I know hypoglycemia was mentioned on here before but does anyone have a hard time controlling it?

I was diagnosed with it back in December. I have been having the worst time getting it in control - despite seeing a nutritionist. My blood sugar has been so low and it is really scaring me. Has anyone else gone through this?

Message edited 3/3/2008 6:20:38 PM.

Re: I know hypoglycemia was mentioned on here before but does anyone have a hard time controlling it?

Yep.

How often do you eat and what do you eat?

For me it's best controlled when I eat every 3-4 hours and I make sure I eat whole grains AND protein. Eat foods with a low glycemic index. Keep the blood suagr from spiking so it doesn't plunge. The idea is to keep it even.

Re: I know hypoglycemia was mentioned on here before but does anyone have a hard time controlling it?

I have a hard time too...especially b/c I let it surge and then all heck breaks lose.

I actually have issues with protein..I try to eat a more moderate amount of it...

Grains and Fiber help me.

Re: I know hypoglycemia was mentioned on here before but does anyone have a hard time controlling it?

Re: I know hypoglycemia was mentioned on here before but does anyone have a hard time controlling it?

I do find it varies.

What kind of doctor are you seeing that? That sounds pretty severe if you can't go 2 hours. I can mostly go at least 3, though I do notice some times of month it is worse.

I don't quite understand the "no carbs" thing. You NEED slow-burning carbs or else you'll never get your sugar up. I'm not a nutritionist though. I went to a nutritionist once (this was before my hypoglycemia was a readl medical problem for me, the nutritionist was for weight loss) and she wanted me to limit carbs so severely that I kept getting sick, and she didn't care, that seemed to be her only plan. She was totally unable to adapt to my needs which to me defeated the purpose. It's possible you're not eating enough carbs

I'm not a doctor though. I find I feel best when I eat protein and high-fiber whole grains together.

All vegetables are not created equal either. Many vegetables have high glycemic index, and can cause a blood sugar spike.


Has your doctor spoken with you about medication? My doctor was going to put me on medication, but I decided that eating every few hours was easier.

Do you eat a lot of sugar free stuff like diet soda? I find that for me that makes it worse for me, and now they're finding that it makes your body think you have sugar, so it can release insulin.

Re: I know hypoglycemia was mentioned on here before but does anyone have a hard time controlling it?

There are several books on GI diets (eating with the glycemic index) it works pretty well for hypoglycemia - it will tell you the glycemic index for almost every food out there - the idea is to eat items that don't spike your glucose which cause your levels to drop quickly and cause hypoglycemia. If you follow it closely it works pretty well.

If it happens 2-4 hours after eating it sounds like reactive hypoglycemia - have you spoken with an endocronologist about it?

Re: I know hypoglycemia was mentioned on here before but does anyone have a hard time controlling it?

Message edited 3/4/2008 5:45:52 PM.

Re: I know hypoglycemia was mentioned on here before but does anyone have a hard time controlling it?

Re: I know hypoglycemia was mentioned on here before but does anyone have a hard time controlling it?

I have hyperglycemia(Type 2 Diabetes) and have been advised to stay away from sweets, potatoes, pastas, things made with white flour (white bread, etc)

These things spike my blood sugar...so thats why I stay away.

Honestly, if you are not happy with your doctor, please get a second opinion, you do not want to mess around with it! Your nutritionist should be helping to make you a customized diet plan (not a diet in the sense of losing weight, but a diet in the sense of EATING) Like, the Nurse Educator I went to made the list of things I needed...I need fruit with every meal...because it gives me "good carbs", etc...

Good Luck!!!!!!

Re: I know hypoglycemia was mentioned on here before but does anyone have a hard time controlling it?

I eat an apple with peanut butter
or a granola bar (not that great since it has a lot of sugar, but it also has oats, which are slow-burning carbs)
whole grain pitas and hummus
veggies and hummus

those are my usual snacks.

ETA: Have you had the 3 hour glucose tolerance test? What did it tell you?

For me, my sugar was normal for the first 2 hours (although i actually felt sick), but then the 3rd it dropped significantly, and my doctor said it would probably have kept dropping in the 4th and 5th hour, which is when i get really sick, indicating reactive hypoglycemia.

Mine is also a lot worse when I'm active. If I go to the gym I literally have to eat right before. My doctor said my body is storing sugar as fat before I get a chance to burn it (hence being overweight even though I eat a pretty healthy vegetarian diet)

Message edited 3/5/2008 9:31:08 AM.

Re: I know hypoglycemia was mentioned on here before but does anyone have a hard time controlling it?

I forgot the exact numbers she gave me when I had my 3-hour test, but I know the last number was 50 - which is way low.

I'm going to see the endocrinologist - not the PA - tomorrow. Even with the changes in diet that I have made I still feel awful. I constantly have a slight tremor - not obvious to anyone else but I can feel it. It's usually worse at night - I'm assuming because my sugar is dropping while I am sleeping. I am also having anxiety and panic attacks like I have never had before. My body is constantly tired and winded. This whole thing is just scaring me because it is really affecting my everyday life.

The nutrionist I went to $ucked. I need someone to give me a piece of paper that says eat this and eat that - she just sat there and talked to me and tried to sell me vitamins and whatnot.

Also, I think you mentioned something about medication. Do they have medication that can help this at all while I try to get it under control?

Re: I know hypoglycemia was mentioned on here before but does anyone have a hard time controlling it?

Yeah (no offense to those who are PAs) but for something like this I don't like them - I think you should definitely see an MD instead - so glad to hear you are seeing someone soon. You sound like you have reactive hypo - I had that - you might want to ask if they would do a glucose tolerance test (like they do for pregnant women to see if you are say insulin resistant).

I bought a book which told me what to eat, how to do it etc. There are several good ones out there - they call it the GI diet.

You probably want to find a nutritionist who works with diabetes and not just a regular nutritionist. Before seeing them ask specifically if they work eating for hypoglycemia - it is a special way to eat - and regular diet won't work. I don't think you need to see someone if you get some books and really read them and follow them.

I haven't had the issue you described since becoming pregnant but before that - I would get so shaky, nauseated, hand tremors, clammy feeling, forgetful or confused - it is a horrible feeling.

Re: I know hypoglycemia was mentioned on here before but does anyone have a hard time controlling it?