Glucosamine And Hypoglycemia

It's usually only used for osteoarthritis, i've never really heard anyone taking it for joint pain. Don't forget, yet again, this is another hypoglycemic symptom that may go away with treatment, I had that one too off and on. It's dervied from shellfish usually (the stuff you buy in pills and such), so that may be the problem. Or, as with anything else, since your body is already sensitive, too much of one thing at once can set it off. I've had it happen with vitamins, b-complex and protein shakes for that reason, too much at once.

I had read at a some places on the web that some people noticed hypoglycemic reaction to glucosamine, which is a complex carb after all..

I am not sure to understand the shellfish thing... The pills are made from cellulose, right?

Yesterday I took 1x glucosamine at supper + 1x zinc and for some reason I woke up exactly 3 hours after getting to bed with what seemed to be a hypoglycemic shock (adrenaline rushing, unability to sleep back for hours). Well there may be other reasons too.

I am tired of my doctor saying I am hypochondriac when I clearly know I am not (except for the panic attacks, in which of course the idea of having one worsen the symptoms).

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by the way, did you note any relation between intestinal digestion (constipation/diarrhea) and your hypoglycemia?

Thanks

The doctor say you're a hypochondriac? First, change your doctor. Second, almost every hypoglycemic has heard that while trying to find answers to their symptoms.

As for intenstinal digestion, I had those symptoms before I went on stan's diet.

Yeah, get a new doctor, screw him, he's full of crap. I heard this too, not from my family doctor back home, who was great, thankfully. So it's a carbohydrate eh? Ahhh, makes sense then. I had read somewhere that they get it from shellfish shells like shrimp shells or something like that, dry it out and grind it up. With zinc is it ideal to get it from a combination calcium/magnesium/zinc tablet and not alone. You don't need as much, I take such tablets that recommend three whole ones a day, and I only take one, split in halves, one in the morning and one at night, that's all you need. Remember that megavitamins and such things are geared towards people who eat like caca and need serious supplementation or people who exercise hardcore and need extra goodies (bodybuilders are a good one). For someone with a sensitive on a good diet, they're not needed in the recommended dosages. Like I said, too much of something can set a hypoglcemic off real quick. I've also had intestinal problems. Bloating, cramping, burning you name it. I remember once, before I finally figured it all out, I had this terrible pain that felt like an infection whenever I went to the bathroom. It lasted almost two weeks! Usually, when I was bad, I could expect diarrhea or some sort of intestinal problem for a bad day. I used to get this crawling sensation from my stomach up into my throat that is very hard to describe and drives you insane.

The thing is: I can't really change doctor because he helps me a lot with my anxiety. Sure, he does not believe me about all those things, but he helps me with how much anxious I am. But I am suppose to see a specialist about rhumatism in july.

I took glucosamine because I have terrible pain in the back and in the joints. I saw many specialists and none seem to know what this is: I just can't sit without feeling pain. Right now I sit on a balloon but even then I can only sit straight for 15 minutes at most.

Glucosamine did help me a lot to reduce the pain and inflammation, but it seems I just can't take it because of hypoglycemia. That's sad.

On the other hand, there seem to be a correlation between how much it hurts and how I feel generally too.

I have those diarrhea/constipation/bloating/pain etc. Often me too, and many times they follow/precede an hypoglycemic attack or a misabsorption of nutrients. Do you have those symptoms now or did they go away simply with the diet? It must have been a relief if you don't have them anymore!


You are right about supplements: normally we should not need them.


Anyway I just am tired of having such a crappy health. When you look at me you wouldn't believe it. I do pilates each morning, I am fit, with some muscles, and I look healthy. But I can't eat this and that, I can't sit on a chair, I can't go in a too crowded place, I have no more than 4-5 hours of energy each day, etc.


Well, that's life, hey!


By the way, do you see a connection between fibromyalgia/cfs and hypoglycemia?

Some people see a connection or find a connection in cfs and fibromyalgia, yes, i've heard of this before. You sound like you have some serious symptoms. If it's all hypoglycemia I can tell you they'll all go away, but first you need to try the proper diet to see what happens. Only then can you really know. Stay with your doctor if you want, but they're not helping you with your anxiety by telling you you're an fool. That's just not right at all.

