hypoglycemia- UPDATE 10-19 it's diabetes mellitus (post 34)

[aTailOf2Kitties]

anyone have it? How long did it take you to not feel like crap? :(

[Karen]

I knew a girl with it, once she knew, and set her watch to remind her to eat at regular intervals, she felt much better and normal.

[katladyd]

I have it and it is difficult to control. I have to eat every two to three hours, which makes it hard to diet but I have been losing weight very well this year. I have to eat lots of carbs, sugars don't keep that "icky" feeling at bay very long. I have to eat some pasta, rice, or breads to have any kind of energy. Luckily I have a fast metabolism, so I can eat lots of carbs and lose weight. I avoid sugar and sweets as completely as possible. From what I have been told, you have this for life, like diabetes. Mine is controlled through diet, but if I get busy at work and don't get a chance to eat, I definitely don't feel good.:(

[aTailOf2Kitties]

I've been eating and still don't feel good :(

[pomtzu]

Have you been diagnosed with this, or do you just presume that it's low sugar? If you are experiencing weakness, faintness or fatigue, it could be something else, like iron deficiency anemia.

[kittycats_delight]

I know this all too well. Simple sugars (fruit & such) don't do much for me. When I go low I have to have complex sugars like bread, crackers, muffin, pasta, rice etc). It's a huge pain in the butt. The feeling is like a panic attack for me. I shake, feel nauseated, lose all concentration etc and the fact that I suffer from panic attacks don't help as when I go low the bad feeling sets off a panic attack. On top of it I'm anemic. The doctors have tried everything and cannot get my iron levels up. I was on a 6 week therapy of iron supplements & iron rich diet and I only met the borderline of normal. Docs said my body just doesn't absorb or hold it so I will always be anemic. The anemia also gives some of those crappy, tired feelings.

Talk to your doctor to find out what brings your levels up best whether it is simple or complex sugars that way you will know what works best to keep your sugars up. Other than that all I can tell you is you will learn the feelings you get when you start to drop and can get something in you before you get to a low that makes you feel terrible. When that happens you will atleast be able to keep from getting the horrendous feeling and will catch it quickly.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

went to Dr yesterday and they said hypoglycemia, but they were sending blood off too, cuz my thyroid felt odd on one side.

So can you guys tell me what a typical day's eating schedule is like for you? Is extreme thirst all a part of this too? My throat's so dry I can barely swallow, even while drinking water.

[Freedom]

Dad is diabetic so he gets this now and again. Usually takes him an hour to feel better, but close to 5 hours to feel "right."

[pomtzu]

Question.
Do you crave ice?

[aTailOf2Kitties]

no, just have a dry throat. I'm not really "thirsty" per say just want to get some water down there. Granted I am munching on a pretzel at the moment, and had some peanuts during the night.

[kittycats_delight]

I always have dry throat. I drink about 4 litres of water a day as well & other liquids. I usually drink about a litre throughout the night. I have bad sinuses and they drain so that also dries out my throat and the doc says that they drain the most while I sleep. So that's why I drink throughout the night so much.

[pomtzu]

Just an FYI if you don't already know - craving ice is a sure sign of iron deficiency. I don't know if dry mouth/throat is tho.

KCD - did your docs ever consider iron infusion for your anemia? I have a similar problem and due to other medical conditions, my body does not absorb iron properly., so supplements do me no good. When my iron count starts dropping it never recovers and I have to have infusions. I last had a 5 week treatment in March when my hemoglobin dropped to below 8. Now I am monitored every 3 to 6 months and when it drops below 10, then it's more infusions. Last check in July it was 12.9 - very normal range.

And to both of you ladies - I have times when my blood sugar crashes and the only thing I can do is just get something to eat. It's such a miserable feeling - weakness, sweating, confusion, nausea. I never have any warning either - it just hits. Thank goodness these episodes are not all that frequent.

Hoping both of you get feeling better - it sucks feeling miserable. :(

[Charlie08]

I don't know if I have the hypoglycemic thing or not but I have been having a lot of trouble with what feels like low blood sugar and having to eat more often. I might have the start of diabetes, I am going to the dr soon for a blood test etc.

they also have what they call the blood sugar or glucose tolerance test.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

anyone else have problems with muscle aches after a meal? I'm all shaky and confused before I eat but achy and lightheaded afterward. Am I waiting too late to eat? I am having to eat everything slowly to avoid nausea but I'm still not going more than 3 hours until I eat again.

[mrspunkysmom]

went to Dr yesterday and they said hypoglycemia, but they were sending blood off too, cuz my thyroid felt odd on one side.

