Hypoglycemia not caused by diabetes...

[3prettyprincesses]

I've been having some hypoglycemia issues lately. Mostly in the morning. I have to wait 30 minutes to eat after I take my thyroid medicine and by that time I feel trembly and starving. Sometimes after I eat cereal, in about 2 hours I start to feel trembly again and am starving. I'm wondering if it's reactive hypoglycemia? I am getting my bloodwork done tomorrow and will see my endocrinologist next week. I am not diabetic and have had normal blood sugar levels in the past. This problem started when I was a teenager and I always attributed it to needing to eat. I do have thyroid and vitamin D issues. Anyone have similar experiences? I'm kind of freaked because I feel so strange when it happens, like I'm shaking like a leaf on the inside.

 

[OhMari]

Hey
You are pretty much correct.
When is your last meal at nite? I try not to eat anything after 7:00 p.m., but once in a while, when we eat a really early supper, like at 4:00, I'll try to eat an apple or some fruit before I go to bed, that way, my blood sugar isn't so low. Otherwise, set your alarm clock for early in the morning and take your meds. I do this with my acid reflux meds. I try to take them at 5:00 a.m., so I can eat breakfast by 6:00.

If you are shaking, your blood sugar must be really low. It happens occasionally to me, and I am surprised that I don't have diabetes too.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Hey
You are pretty much correct.
When is your last meal at nite? I try not to eat anything after 7:00 p.m., but once in a while, when we eat a really early supper, like at 4:00, I'll try to eat an apple or some fruit before I go to bed, that way, my blood sugar isn't so low. Otherwise, set your alarm clock for early in the morning and take your meds. I do this with my acid reflux meds. I try to take them at 5:00 a.m., so I can eat breakfast by 6:00.

If you are shaking, your blood sugar must be really low. It happens occasionally to me, and I am surprised that I don't have diabetes too.

Hi OhMari,

Thanks for the input. I should set my, alarm that way I'll be a bit more regular with taking my thyroid medicine. I do try to eat something with protein before I go to bed like string cheese or a couple of nuts or something like that.

How strange that it happens to you too and you're not diabetic either! I really don't like the shaking part, it scares me actually. Once I eat then it goes away within 15-20 minutes. Anyhow, thanks for your advice and for popping in! Take care.

 

[hellokitty86]

Your whole post could be written by me! I have hypothyrodism and vitamin D issues, and have mostly the same symptoms. I'm not diabetic. I've learned that I have to eat every couple hours because I start to feel sick and shakey. I've realized that once I get a one bite to eat or a sip of soda I start to feel better.

Waiting an hour to eat after taking meds does stink!

 

[mickeyboat]

It happens to me every once in a while, mostly when I eat a carb-laden meal (like a bagel). It's worth discussing with your doctor.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Diabetes is about high blood sugars. Only diabetes treatments would cause hypoglycemia(as a side effect).....not the disease it'self.
I think it is good advice to avoid simple carbs prior to bed, and set your alarm early to get those pills down.

 

[Fire14]

I'm a nurse in long term care setting and what we do with a lot of our folks is give their thyroid meds at bedtime.

 

[Imzadi]

You can have hypoglycemia and not diabetes. Hypoglycemia is often the precursor to diabetes. But, some people never get diabetes.

You have to be aware of what and how much carbohydrates you put in your body, not just sugar, as was mistakenly believed diabetes/hypoglycemia was about. Carbohydrates convert to sugar in the body.

Cereal with milk are one of the worst combinations to eat. It is about 85% carbs and sugar in ratio to protein 9and very little fiber.) There is sugar/carbs in the cereal and the milk has lactose which converts to high sugar. It is a mistake to think the amount of protein in the milk alone is enough. The ratio of protein to carbs is just not enough for a healthy meal for anyone, hypoglycemic, diabetic or not.

Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches are the same. TWO slices of bread, jelly, (even sugar free) with peanut butter (which usually has sugar in it,) is about 90% carbs vs. protein. People think it's a healthy sandwich because peanuts have protein, but again, the ratio of protein to carbs is very low.

Both of these foods should be outlawed.

There is NO protein in fruits. People should NEVER eat a fruit alone. PERIOD.

Also, if you are eating pretty much carbs throughout the day, in ratio to protein, you pretty much banking all the carbs you eat.