That is the whole thing I guess. When I changed my alimentation some time ago, I was on a more strict low-carb diet than now. But even there, the pain never disappeared. Lot of people talk about the cfs/fibromyalgia/hypoglycemia connection, but usually they only talk about the "connection" without really explaining it.

All I know is that when I take sugar the pain is less intense and when I took glucosamine I was feeling quite better, if not for the terrific hypoglycemia attacks!

I feel like I am stucked, having to choose between hypoglycemia and pain.

As for my doctor, well he is a psychotherapist working with a psychiatrist as I am in a group therapy helping me with my anxiety issues. I must say that I understand him a bit, as for the last 5-6 years I have been talking about everything I could had, always about my physical symptoms, etc. And I took some blood test and they were normal. Unless I take the git test I don't think he can take me too serious about this.

Basically, he believes I am so tuned on my body that he slightest change produces anxiety. He is not completely wrong, but of course anxiety is only part of my problem as low blood sugar seems to be the other way.

He does not seem to understand how bad I can be some days and how 'correct' I can be on other occasions. Like today, I feel like crap, and I was suppose to get a haircut but sorry I just can't because I feel so weak I think I would faint at the barber shop... And then, tomorrow I may be ok.

I really hate my life. But guess what. He would probably tell me that I have an attitude problem! :wink:

Babouin:

if you looked at me, you wouldn't have been able to tell how sick I was. I looked fit, too. Even during the period of my most severe anxiety attacks, I looked healthy. I exercised and ate what I thought was very healthy. I ate some form of beans every day; hummus being my favorite. I only ate sugar free ice cream or cookies, as a treat. Little did I know that my "healthy diet" was bad news for my hypoglycemia. It wasn't until the severe anxiety, unexplicable illnesses and allergies seemed unbearable that I found this forum. Since following stan's diet (approved by my doctor), my quality of life has greatly improved. And it's only been a couple of months. Do I still get anxiety? Yes but it's a rare occassion now and very mild at that. The other symptoms are almost non-existant, except for the occassional sinus headache -- a far cry from what I suffered from before.

I hope you don't feel anyone here is trying to force anything on you but some of the things you say are so familiar to me that I would be very, very surprised if you weren't hypoglycemic. At the very least, why not try to get a second opinion.

You're unwillingness to find a new doctor sounds like your anxiety to doing all the talking. I can tell because I used do the same thing. Case-in-point: I used to take chromium piccolinate every day for years, without incident - it's good for hypoglycemics and their metabolism. One day after my second most severe anxiety attack, I couldn't take it. It would freak me out - make me edgy, etc. My doctor acknowledges my "fear" and won't force me but now that i'm feeling much better i'm realizing I could take it and nothing will happen.

Thanks for the info tyg!

I sure appreciate all the advice from everyone here! I hope nobody takes my criticism for anything bad: I just like to put ideas face to face and compare them. I did so much work on myself to get in shape, and I feel as you say...

Stan's diet is mostly what I eat, except for 2-3 things:

- my %&%@ binge eating disorder;
- legumes;
- more fruits.

For my binge disorder, this is a mess. I used to compensate for the binges by having a fat binge instead of a carb binge and then to fast for hours or to go for a walk 1 hour and a half. But still, anything makes me go on a binge. Tonigh at my group therapy I bring a salad cause I did not want to eat pizza (last group = pizza for everyone). Finally once there I decide I would eat one. Well, I ate 4 and would have eaten more if there was more available! I know it's not good for me. I know I may even have diarrhea/constipation for days, feel weak and bad, but it is stronger than me. I can't help it.

For the legumes, "hypoglycemia for dummies" says they are good because of their high volume of fiber. Instead of using the classical gi index, they recommand a calculation based on the total % of carbs minus the fibers, which slow down the sugar increase. Anyway, I like legumes because I just can't tolerate fat meals at less than 4-5 hours of distance because of my dyspepsia. Except for the bloating and the smelly gas, they seem fine to me. But i'd sure like to be wrong. I don't want to be right... I want to be healthy!

As for the fruits, well I had fruit binges as well. When I was craving for food, I would substitute pure sugar for fruit or fat. In the last weeks, I ate like 1 1/2 pineapple + 2-3 apples + 1 pounds of strawberries a day. Sure, not every day, but often.