So can you guys tell me what a typical day's eating schedule is like for you? Is extreme thirst all a part of this too? My throat's so dry I can barely swallow, even while drinking water.

Hypothyroidism can make you dry and thirsty. It also messes up your metabolism by slowing it down. Your hair can turn to thatch and your skin can get dry and flaky. Creams do not help. And sometimes hyperthyroidism can have similar symptoms.

If I don't eat at a certain time, I get shaky, tired, and grumpy. Then I am a bit light for a while after I eat. Eating on time is best.

Hope you can figure out what's up so you can feel better. I hate feeling like crap.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

truth be told, I only feel good for about 30 minutes out of every 3 hour period. :(

I did not know about thyroid problems leading to hypglycemia, thank you MrSpunkysmon! I have a thyroid ultrasound scheduled for Thursday, so maybe that will explain a few things. Plus my hair has been shedding a little more than usual for quite a while and that would make sense too. No flaky skin thankfully, but as mentioned before I do have a chronically dry throat.

[kittycats_delight]

Hypothyroidism can make you dry and thirsty. It also messes up your metabolism by slowing it down. Your hair can turn to thatch and your skin can get dry and flaky. Creams do not help. And sometimes hyperthyroidism can have similar symptoms.

If I don't eat at a certain time, I get shaky, tired, and grumpy. Then I am a bit light for a while after I eat. Eating on time is best.

Hope you can figure out what's up so you can feel better. I hate feeling like crap.

Holy crap...I never even thought about my thyroid. My mom has issues with hers that didn't start until she was in her mid thirties. My skin has become really bad. I have been using an olive oil based cream that the doctor recommended. He said it was one of the best but it does nothing for me. I am definitely going to the doctor on monday and asking him to have my thyroid checked.

Thanks for posting about that.

[mrspunkysmom]

truth be told, I only feel good for about 30 minutes out of every 3 hour period. :(

I did not know about thyroid problems leading to hypglycemia, thank you MrSpunkysmon! I have a thyroid ultrasound scheduled for Thursday, so maybe that will explain a few things. Plus my hair has been shedding a little more than usual for quite a while and that would make sense too. No flaky skin thankfully, but as mentioned before I do have a chronically dry throat.

I don't know if it does lead to hypoglycemia. However, the thyroid hormone impacts a lot of body functions, so who knows. It can also affect muscle tone. I also have diabetes, (probably should have said that) probably from trying to eat a lot to keep my energy up. The thyroid is hard to get right sometimes.

It will also mess up your menses.

Hope you can get some resolution and feel better soon.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

now I'm really starting to wonder what is up. My boyfriend tested my sugar right before bed last night 9PM-ish, after I'd eaten a couple of pistacios. It was 130-something. I wasn't hungry so I didn't eat a full serving. Cats woke me up at 1AM so I ate a small handful of peanuts. At 4AM I ate a hardboiled egg. At 6AM (2 hours after the egg) I tested and glucose was 158. At no point has my glucose actually tested low. I am still going to eat a little bit every few hours like the dr told me, but I'm gonna try to remember to test first and keep track of things, now that I know I have a meter.

I feel much better this morning than I have in the past. Slight headache, but no shaking or confusion yet. :)

[wombat2u2004]

I thought doctors prescribe Glucose drinks for diabetics, and that knocks out having to eat every couple of hours. I'm not sure, I think I heard that once from my Mrs and it sort of stuck in my mind. I'll go ask her later about that.

As for thyroid problems, all kinds of symptoms can show, because the thyroid and the parathyroids control so many different things, so thyroid problems may not be the issue here (although it's a good idea to get it checked out).
My Mrs had one of her parathyroid glands removed not long ago....they are very small, about the size of a small pea, but the one she had removed had grown to as big as my thumb. One of the main functions of them is to control the calcium levels.....and hers were haywire. Now she is back to normal.

[momcat]

I've been on insulin for several years now but there's something that might help you out.

There are times when my blood sugar crashes. Ask your doctor about using glucose tablets. They're available at most pharmacys, you don't need a prescription for them, and they come in yummy flavors. I keep some in my back-pack, on my desk at work, and here at home. While the tabs are NOT a substitute for eating, they'll buy you some time to get some food. Another thing you might want to consider, ask your doctor to recommend a good nutritionist. Maybe a nutritionist can work with you on a food plan that will help keep things in line.

[katladyd]

When I am having a crash, my blood sugar reading is somewhere in the 60s. After I eat, it goes up to about 90 or 100. I hate this and do everything I can to prevent an episode. People who have never had it happen do not know how truly awful you feel. The shakes and disorientation are the worst for me.