I do try to eat something with protein before I go to bed like string cheese or a couple of nuts or something like that.

Good, but you might need more protein right before bed than that. I usually eat closer to bed time, always have protein as the last thing I eat and wake up feeling still a little full. I actually don't eat for a couple hours after waking up as there still is enough protein and high enough sugar levels in my body.

Since you are having hypoglycemia so soon after waking, you cannot go by those health experts who say not to eat within 5 hours (or whatever) of going to bed. Your body works differently. You need to do what your body is telling you it needs. (I don't know what the thyroid and vitamin D issues do.) You can't go by what the guidelines are for "healthy" people.

If I didn't eat for for 5 hours then slept for 8 hours, that would be 13 hours without eating. By hour 13, I'd probably be in a coma.

Also, do you have coffee with milk first thing in the morning? Again, milk is high in sugar. It may be enough for you to have a sugar spike reaction, then dip a half hour later, if you don't eat anything else with the coffee & milk.

 

[chell]

For years I had trouble with Hypoglycemia. If I didn't eat enough protein at night I would wake up shaking and with a severe headache the next morning. As the previous poster stated cereal isn't a good choice, but sometimes that's what I have. It used to be within about 90 minutes my sugar would crash. And I can't eat an apple without protein or I'd have a major crash.

In October I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Since going gluten-free I've not had a single episode. From reading the boards on celiac.com there are other people who are the same way.

Have you ever been tested for Celiac Disease? It might be worth discussing with your doctor as well. The first round is a simple blood test. Lots' of people who have it have thyroid issues and Vitamin D issues. I don't know what causes the thyroid issues but the Vitamin D issues come from malabsorption. It's worth checking into.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Oh thank you! Great advice and exactly the reason why I posted my question in the first place here on the disboards! I feel like an idiot for not realizing the cereal was a no-no. Even though it was healthy cereal, still I had trouble after about 1 1/2 or 2 hours after with shaking and extreme hunger. I suppose I should be glad then it's reactive to what I'm eating which means I can control that with my diet. Guess it's time to watch the carbs as well now.

I've never been tested for Celiac disease. I'll mention it to my endocrinologist. Tomorrow morning I'm having my bloodwork done. I'm literally going to roll out of bed and drive straight to the lab before I start to get jittery from not eating since I have to fast for it. Should be a blast!

Thanks again!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Your whole post could be written by me! I have hypothyrodism and vitamin D issues, and have mostly the same symptoms. I'm not diabetic. I've learned that I have to eat every couple hours because I start to feel sick and shakey. I've realized that once I get a one bite to eat or a sip of soda I start to feel better.

Waiting an hour to eat after taking meds does stink!

Glad to hear I'm not alone! It does stink, doesn't it? When I've had this problem before, I eat something and then within 15-20 minutes I feel so much better. My DH laughs because my purse always has something in it in case of an episode...crackers or nuts.

 

[wowsmom]

Take a baggy of nuts with you - as soon as your bloodwork is done, eat the nuts. That's what I usually do if I have fasting bloodwork.

I've had problems with hypoglycemia for most of my life. The main things to remember are have protein and don't go too long between meals/snacks.

I just started taking thyroid meds in September and have to wait 1 hour after taking them so I know what you're going through!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Im thilled to know im not the only one! I get this all the time. Shaking, sick feeling and im not diabetic. I find those glucose tablets from walmart are a lifesaver. I tend to use these in situations where I cant grab a snack (you know, Work) and they help.

 

[lsyorke]

Im thilled to know im not the only one! I get this all the time. Shaking, sick feeling and im not diabetic. I find those glucose tablets from walmart are a lifesaver. I tend to use these in situations where I cant grab a snack (you know, Work) and they help.

Silly question, but have you documented low blood sugar with testing? Glucose tablets are not the way to treat hypoglycemia. Eating protein or fat keeps blood sugar stable. Most hypoglycemia is reacting to a high sugar intake which results in more insulin production.
If you stick with proteins and fats you don't get that insulin spike, which causes the low blood sugar.

