I have been told that I have reactive hypoglycemia and am being tested for diabeties, so I understand what your friend is going through. He should see a doctor and get checked out with all the bells and whistles.
Hypoglycemia is a disorder of the blood sugar. The prefix "hypo" means low, so hypoglycemia is abnormally low blood sugar. This occurs when the blood does not regulate the glucose level
properly. There are different levels of hypoglycemia, and they are progressive, if not treated. In mild hypoglycemia, one may experience grouchiness, shaking, sweating, increased heart rate, pale skin, dizziness, and yawning. In case of a mild hypoglycemic episode, eat as soon as possible. Anything containing glucose, such as fruit or juice, would be good.
properly. There are different levels of hypoglycemia, and they are progressive, if not treated. In mild hypoglycemia, one may experience grouchiness, shaking, sweating, increased heart rate, pale skin, dizziness, and yawning. In case of a mild hypoglycemic episode, eat as soon as possible. Anything containing glucose, such as fruit or juice, would be good.
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The doctor gave me a perscription for a meter and the rest but Medi-cal has denied it twice. He says that he thinks I am in the process of becoming diabetic. I think I have been having hypoglycemia episodes for about 2 years and yes they are getting worse. Does anyone know where I can get test strips and a meter for free. Since Medical wont pay for them (because they are not medically necessary) Ironic isnt it they will pay if I become diabetic but not to catch it early. I have changed my eating habits to control carbs. If I eat to many refined carbs (bread pasta sweets) I get a rebound effect I have low readings 2 hours after I eat
Hypoglycemia with normal bloodsugar levels?
I have been studying for many years into why i might be having rapid weight gain and constantly getting these attacks.
A dietitian mentioned hypoglycemia to me so i researched the process, When a carb sensitive body eats carbohydrates, the body sees this as a poison in the blood and causes the pancreas to overproduce insulin which means most of the sugar in your bloodstream has now been stored as fat instead of being used for energy, this leaves you blood sugar very low and the symptoms kick in.
I found that totally cutting carbs out of my diet, especially complex carbs and having a rich lean protein diet that the attacks completely stopped, i had loads of strength and energy every day. I also lost 8 stone in 6 months, the only downfall is that my body likes sweet foods and i do fancy something like a cake or chocolate now and then but have to fight it.
After cutting carbs for a while, my body started developing skin problems, i have dry skin on my hands which i maintain with petroleum jelly, this was ok but not a permanent fix. I eventually went back onto carbs for a few months and found the skin had gone back to normal but i had rapidly put about 4 stone on in that short amount of time and the hypo's returned too.
The big struggle here is once your off the carbs you stop craving them. Carbs are like a drug to some people, come off them for a while and your ok again, until you break your strict diet again. im usually ok until i put a carb in my mouth, then after a day or 2 i will get this intense craving for carbs and denial kicks in - even though im aware of the denial im helpless until ive had enough carbs pile on a whopping 4-5 stone then when my heart is at risk again I can try and motivate myself into getting rid of the carbs again. The cycle repeats itself over and over.
Yesterday, I had a hypoglycemic attack in work and ended up in hospital, The symptoms were identical to hypoglycemia but my levels were fine, so this could be a thyroid problem or a pituitary gland issue, im really not sure yet but i will be investigating, however If i cut carbs i dont get these attacks.
If anyone out there is suffering the same thing, give this a try, it might help, its not the way but is a way that works for me and a few people that i work with use this too and are happy with their own tweaked variations.
Peace and Love
Shy
Hi, im a leukemia patient from the age of 6 (im now 35 years old), after having radio therapy, started having these hypoglycemic attacks. For those of you who have never experienced this before I can only describe it as an ache all over your body that is indescribably unpleasant, with this ache comes a heaviness and lightness all at the same time, you feel cold but are hot and perspire a lot similar to a fever, a you get so weak you can hardly move a muscle in your body or have the strength to hold your own head up. you suddenly have to lie down but are instinctively drawn to sweet food with intense desire to eat like your life depended on it, while your in this agonizing state you are unable to concentrate on anything but getting rid of this feeling. Ive never taken drugs that were non prescribed but i can imagine this being similar to a heroin addicts recovery period in rehab (hell is the only word to describe it).
I have been studying for many years into why i might be having rapid weight gain and constantly getting these attacks.
A dietitian mentioned hypoglycemia to me so i researched the process, When a carb sensitive body eats carbohydrates, the body sees this as a poison in the blood and causes the pancreas to overproduce insulin which means most of the sugar in your bloodstream has now been stored as fat instead of being used for energy, this leaves you blood sugar very low and the symptoms kick in.
