View Full Version : ongoing hypoglycemia?
For the past couple of months, I have noticed that I feel constantly hungry even as soon as an hour after eating a complete meal. The longest I can go is about two hours without getting shaky. it seems to be cyclical. I am not overweight, don't eat sweets or excessive carbs and have never had blood sugar issues before - maybe it's something else? Since I don't want to go to the doc just yet, I am thinking about buying a cheap blood sugar monitor and testing myself to see if any anything looks off. Normally, I just try to live with odd symptoms but feeling hungry all the time is very distracting. Thoughts?
Are you getting plenty of fat and protein at meals?
Yes, it would be good to know what your meals are usually comprised of.
In my experience, with myself and reading about some others, some of us have hypoglycemic feelings, even when our blood sugars are within normal limits.
Also, are you on any meds?
I noticed awhile back (before I was on a blood pressure med), that I would think I was feeling hypoglycemic, when in fact my pressure was up. so make sure your pressure is okay.
I don't think I need a blood pressure med any more, but the main reason I stay on it is because of funky feelings I get....like I'm going to pass out. Beta blockers can also mask hypoglycemic symptoms.......which isn't good in people who are on insulin..........but for me, its been wonderful. I still occasionally get those feelings, but not nearly as often as pre-beta blocker.
Also pinkytoe, I've discovered that caffeine can really make me hungry, and give me feelings of hypoglycemia. If you do have caffeine, be sure its along with food and not just by itself.
Do you have anything else going on......like an infection somewhere? extra stress?
Not a big meat eater (maybe 2x a week) but do eat some dairy and eggs. Yesterday I had whole grain oatmeal with blueberries, coconut, pecans and milk (no added sugar). Lunch-Avocado, swiss and tomato sandwich on whole grain bread and chopped raw veggies. Nuts and apple for snacks. Dinner was black beans with sofrito, salad, baked sweet potatos and cantalope slices for dessert. I have one mug of coffee in the am with milk and sugar. I drink hibiscus tea all day long which coincidentally lowers bp. My bp is usually on the low side but I will check it tonight. No health conditions I am aware of but wondering if there is a hormonal component to this since it comes and goes. I hate to be (anal) about it but guess I will keep a food log and see when it happens. No stress wither other than this miserable heat which makes me really cranky.
rodeosweetheart
8-21-13, 2:47pm
Pinkytoe, you eat really well!!
I bought a cheap glucose meter thinking my husband was hypoglycemic. It was less than 15 dollars with the strips. He is fine, but I have learned I am pre-diabetic,so by all means, get the meter, it's worth it.
rodeosweetheart.........if I may ask, why do you think you're prediabetic? What is your A1C? Do you know what your last fasting blood sugar was?
Well heck Pinkytoe, I see your problem right there! You need to add a few Twinkies, ice cream, and potato chips to your diet! :laff:
Are you getting enough B vitamins? vitamin D?
I've started taking some chromium to see if that helps.
Another thing to think about.........I'm thinking you're in menopause, right? You might get your thyroid checked. I guess a fair number of women have some thyroid issues in menopause.
Let us know how things go for you. I really hate those hypoglycemic feelings. And as I get older, it seems to take longer to get my sugar up with those episodes. I carry peppermint candy in my purse, and it seems to help when I start sweating and shaking.......until I can get to better food to eat.
You might try adding some fat: fatty fish, bone broth, whatever you like. When I ate similarly, I would get hypo symptoms so bad I literally couldn't talk--my brain would slow down and I felt dizzy and nauseated. My rescue food was pepperoni, for some reason.
You might try adding some fat: fatty fish, bone broth, whatever you like. When I ate similarly, I would get hypo symptoms so bad I literally couldn't talk--my brain would slow down and I felt dizzy and nauseated. My rescue food was pepperoni, for some reason.
This is a good point. If I'm feeling out of sorts it's usually because I've forgotten to add any fat to my diet. Because I'm vegetarian, I don't eat animal fat at all, and I can easily forget to add some type of oil to my food. I have just drank a couple tablespoons of straight olive oil on occasional. Or eggs fried in lots of oil. Usually feel better right away.
Yup. I've bene hypo pretty much my whole life -- and when i eat too much sugar it makes me sick. since i've been higher fat (i'm 30%-40% fat in my daily diet), I don't have any hypo symptoms. It's awesome. :)
I totally understand. I have been hypo to the point I used to pass out as a teen. i was vegetarian then and for 16 years, just went back to it in January. I basically eat 6 times a day. A good day I put protein into almost all of those meals and snacks. I love popcorn at bedtime but my body wakes me up with a nightmare when my blood sugar dips too low so sometimes I cannot eat a carb at bedtime
Your diet sounds very healthy. If you are struggling I would check blood pressure like another person suggested. It can be too low and cause problems as well as too high. Then boost up the protein, I love quinoa that satisfies my grain craving but has good protein. My best breakfast is scrambled eggs with spinach, onion and squash. I don't eat fruit for another reason, and watch sugars carefully. And then my vitamins at times affect my hunger level. I need to watch my iron, when it is good I am actually more hungry.