[beeniesmom]

I hope they figure out what the problem is. I have blood sugar issues too. They are always too high. I have many of your symptoms but they are not as severe. I have to accidently skip a meal (forget to eat breakfast) to feel that sick. I hope you feel better soon.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

well it's been a week and I still feel pretty crummy. Even worse at times than before. Finally got my bloodwork back yesterday (was sent last Friday) and they told me everything looked OK, but my calcium was a teeeny bit high (just a couple of points) and my potassium was waaaaaay high.

Ultrasound appointment went smoothly. I got there early and was in and out before my official appointment time ever came up. Now I have to wait for the radiologist to look at the scans and get back with my doc. Finally went back to have more blood pulled and the doc came in while it was being drawn. I told him I was having weird symptoms (muscle aches, hot flashes, intermittant extreme thirst), but he didn't seem concerned and just told the nurse to add a couple more tests to the labwork.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

UPDATE:
Ultrasound showed that I have a nodule on my left thyroid and now I need to see an endocrinologist....I am so scared right now :(

[beeniesmom]

Hey, take a deep breath and stay calm. It's probably benign and what is causing your issues. So it's good that they found the problem. They are either going to take it out or leave it be. Either way, you will probably get medication to regulate your hormones. My MIL is going through the same thing. Her nodule has grown a bit so they are considering surgery to remove it. You are going to be just fine. :)

[Freedom]

I'm with Beenies Mom, calm down. Not been through it myself, but have a friend who had the thyroid removed. Daily meds control everything now and she feels better than she has in several YEARS!

Yes, a nodule is scary; and facing a surgery is nerve wracking. We are all here to help you through!

[Catty1]

I have nodules on my thyroid gland. The specialist said that nodules are not normal BUT that they are quite common.

I suppose if one grew big enough it might cause a problem - but nodules themselves are benign.

Big {{{hugs}}}

[beeniesmom]

Hey, How are you feeling and did they give you any more information about the nodule they found? I am taking my MIL for a consult tomorrow with a surgeon. They want to remove her thyroid because of all the problems it is causing.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

I forgot to update my status last week, sorry. I went to the dietitian last Tuesday. She was working at a diabetes/endocrinology center that morning, so that's where I saw her. She helped me a good bit and said I needed to add some carbs to my diet. That opened a whole 'nother can of worms I'll get to in a minute... I told her I had a possible thyroid issue, but couldn't get an endocrinologist appointment. She said "hold on" and talked to the receptionist. She came back and said the endocrinologist there had a cancellation and could see me shortly.

I saw him next. He felt around on my neck and said he wanted a biopsy of my thyroid. I'm thinking "great, when will that be???". I lucked out. He had an opening for the next morning (Wednesday) so I went ahead and scheduled it. So far so good! I went in to see the dietitian, ended up seeing the doc too on the same day and keeping the ball rolling on the biopsy.

Wednesday morning I got up and checked my blood glucose. It was like 140 or something, even though I hadn't eaten since midnight so I skipped breakfast. I drove to my mother-in-law's house and checked it again. It was now like 160, 6 hours after I'd eaten. I figured I would casually mention this to the doc when I saw him for the biopsy. I told him and he said that sounded more like diabetes, but the glucose test would have shown that. I reminded him that my general practitioner never ran any kind of tests, other than an initial finger stick and sending off bloodwork. Endocrinologist said I needed a glucose tolerance test (GTT) which he scheduled right after the biopsy. So 2 days in a row I went in for one thing and ended up getting something else done that I really needed to do! My glucose was finally down to 106 when they gave me the sugar syrup and 211 2 hours later. They drew blood at the beginning, 1 hour later, and an hour after that. After the GTT, nobody told me anything other than to go home and wait for the lab results. I checked my sugar when I got back to the house and it was up to 280. I was hungry so I ate a piece of turkey and when it started coming back down I went back to work. That was Wednesday of last week....

I feel better but have not heard any results of any of last week's bloodwork. I will call them tomorrow. I was looking at my insurance company's website and they listed something about "NONTOX MULTINODUL GOITER" as a diagnosis. I guess that was from the biopsy? I'm not too worried about it at the moment. I am more concerned with my blood sugar issues for now... and I don't even know what my issue even is officially. That's what bothers me. I don't know what's wrong with me, or what I can do about it.

My boyfriend just blows everything off and tells me not to worry. He doesn't even seem to care that deep down I'm worried and confused about all of this...

[beeniesmom]

Wow, I'm so happy you were able to get all those tests done. It does sound like diabetes to me too. That will cause a lot of your symptoms. 280 after a sugar test is high but not sure if it's expected after ingesting the crap they make you drink. I hope you get good news tomorrow. hugs

[mrspunkysmom]

As a diabetic, I might be able to answer some of your questions, even the ones you haven't asked yet.