Anyway, I know how you felt... And reading that you feel better makes me believe I can too. However, I have trouble believing I could refrain from those binges or that I would be in shape enough to work without those carbs. Like today, I ate only protein/fat + salad/veggies all day long (before the pizzas) and I felt so weak I thought I would faint again.

Were you feeling that way before? And how fast did you recovered?

Do you have more energy? I feel like my problem might me fibromyalgia or cfs as I don't have much energy and I have pain either.

Anyway, getting back on the subject, I think glucosamine is more a physical reaction because it contains complex carb, but maybe you are right there may be some anxiety related...

By the way, when you had your attack, how were they?

Thanks

Babouin: I don't believe anyone is offended by your critiques. I think we are just concerned for your well being and see similarities in your situation with our own.

As for my anxiety attacks, the first severe attack was on a hot, humid day in august 2005. I went to the gym that morning (on an empty stomach - huge no-no for hypoglycemics) and had a light workout. I went home, showered, went off to work. Half way to the office I felt like I couldn't breathe. It's a 15 minute drive to my office and yet it seemed so very far away. That was a monday. By wednesday, I was in the doctor's office being diagnosed with asthmatic bronchitis. (p.S. Later that day I was in the emergency room with an allergic reaction to the antibiotic). Subsequently, I didn't leave my house, drive or even ride in a car for 3 weeks! I took liquid b complex during that period because it helps the nervous system and I believe it helped.

I had minor anxiety attacks -- fear of driving on the highway, the feeling of objects being very far away, trouble breathing -- until the next severe anxiety attack that december. This time it was the feeling of de-realization. My arms and legs feeling "rubbery". Nightime was the worst because everytime I laid down I felt like I couldn't feel my legs or arms. Again, I was diagnosed with bronchitis. I think I stayed home 1 1/2 that time.

Again, same minor anxiety attacks but now I no longer trusted any supplement except for vitamin b-12 (sublingual) and vitamin c. Nor did I trust working out for fear of not being able to breathe and being alone with no one to help if I were in "distress". I carried a pump the doctor gave me for the bronchitis -- just in case -- but I only used it once -- it gave me the shakes -- but I worried that if I didn't carry it -- I might die.

I might as well mention the constant state of dizziness and/or vertigo, as well. That was fun - coupled with trying to maintain my job. Stress level - very high.

Btw, I also would lose my voice (think minnie mouse). Sometimes, when I was sick, sometimes for now reason at all. I was told it was from post nasal drip stemming from allergies (i never had allergies before)

the last time I lost my voice was in april and by then I had had enough. I went online and found this board. I started stan's diet and yes, at first I didn't feel too great but I knew (having been a hypoglycemic for 15 years) that this was part of the detox process. I would say I felt much better in about 3 weeks. Then I went back to my homeopathic doctor (he's not on my plan and expensive but the regular doctor, who's very nice, didn't understand hypoglycemia fully - only the textbook definition). My homeopathic doctor is worth every penny because he understands my situation. You really can't put a price on health. I realize that now.

As for your binges, babouin, I feel your addictive personality is contributing to that. I'm no expert but I have dealt with addictive personalities and generally you tend to move from one addiction to another. Sugar can be an addiction. So can carbs, so can fat, so can exercise. I think you get my point. So, my suggestion on the binge eating is (1) eat only healthy food. (2) chew slowly. (3) think before you put something in your mouth - are you eating it because you're hungry? Once you're aware of why you're eating it, you may binge less or maybe not at all.

As for the pizza, I grew up in the pizza business and my father would make me pizza with semolina flour and no cheese. It was great! When my sugar was level, I could eat a slice or two of pizza but I didn't eat it often. Personally, I feel that pizza is the "healthiest" junk food there is, so long as it isn't processed. Now, that doesn't mean i'm giving you "carte blanche" :) just voicing my opinion. But it does lead me to another point. I don't eat any processed food. None. If I can't make it, I don't eat it. The reason - processed food contains hidden sugars, toxins and chemicals that are not only bad for the body but slow down your metabolism. And that's not good for hypoglycemics either.

So this is long but I hope this helps you.

