Low Blood Sugar??

[kimandkathess]

I have been told a few times by friends that I might have low blood sugar. I was tested for diabetes but I dont have it. The dr's made me fast and I had normal results. Now can the test for diabetes also show if someone has low blood sugar? because no medical professional has told me that I have low blood sugar.

I have to eat ever so often or I get:
Shakey
Weak
confused
excelerated heartbeat
hot

I have never in my life tested by blood sugar so today (in mid eating) i decided to test it. I got the result of 71 mg/dl

I have no idea what that means or if that is in normal range. Im sure i probably should have tested before eating anything.

Should I do a fast and test my sugar with the glucose meter?

Thanks for any and all advice.

Katrina

[Cynthiabutterfly]

Normal range is 80-100 and up to 120 after a meal. 71 is low.

Both my DH and my mother suffer from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Eating sugar can make it worse. You should ask your dr. about testing for hypoglycemia, and most likely they will tell you to avoid sugar and high-carb meals, and focus on proteins and complex carbs in your diet. There is no medication for this that I am aware of.

[3timesoccermom]

You are definitely not diabetic. Your sugar is getting low when you are running out of "fuel." Break up your food into several small meals a day.

Say if you typically have toast and fruit for breakfast, eat the toast, then an hour or 2 later have the fruit. You won't be eating more than usual you will just be spreading it out to keep your fuel coming in at a steady pace.

Google "complex carbohydrates" and try to eat more of those -things like 100% whole wheat bread, oatmeal (not instant that's filled with sugar), beans, etc. Those things break down more slowly in your system and fuel your body for longer periods and don't give you "spikes" like Pop Tarts or something.

You can also look up low blood sugar on google and get more info there. You do need to do some research.

[wealthybarney]

Since I know about the stress you are under, your adrenals are putting out huge amounts of the stress hormones ADRENALINE and CORTISOL.
THIS IS YOUR ROOT PHYSICAL CAUSE, that can be assisted with dietary changes that soccermom suggested.

Those both mess with your blood sugar, and can throw HUGE amounts of sugar into your system, which then causes a HUGE flood of Insulin.
The flood of Insulin makes your blood sugar drop.

Quit Coffee and Sugar.
I know you are also dieting, maybe your Calories, Carbs or Fat Intake are too low?
A little more fat would keep you from having the huge drops, and a little more carbs as well, along with your 85 grams of Protein/day.

[kimandkathess]

I am eating between 1600 and 1800 calories a day with 60grams of fat a day.

I am just curious what coffee does? I will have to do a little more research i guess.

You gals are all so wonderful for helping:)

[aquene27]

I personally have hypoglycemia and understand how it makes a person feel. The effects are downright horrible.

My understanding is there is a test, your Dr. calls for a glucose shot or drink, you take it and then wait. They test your blood every few minutes to see how its being dealt with in your system. If it drops, they call it "Flight to Fight" reflex. This means that when you ingest certain foods or drinks, your system sends all the proteins (or whatnot) to fight it off and there is nothing left to catch the remaining glucose in the body. This sudden drop in blood sugar is when you start feeling dizzy, weak, headache, etc.

Hypoglycemia, some people say, is a predicessor to becoming diabetic. Its completely comtrollable through diet and exercise. Peanut Butter is great when you get the shakes, as is slices of cheese or deli meat. If you're out of the house, as weird as it sounds, Peanut M&M's do help for a quick pick-me-up to get you through and home to eat properly.

My understanding is that hypoglycemia is actually worse in some cases then being diabetic. A person who goes into a hypoglycemic coma actually destroys braincells every time it happens. Whether this is true or not, I'm not really sure.

You're best bet, and I've learned from experience since I've been hypoglycemic since childhood, is to eat small, regular meals with plenty of protein. Try to keep away from large amount of pasta and breads and if you do eat sweets, keep the portions small.

Its a little difficult to get a handle on. Stress is really bad when you're hypoglycemic. It intensifies the problems and makes them worse.

Sorry to be so long winded, lol. Take care and I hope that you feel better!

[kimandkathess]

So you would gals agree that I have low blood sugar? Should I ask my dr to do a test? I do want to better manage this if thats what i have. Cause to be quite frank with you, I don't like the way this makes me feel.

[angeleyeza]

call your dr and ask for a test. This is your body and the only one that can take care of it is you we can give you advice but we cant force you to make decisions. Im not trying to sound brash or rude. Hope it dont come out that way. on a personal level I would call that is a concern because what if you black out somewhere being so dizzy and stressed? The best thing to do is to talk to your dr. let him/her know your symptoms, make suggestions on the tests you want done. hth Hope you feel better soon! :)

[Mothernature]

You are definitely not diabetic.

This is incorrect. Hypoglycemia is the first signs of diabetes in some. She will need to be tested so often to make sure she has not slipped into Type 2. The best way to do this is purchase the Relion A1C kits at Walmart. Test every 3-6 months. If the A1C is 5.7% or higher, see a doctor immediately. The Relion kits are lab accurate. My A1C from Relion and my A1C from Quest matched. My husbands A1C from Relion and his A1C from Quest was one point off. The Relion was a point higher.

Any blood glucose monitor reading under 70 is hypoglycemia. Make sure to have Gatorade or glucose gel with you all the time. You need an instant shot of non-complex sugar.

I've had several hypoglycemia episodes. Not fun.

[3timesoccermom]

As a diabetic myself I have never heard, read or been told that by any physician.

This is incorrect. Hypoglycemia is the first signs of diabetes in some. She will need to be tested so often to make sure she has not slipped into Type 2.

Any number under 70 is hypoglycemia. Make sure to have Gatorade or glucose gel with you all the time. You need an instant shot of uncomplex sugar.

I've had several hypoglycemia episodes. Not fun.