 

[kohlby]

No thyroid issues and no diabetes. I've had symptoms before and have been tested many, many times and always pass. Then I saw an RE who thought to test not just my blood sugar levels, but my insulin levels as well. My blood sugars were again fine. But my fasting insulin was insanely high. Most places use 12-20 as the cut-off for having insulin resistance, mine was 38. I'm not overweight. I eat healthy. I exercise a lot. That's why mine was so hard to catch. I went on a diabetic diet and felt so much better. I hadn't realized I was having hypoglycemic attacks because it was so normal for me until I no longer had them. What happens to me on a diabetes test is that my insulin spikes, causing reactive hypoglycemia - so those numbers are always fine on the 2 hour or less tests. (Though my blood sugar was 28 at the end of a 3 hour test! Scary!)

My breakfasts are now pure protein - 4 egg whites and 1 yolk. I eat carbs balanced with protein and fiber the rest of the day. And have a high protein snack aftr dinner. It's made a huge difference.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Silly question, but have you documented low blood sugar with testing? Glucose tablets are not the way to treat hypoglycemia. Eating protein or fat keeps blood sugar stable. Most hypoglycemia is reacting to a high sugar intake which results in more insulin production.
If you stick with proteins and fats you don't get that insulin spike, which causes the low blood sugar.

I try to aim for more fats and proteins but most days Im at the mercy of the cook at work. I work in childcare so our meals are pretty good. Breakfast today was cherios, and orange juice. Lunch was fruit, broccli, tatertot caserole, and water (for me at least),Snack was granola bars and mellon (I tried watermellon for the first time today) so at least my meals are semi balanced and have some protein. I only do glucose tablets when its a situation that I cant sit down and eat such as on the playground with my students.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I try to aim for more fats and proteins but most days Im at the mercy of the cook at work. I work in childcare so our meals are pretty good. Breakfast today was cherios, and orange juice. Lunch was fruit, broccli, tatertot caserole, and water (for me at least),Snack was granola bars and mellon (I tried watermellon for the first time today) so at least my meals are semi balanced and have some protein. I only do glucose tablets when its a situation that I cant sit down and eat such as on the playground with my students.

Honestly I am not seeing any protein in that list of food except maybe some cheese in the casserole. Even if you just bring a little lunch bag with a cooler you could bring string cheese, yogurt, meat and cheese sandwiches etc You can have beef jerky, or nuts in your pocket.
The glucose tabs are just setting you up for a rebound/endless cycle.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

im lactose intorlant so theres no dairy. Our caseroles always have some sort of meat and I eat at least one peanut butter sandwich as a afterwork snack so theres protein there too. I guess thats probally a good place to start with changing my diet. I dont like eating meat though.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

It very well could be diabetes or prediabetes. You could have it and not be diagnosed depending on what test they use.

It was those exact symptoms that led to my diabetes diagnosis. If they rely on a1c alone (an average of your blood sugar) it will not be accurate because the lows balance out the highs. If you look at my a1c you will see that I look "average" but that's because I swing from high to low.

What you are experiencing sounds like reactive hypoglycemia as you described it. Reactive hypos are one of the first symptoms of diabetes. Basically, your body is losing control of the ability to regulate blood sugar and you may be insulin resistant. Because your blood sugar spikes quicker than your pancreas can produce insulin, your pancreas overreacts and kicks out too much insulin. This causes a roller coaster of blood sugars.

To combat it you want to do what another poster suggested and make sure you are not overdoing the carbs. If you eat carbs, go for more complex forms. Always pair it with fat and protein as this slows down the absorption and will stabilize your blood sugar. Consider snacking on nuts or another protein in between meals.

I would call your doctor and ask for an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. This is a two hour test where they take a fasting blood sugar, have you drink 75g of glucose, and then test your blood sugar two hours later. (Some labs also do a one hour stick.) The benefit of this test is that it picks up diabetes and prediabetes when other tests don't. I already explained the issue with the a1c. The other test commonly used is a fasting test and this is not good as fasting levels are the last to rise. For example, my fasting is fine and I would not even be diagnosed with prediabetes if you looked at that. The OGTT is what helped me figure out my problems.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

i don't have diabetes either but i have the same problem. luckily mine doesn't happen every day, but it does happen occationally. i get really shaky and i feel really run down. the best thing i was told was to eat either some chocolate or some peanut butter asap.

i also have a vitamin D deficency i'm wondering if maybe that's the common factor with us??