I found that totally cutting carbs out of my diet, especially complex carbs and having a rich lean protein diet that the attacks completely stopped, i had loads of strength and energy every day. I also lost 8 stone in 6 months, the only downfall is that my body likes sweet foods and i do fancy something like a cake or chocolate now and then but have to fight it.
After cutting carbs for a while, my body started developing skin problems, i have dry skin on my hands which i maintain with petroleum jelly, this was ok but not a permanent fix. I eventually went back onto carbs for a few months and found the skin had gone back to normal but i had rapidly put about 4 stone on in that short amount of time and the hypo's returned too.
The big struggle here is once your off the carbs you stop craving them. Carbs are like a drug to some people, come off them for a while and your ok again, until you break your strict diet again. im usually ok until i put a carb in my mouth, then after a day or 2 i will get this intense craving for carbs and denial kicks in - even though im aware of the denial im helpless until ive had enough carbs pile on a whopping 4-5 stone then when my heart is at risk again I can try and motivate myself into getting rid of the carbs again. The cycle repeats itself over and over.
Yesterday, I had a hypoglycemic attack in work and ended up in hospital, The symptoms were identical to hypoglycemia but my levels were fine, so this could be a thyroid problem or a pituitary gland issue, im really not sure yet but i will be investigating, however If i cut carbs i dont get these attacks.
If anyone out there is suffering the same thing, give this a try, it might help, its not the way but is a way that works for me and a few people that i work with use this too and are happy with their own tweaked variations.
Peace and Love
Shy
- I have EXACTLY the same problem! Usually I start feeling sick 2-3 hours after eating. My first symptom is confusion. It feels like my brain switched off, I can't think. Then I my hands start to shake a little and I get anxious for food. Additionally, I can't just eat anything! Like an apple, for instance. It has to be something more nutritious like a sandwich or a proper meal. I've done the glucose test several times and they said my levels are normal (tending to pre-diabetes). From my dad's side of the family several people died of diabetes, including my grandmother. My dad didn't have it, but my sister was diagnosed with hypoglycemia some time ago.
Have you tested when these events are taking place or just later when you go to the doctor? You need to know what your glucose is doing when you are experiencing those feelings. There are people who simply need to eat every 2 or 3 hours to avoid going low. That's the nature of hypoglycemia. Enjoy it as long as it lasts - it is sometimes followed by diabetes but meanwhile it is much easier to handle than diabetes.
I have measured my glucose levels with the glucose meter when the symptoms start. Apparently I start to feel them from 5.4 mmol/dl on (4.9 -5.4 is what I have observed so far). I think you may be right, but what intrigues me is that I can't just eat a little something, like everybody else. If I'm feeling sick and I eat carbs for instance (e.g: fruits) within minutes I feel even worse. I have to have a proper meal or something of slow digestion in order to feel better .
I hope it doesn't get any worse. Brain fog sucks
.I hope it doesn't get any worse. Brain fog sucks
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I found early on that hypoglycemia is best treated by a low-carb diet. I used to go low all the time, and eating carbs was only a temporary fix, which sent my BG soring and then I would crash again about 20-30 minutes later.
Looking back at those years (many years ago), and knowing what I know now but didn't know then, if I'd stayed on the low-carb WOE from then on, my glucose metabolism would probably not have advanced to diabetes.
One of the things I used to do would be to keep protein powder in a small jar with me at all times. Whenever I would feel my BG dropping, I could add water, shake, and drink. I would also drink some as soon a I got out of bed in the morning and that would prevent the before-breakfast drop.
Now, knowing better about LC/HF, I would add some fat to that drink - or just eat some peanutbutter.
Looking back at those years (many years ago), and knowing what I know now but didn't know then, if I'd stayed on the low-carb WOE from then on, my glucose metabolism would probably not have advanced to diabetes.
One of the things I used to do would be to keep protein powder in a small jar with me at all times. Whenever I would feel my BG dropping, I could add water, shake, and drink. I would also drink some as soon a I got out of bed in the morning and that would prevent the before-breakfast drop.
Now, knowing better about LC/HF, I would add some fat to that drink - or just eat some peanutbutter.
Thanks for your suggestions, VeeJay. I will definitely use the protein shake!
I used to feel quite sick after breakfast, but it all stopped a few weeks ago when I started taking a tbs of olive oil 10-15 min before breakfast. It works like a dream . I will try to be checked for insulin next week and follow the low carb diet. Now I feel like I need to prove to people there is something wrong with me. I have seen a lot of people looking at me "funny" as I am always complaining about not feeling well, and doctors not finding anything! I'm not leaving the doctors office until he gives me this insulin resistance test!
Thanks for you help!!
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I just recently talked to my Endo about insulin resistance. He said the true way to test for it is an IV of glucose in one arm and an IV of insulin in the other :/ Has anyone been tested this way?
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