Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 9 Location: somewhere on the eastern shore of md.
Just Diagnosed W/hypoglycemia-any Suggestions Posted: 03-05-06 13:32pm
Hi, I just was recently diagnosed
w/hypoglycemia after taking the ogtt test.
My results were
fasting -86mg
1/2hr- 128mg
1hr- 89mg
2hr-75mg
3hr-44mg
thank goodness I found a new Dr. Who
would recognize my symptoms for what they
were and not wanting to give me prozac or
something for my digestive systom. I
have had these symptoms for about 2 yrs
and really started to wonder if I was
depressed, but I searched the web alot and
started to really wonder if this what my
probem was, so here I am.
I do go to a nutritionist on the 13th, I
have been trying to watch my carbs until
then, but still find myself wanting sweets
and don't know what to reach for sugar
free candy, fruit doesn't seam to be what
I want, but know that I should eat that
instead. I have avoided baked goods,
bread, potatoes, and have to eat just alot
of protein and veggies, cheese, nuts and
some fruit until I do see the nutitionist.
I still have thsoe moments where I just
want to go hog wild, but try not to b/c I
know how bad I feel when I do. I know my
results are not as bad as some can be, but
didn't know also what the difference could
be between my results and reactive
hypoglycemia?
|
sandyallen
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Feb 2004 Posts: 4580
Posted: 03-05-06 14:34pm
Hi there, there is a lot of information on
it onthe internet along with support
groups that might help until you do see
the nutritionist.
Good luck!
Keep us posted.
|
Stan
Moderator
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 1667 Location: ,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 03-06-06 21:08pm
That is reactive hypoglycemia. You seem
to luckily have a curve where your sugar
shouldn't cause noticeable problems until
about three hours after you eat. I've
heard this type of sugar curve is much
easier to treat than the legendary,
terrifying "saw-tooth" curve. Read my
post about my diet, you can get some good
info on what to watch for there. I'm
going to be making another thread soon
with a list of all foods to avoid until
you get better. The cravings are normal,
it's your brain attempting to get you to
eat sugar so it feels better quicker,
regardless of the aftereffects. Stick to
your guns.
|
luv2cook
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 9 Location: somewhere on the eastern shore of md.
Posted: 03-06-06 21:26pm
I wonder why my dr never said it was
reactive hypoglycemia?? I wasn't real
sure what the difference was. Today was
a really bad day, I caved and bad and paid
for it. I was really craving something
sweet...I have tried to modify my diet
until I see the nutrionist as best as I
can. Realizing how much I have to give
up is hard-coffee w/cream, diet a&w,
and sugar babies! But I have(the coffee
thing is getting me, I did switch to decaf
and the powder cream). I have noticed
how bad I feel after eating the carbs and
home baked goods, I just crash and sleep
for an hr. I have checked my sugar here
and there, it has gone up to 149 before
just before going to bed, which I know is
not bad or at least I didn't think it
was.
Yes, I did check out your diet, wow!!!!
Is this the route I should go, I know
everybody is different, but I do feel
better eating mostly lean meat, eggs,
bacon, some nuts, and cheese and of course
veggies. I am still tired alot,
headaches, but I know my body is
adjusting, and it could be the coffee and
cream, but I am trying.
My mom has diabetes, my grandmother has
it and is on dialysis 3 days a week, her
brother had it , pretty much everybody on
her side had it. So,i see what they are
going through and don't want to end up
like that if I can prevent it, but does
reactive hypoglycemia, or can it lead to
diabetes ?
Thanks for the advice!
|
DianaJJ
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 100 Location: California
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
Diagnosed Posted: 03-07-06 09:46am
Dear luv,
i'm afraid hypoglycemia can lead to
diabetes. When you eat sugar and carbs
your pancreas overreacts and releases too
much insulins and this causes low blood
sugar. After a while your pancreas gets
exhausted and doesn't release the insulin
you need and it results in diabetes.
The key is to keep your blood sugar level
which means eating food that doesn't spike
and then drop your blood sugar. I drink
decaf coffee with a small amount of half
& half everyday, it's just the
caffeine I avoid because that effects
blood sugar.
As you feel better you can add carbs.
The first things you can add are higher
fiber carbs such at yams, oatmeal, small
amounts of whole grain bread, and
berries.