First of all, many of the docs act like they have the answers and they don't. There is still a lot about diabetes they don't know.

Our cells need carbs. I view carbs as cellular go juice. Without it, we crash.

I learned in the last two years that the liver stores sugars in case of emergency. It will make a sugar dump if you get hungry or need to eat for energy. What medical science has recently learned is that sometimes the liver makes a sugar dump when it isn't needed. This raises your blood sugar. This is one of the reasons type two diabetics have difficulty controlling blood sugar levels. I have found that if my sugar is high in the morning, I take my medicine and I still eat. Even without the medicine, my blood sugar usually comes down if I eat correctly.

Exercise is essential. What the docs won't tell you is that your body doesn't need insulin to process carbs if you are exercising or very active. The insulin is used when your body is inactive, such as sleep. Too much inactivity leads to too much insulin use, and thus you develop insulin resistant diabetes.

In short:
You have to eat regular meals or you liver will dump sugar and the sugar level might go up. The less exercise you get, the more insulin you need. This also means you need to eat more high carb foods to get energized. This is a never-ending cycle.

Good luck with your health and I hope I didn't confuse you. I also have thyroid issues. I hope that yours can be easily treated with medicine. Female hormones also mess with the thyroid and weight loss and vice-versa. It's so complicated. :rolleyes:

[wolfsoul]

I used to have moderate hypglycemia. During my first pregnancy, my body miraculously 'cured' my pancreas (pregnancy has been known to do the strangest things) and I no longer have an issue with it.
I constantly needed to eat; I kept very good track of my body and what I was feeling, so I knew exactly when and what I needed to eat. Typically I ate something small every 1.5 hours. Protein is very very important as it will keep your blood sugar from dropping too fast. So typically I would eat alot of eggs, seeds, nuts, meat, etc with my meals. I was also on a range of different natural remedies to help my pancreas, and digestive enzymes so that my pancreas wasn't overworking so it could heal.
The pancreas is typically damaged by poor diet (too much fat and sugar) and alcohol. A low fat diet is key, and losing weight is essential for an overweight person.
If my blood suagr is low, I will usually feel very warm. I get confused/frustrated/upset/sad very easily. My brain seems to slow down, I can't mentally process things nearly as easily. If things progress I get shaky, I feel faint, and I might pass out. It took me a while to realise the beginning signs (mainly feeling warm and emotional). If my blood sugar had already dropped too low, eating something high sugar like candy and keeping it under my tongue would pick me back up again or tide me over until I could eat a normal meal. I constantly carried candies or chocolate on me, just incase.
I have no experience with diabetes, but this is my experience with hypoglycemia. Hope this helps.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

this just in: Diabetes Mellitus type 2 :( . I will be on metformin starting today and have a class about it next week.

[smokey the elder]

There are loads of good information about diabetes out there; make sure you get a good endocrinologist, and keep after your blood sugar testing. There are a lot of diabetic cookbooks out there, too.

The business with the liver dumping glucose happens in cats; that's one thing I learned when I had a diabetic cat. It can, counterintuitively, come from an insulin overdose (at least in cats.)

Good luck! Diabetes is a drag but at least now you know what's wrong.

[mrspunkysmom]

this just in: Diabetes Mellitus type 2 :( . I will be on metformin starting today and have a class about it next week.

You get a class? Wow, the docs just prescribed the metformin and let me be. I've had to research the net to find out what i needed to know. And try to pin the doctors down on what's happening.

Good luck with it.

[mrspunkysmom]

There are loads of good information about diabetes out there; make sure you get a good endocrinologist, and keep after your blood sugar testing. There are a lot of diabetic cookbooks out there, too.

The business with the liver dumping glucose happens in cats; that's one thing I learned when I had a diabetic cat. It can, counterintuitively, come from an insulin overdose (at least in cats.)

Good luck! Diabetes is a drag but at least now you know what's wrong.

But the sugar dump explains why my body doesn't react consistently. I would eat and exercise consistently yet sometimes I would feel great and other times extremely tired, sometimes from high blood sugar, sometimes low. And this sounds crazy but not eating on time can cause the blood sugar to rise.

ARGH!

[momcat]

An excellent resource for information about diabetes is the American Diabetes Association website.

[beeniesmom]

this just in: Diabetes Mellitus type 2 :( . I will be on metformin starting today and have a class about it next week.

The classes are good. They helped me and so did Metformin. I did really well on the drug. Then had to stop when I got pregnnt with Laura. Yo will see how much better you will feel. I'm glad they found out what was wrong.