Hi,

i can totally relate to your symptoms. That feeling of not being able to breathe was one of my first problems and then extreme dizziness. It really unnerved me and I have alot of anxiety because of this. I know how you feel about traveling or being alone...It's very scary.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I'm glad you're feeling better and it gives us all hope.

Keep up the good work!

Dj

Thank you, diana. I really appreciate that.

I feel extremely fortunate to have found this board and you all. I don't think I would have progressed otherwise.

Best of all, it's so good to know you're not the only one, especially when most people think you've lost your mind. :shock:

blessings to you all

Thank you too for sharing your experience tyg! I had asthma when I was young, but now I can't really relate to those symptoms, except maybe with my fibromyalgia-alike pain (or whatever the cause) which makes deep breathing difficult.

I think everyone has different triggers. The hypoglycemia makes us feel weak, and then some anxiety-producing situation might produce a panic or a crisis.

Thanks for the advice for my binge eating disorder. I really need to get this in order before the rest can be ok. But I still have much trouble knowing when to eat. Right now I try to eat at each 3 hours to deal with my hypoglycemia and I must admit I eat and I am not sure I am hungry. And I now wonder if I can have a salad binge by eating over 1 litre of salad.

Anyway, I have emotional issues, but after years of tcc it does not seem like this is something that will go away easily. The celexa I am taking sure helps with the binges, but I don't plan to be a drug-addict for all my life!

Babouin: I think it's safe to say most of us eat and don't necessarily feel hungry. That's not uncommon. Stan's really the guru in this area, since he designed the diet. Realistically, you don't want to have too far of an interval between meals since you're sugar level can drop and might trigger symptoms. Do you eat avocados? I find them to be filling and "soothing" for lack of a better term.

Btw, what's tcc?

Also, you mention being a functional alcoholic. Did you drink every day? How many drinks?

You've referred to yourself as a drug addict or former drug addict? Besides celexa what other drugs were you taking? (i'm asking because certain recreational drugs are very dangerous for hypoglycemics).

Some of those weird thoughts up there seem like stuff I used to go through. Man, it's so strange how similar mental symptoms are for hypoglycemics. There must be some connection. Yes, you must eat on a schedule, you will never be hungry anymore, it's a constant recharge for the body. Eventually, the time between meals can be increased, but at first every 2-3 hours is ideal for the reason he said.

I will try this: I will eat each 3 hours but one time vegetables + protein/fat and the other time only vegetables without any protein/meat. What do you think about this stan? Any chance that 6 hours without any protein been too long or that veggies alone could trigger a too rapid rise of glucose level?

Tygr: tcc is the french abbr. It's probably cct: cognitive and comportemental therapy

i used to drink everyday, from one beer to 5 beers, depend on the day. When I was working in a cafe I drank less because I mostly ate sugar all day long. But after that, I started to drink more... But for some reason at a point I wasn't able to tolerate alcohol anymore. Right now, even half a glass of wine is enough to get me sick.

I don't take drugs anymore besides celexa. I took lot of chemicals drugs years ago, but I don't touch that crap anymore.

Did you take drugs you too?

Re: tcc: oh that makes sense. So, you're in quebec? :) so, what did this therapy entail? (i'm merely curious).

Ok so you used to drink every day ... Alcohol is sugar you know. You didn't need it when you ate sugary things all day. And then one day, you just couldn't. It sounds to me you were more a sugar addict than a alcoholic. And how long did you do this?

Chemical drugs, huh? Like exstacy? Guess what?! That is the worst drug you can take, especially if you're hypoglycemic. Not only does it deplete serotonin but it does something to your metabolism. First it speeds it up, and then it slows it down ... For days. It's extremely dangerous.

I didn't take drugs exactly. I'm from nyc and I have/had many "artsy" social friends. When my sugar level was under control, I lived normally but within reason. I knew some in the group "did their thing" and that was their business. No one expected me to "join in". It was cool. However, one night a friend of a friend thought it would be funny to put exstacy in my drink. (then I could have a glass of wine without incident on occassion). Anyway, I had the worst reaction from the stuff and I couldn't go to work for a few days. Later, I did some research and found out that the chemicals in there create imbalances in hypoglycemia.

That should be fine, I suggested eating like that to avoid the protein digesting problem you think you have. Lettuce cannot raise blood sugar too fast, won't happen.