Your nutrionist might not tell you the
same thing but everyone is different and
you have to experiment with what effects
you.
Hope you'll feel better soon.
Dj
|
Jennyflower
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 85 Location: london
Posted: 03-07-06 09:51am
Does it definately lead to diabetes? Or
can this be prevented?
|
Stan
Moderator
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 1667 Location: ,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 03-07-06 09:57am
Yes, it will lead to diabetes if left
untreated. Your doctor may not know
there are different types. Here they are
and what the differences are:
1. Functional type
this is the simplest type to treat.
You'll find it in bodybuilders a lot
because they don't eat enough. That's
all it is, you're not eating enough for
your body's activity level. All you have
to do is eat more, it doesn't matter what
it is, though of course everyone should be
eating healthy.
2. Fasting type
this is treated in the same fashion as the
first one. Basically, the difference
here is that if you don't eat regularly,
you get very sleepy, groggy and so forth.
You can eat anything you want though to
treat it.
3. Cancerous type
this type is rare but it can happen.
Basically, little tumors form on the
pancreas that cause it to secret insulin.
Many hypoglycemics first think they have
this, but you have to realize that if you
do the symptoms are constant and eating
rarely does anything to make it better.
It just comes on and doesn't stop. This
type, when treated, makes you "normal"
again because the tumors are simply
removed.
4. Biological type
probably the rarest type of all, you're
not going to see it too often.
Unfortunately, as far as I know, there is
no way to reverse this and the person must
constantly eat. However, I believe they
are able to eat what they want, as long as
it's regularly. Basically, like someone
who really has diabetes and didn't get it
from eating poorly, they're just born with
a pancreas that produces too much
insulin.
5. Reactive type
unfortunately, this is one of the more
common types. This is the type most
people with severe symptoms will have.
Essentially, the body has adjusted to poor
eating habits and must be readjusted in
order for the symptoms to go away. The
body has learned to assume high levels of
carbohydrates and sugars and thus secretes
too much insulin. In order to get it
back to normal, a strict diet must be
followed for a period of up to six months,
perhaps even longer in some cases. This
is the only way to get the body to
properly adjust. This type also has
about five variations, based only on
differences found in the gtt. Some
people have a drop in their sugar after
five hours, usually referred to as the
"classical" form of this type. Others,
like me, unfortunately have a drop every
hour or every two hours, and have the
dreaded "saw-tooth" form of this type.
It's the hardest to deal with and treat
because you have to constantly eat. Some
with classical form seem to be okay eating
only three times a day with a handful of
nuts before the time their sugar would
drop, but saw-tooth curvees (to coin a new
word here) must eat consantly. This is
why I created my diet, it's for saw-tooth
curve sufferers and should work just as
good if not better for any other form of
reactive type.
If you're currently drinking decaf coffee,
you should be fine. However, I suspect
the powdered cream has many additives in
it that you should not be consuming. Be
careful of it. Also, do not eat bacon,
all bacon is cured with sugar, usually
brown sugar. You sound like you're doing
good though, keep it up!
|
Jennyflower
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 85 Location: london
Posted: 03-07-06 10:06am
At the moment im very confused as to which
one I have........The last few years ive
just had to eat on time and it could b
anything - which means it was functional -
so now it has changed to reactive? Thing
is I am able to snack and b ok til the
next meal at the moment - but I must have
the snacks. Vegetables with wholewheat
pasta seem to fill me up and keep me going
for hours - im very very confused right
now....And theres a huge waiting list to
see the endocrinologist...Could be 2
months. Would the gtt tell me which one I
have then?
Decaf coffee/tea with a dash of soya milk
- oh if I can have this I will be very
happy! :d
|
Stan
Moderator
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 1667 Location: ,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 03-07-06 10:41am
If it's decaf, you can have it! The type
of have is based on when the drop
typically occurred. I suppose it's
possible for it to change over time.
|
Stan
Moderator
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 1667 Location: ,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 03-07-06 11:25am
Oh yeah, yes, the gtt will tell you what
kind you have. If they draw blood every
half hour it will tell you even better
than every hour because you can more
accurately track the drops.
|
luv2cook
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 9 Location: somewhere on the eastern shore of md.
Posted: 03-07-06 12:56pm
So, after all these years of loving carbs,
it's caught up w/me!! His is a dramatic
change for someone who loves to bake and
cook, but I guess is will just be a much
different menu!