I have an app on my phone (my fitness or somthing like that) where I can track my food and exercise. Even if you are not watching calories you can see at the end of the day how you are doing on calories, fat, protein, etc. It was free and helps me keep track.
Thanks all - good ideas! I just took my bp and it was 117/65. A little low I guess.
For the past couple of months, I have noticed that I feel constantly hungry even as soon as an hour after eating a complete meal. The longest I can go is about two hours without getting shaky. it seems to be cyclical. I am not overweight, don't eat sweets or excessive carbs and have never had blood sugar issues before - maybe it's something else? Since I don't want to go to the doc just yet, I am thinking about buying a cheap blood sugar monitor and testing myself to see if any anything looks off. Normally, I just try to live with odd symptoms but feeling hungry all the time is very distracting. Thoughts?
The blood sugar monitor is a very good idea. Knowledge is power. If you keep a log of what you ate and when, and what your BG did in response it's VERY helpful.
Fat is great for keeping BG steady. The day's food you described was relatively low in fat. As an experiment you could add a tsp or two of oil or butter to each meal and see if your sense of hunger improves.
Thanks all - good ideas! I just took my bp and it was 117/65. A little low I guess.
Lower than 90/60 is dangerous. 117/65 is at the low end of normal.
Lower than 90/60 is dangerous. 117/65 is at the low end of normal.
Well, actually, I would say its pretty near perfect! And I probably wouldn't call 90/60 dangerous, if you've lived your life at that pressure. Lots of other factors to look at.
I had a friend once who always had low blood pressure. Her doc said "Don't worry about it. You'll live to be 110........you just won't have any fun." lol!
Well, actually, I would say its pretty near perfect! And I probably wouldn't call 90/60 dangerous, if you've lived your life at that pressure. Lots of other factors to look at.
I had a friend once who always had low blood pressure. Her doc said "Don't worry about it. You'll live to be 110........you just won't have any fun." lol!
Do you have expertise in this area?
I had low bp for many years, and it really wasn't any fun, and that isn't really an lol kind of thing. That makes it far from perfect. It's not about having a number that the current medical wisdom says is good, it's about each person feeling well and hearty.
There is such a thing as BP that is too low. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hyp/
I was a critical care RN, so I do feel that I have expertise. I wasn't making light of having low BP that might cause symptoms. My friend wasn't really having symptoms.
Pinkytoe's BP was still within the normal range. If she's feeling bad enough for long enough, then of course she should see her doctor.
And I didn't deny the existence of low BP........just said that other factors need to be assessed too.
I'm sorry you had so much trouble with it, and hope you are feeling better.
My husband used to get so bad he'd almost pass out. A retired nurse suggested that adding some cinnamon to his daily supplement each day he could stablized his blood sugar and not crash. Works wonderfully. Worth giving a try.
And I forget if we've talked about this, but be sure to stay well hydrated.
artist.......does your DH take a cinnamon capsule?
rodeosweetheart
8-24-13, 12:01am
rodeosweetheart.........if I may ask, why do you think you're prediabetic? What is your A1C? Do you know what your last fasting blood sugar was?
Hi Cathy,
Yes, I know what my last fasting blood sugar was, and it was normal. If I am on steroid inhaler, it is not normal, nor is my blood sugar after meals. (Has been as high as 230 after a meal; a morning when I am on steroids for asthma, the fasting blood sugar might be 130-150.) My A1C was 6.4, I believe. The internist who made the connection sent me for the A1C test.
Thanks rodeosweetheart. My recent A1C was 6.1, with a normal fasting blood sugar test. I'm really trying to cut back on carbs and sugar. Did your doc think that maybe using the steroid inhaler was causing the increase in your numbers (and not just when you use the inhaler?)
I'm sure the high amount of carbs we were no doubt all raised on didn't help.
Good luck to you!
rodeosweetheart
8-24-13, 8:52pm
Thanks rodeosweetheart. My recent A1C was 6.1, with a normal fasting blood sugar test. I'm really trying to cut back on carbs and sugar. Did your doc think that maybe using the steroid inhaler was causing the increase in your numbers (and not just when you use the inhaler?)
I'm sure the high amount of carbs we were no doubt all raised on didn't help.
Good luck to you!
You, too, Cathy. The doc said that he thought the numbers were definitely caused by the steroid inhaler, and when I am on a course of steroids, they are extremely high and jump up with no sense--might be 150 after eating and then 200 in the am as fasting number. It's so bizarre, and I am trying my darndest to stay away from the steroids, even the inhaled ones. One of biggest problems is sleeplessness at night, which probably does not help matters.
You are very wise to cut back on the carbs and sugar. I am trying to do same--it is def. easier to cut back on sugar than on all carbs. Trying to balanced things better, too, sort of a glycemic index approach.
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