One of my problems is that I am so
picky!!!!
Also, why don't most doctors tell us
all of this info when we are in the
office, I mean, some of it we are just not
to know unless we search the web
ourselves.
One other thing, since I am trying to
change my eating "for a way of life" now
how do you know if it is too late and
won't get diabetes in say 2 yrs from
now?
I know you are not a doctor, but seam
to be very knowlegable on all this, I just
hope my pancreas is not give out yet!
Thanks for all your info, and is there
any bacon that is good for, do you eat any
sweets? :shock:
|
Stan
Moderator
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 1667 Location: ,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 03-07-06 13:40pm
Doctors sadly just don't know about it.
As i've heard, and this could be wrong,
after it was discovered attempts were made
to reverse or cure the disease through
diet. Back then it was high protein low
carbohydrate. Eventually, in the late
1960s and early 1970s, it became a fad
diet, overdiagnosed and self-diagnosed
left and right without any verification.
Through this, it came to be considered
nonexistent and a myth, thus major
research nearly stopped on it. So, not
many doctors are taught anything about it
except in relationship to diabetes. It's
not too late, it just becomes diabetes
eventually, you won't get diabetes if you
stick to the diet and get everything back
in order. I don't know of any bacon that
would be good, just check labels. If you
find one with no added sugar (there are
lots of different types, so be careful),
it's okay then. I eat no sweets other
than the berries I mention in my diet.
|
DianaJJ
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 100 Location: California
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
Doctors Posted: 03-07-06 13:48pm
Hi,
your exactly right....Doctors just don't
know that much about it. I was orginally
diagnosed by a doctor but all she told me
is to eat fruit in between meals! It's
up to us to research our conditions -
after all no one cares as much a we do
about our health. I hate to say it but
unless a doctor can give you a
prescription or do surgery, they don't
seem that interested in helping a person.
Maybe not all, but it seems to be the
general rule.
Be your own health advocate!
Dj
|
Stan
Moderator
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 1667 Location: ,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 03-07-06 14:35pm
Fruit, eh? I was told to eat life
savers! The nerve. Or should I say,
the complete lack of care. I received a
similar set of suggestions from the doctor
where I know live, but at least he ordered
the gtt for me. There are good doctors
out there, i'll say that much, but
typically it will only occur in cases
where you've known your doctor nearly your
entire life. When they know your history
and typical status, they can tell when
you're not yourself and something is truly
wrong, not "in your head." i'm hoping
that more people come on here so we can
all help each other out. I know a lot,
but every day I find out something new
that seems to be a causing a problem.
Well, not every day, but you know what I
mean.
|
luv2cook
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 9 Location: somewhere on the eastern shore of md.
Posted: 03-07-06 15:03pm
I had to switch doctors, I am a person who
never gets sick, only 5 visits in 6 yrs,
and only for routine physicals. The last
2 yrs I have not felt well, really just
associated it w/bad pms(sorry), but I knew
something was just not right and just
dealt w/it. But the last 6 mo were bad,
and I knew some thing was not right, don't
know how or why, but really felt it was my
sugar. I have slept so much lately, and
felt horrible after eating. So, dr
didn't think it was diabetes when I went
in, but checked eo see if I was anemic,
then checked thyroid, tests came back
fine, then he finally wanted to do the
ogtt, but he could not answer any of my
questions, just said to do a low carb diet
or he could give me something to help my
food digest. I told him I just really
felt like he didn't know and he said
"that's just how medicine is sometimes".
Say now more than, I found a new dr, who
was great!!
Sometimes we do loose faith in our
doctors, but like said before we know our
bodies best, and if a dr doesn't know,
hey, its ok, just send me to someone who
does.
This forum has answered alot of
questions for me and my husband and kids
have great at trying to keep me on track,
b/c I have very little willpower!!!
Thanks to you all!!!!
|
DianaJJ
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 100 Location: California
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
Doctors Posted: 03-07-06 15:50pm
Hi,
that's funny that you would mention pms
because I think that in women, hormones
that are out of balance, have alot to do
with low blood sugar. You might check
into that also.
It's amazing but when my blood sugar is
more in control, I sleep so much better
and need less rest. My energy levels are
also much better too.
I'm happy you've found a doctor you can
communicate with....It's so important.
