Cynthia Perkins, M.Ed. takes a look hypoglycemia -- low blood sugar -- a common condition that is often misdiagnosed and overlooked, and causes symptoms including shakiness, headaches, confusion, and more.
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Do You Have Undiagnosed Hypoglycemia?
by Cynthia Perkins, M.Ed.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can be the culprit of many physical and psychological symptoms. It?s a very common occurrence in our society and often goes undiagnosed. It can mimic most every medical condition and is often misdiagnosed or labeled as hypochondriasis. Hypoglycemia is when your blood glucose levels drop too low and your body and brain can?t function properly. The brain is very sensitive to the levels of blood sugar and needs glucose to function adequately. It is fuel for the brain. The brain doesn?t have the ability to store glucose so it needs a continuous supply from the blood. It extracts it from the blood as it does oxygen. If the brain does not have enough oxygen or glucose it can go into a coma.
Hypoglycemia occurs when the body does not metabolize blood glucose properly. Abnormal metabolism can be caused by a variety of factors such as:
Symptoms of Hypoglycemia can be mild, moderate or severe and may consist of any of the following:
To treat hypoglycemia it?s necessary to avoid eating sugar or any food that easily converts to sugar. Your diet should consist of foods that take a while to digest so there won?t be a rapid rise in blood sugar and then the plummet that causes hypoglycemia symptoms.
Foods that digest slowly consist of meat, eggs, cheese, yogurt, beans, nuts and seeds and complex carbohydrates, which are (whole grains, fresh vegetables, fresh whole fruits (not juice).
Avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine and reduce emotional stress as much as possible. For stress that can?t be eliminated find ways to cope effectively with the use of exercise, meditation, massage, counseling, etc.
There are a number of illnesses that produce similar symptoms as listed above, so it is necessary to consult with a health care professional that is knowledgeable in this area. Perhaps a sound nutritionist or alternative health doctor capable of diagnosing and treating hypoglycemia. The key word here is ?knowledgeable? because the average mainstream medical professional has a very limited education and understanding of the complex issues surrounding hypoglycemia.
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Cynthia Perkins, M.Ed. is an author and holistic health counselor providing alternative solutions, life management and support for individuals living with chronic illness or chronic pain. She is also author of the inspirational E-Book ?Finding Life Fulfillment when Living with Chronic Illness-A Spiritual Journey?. Subscribe to her FREE monthly Newsletter for inspiration, advice and support. http://www.holistichelp.net/ or send any email to this address to subscribe to the FREE Newsletter Holistichelp-subscribe@topica.com
*****************************************************
Do You Have Undiagnosed Hypoglycemia?
by Cynthia Perkins, M.Ed.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can be the culprit of many physical and psychological symptoms. It?s a very common occurrence in our society and often goes undiagnosed. It can mimic most every medical condition and is often misdiagnosed or labeled as hypochondriasis. Hypoglycemia is when your blood glucose levels drop too low and your body and brain can?t function properly. The brain is very sensitive to the levels of blood sugar and needs glucose to function adequately. It is fuel for the brain. The brain doesn?t have the ability to store glucose so it needs a continuous supply from the blood. It extracts it from the blood as it does oxygen. If the brain does not have enough oxygen or glucose it can go into a coma.
Hypoglycemia occurs when the body does not metabolize blood glucose properly. Abnormal metabolism can be caused by a variety of factors such as:
- Excess refined sugar and white flour in your diet,
- Pancreatic or adrenal underactivity or overactivity
- Excessive use of alcohol, tobacco, and coffee or other products with caffeine
- Overeating of refined carbohydrates
- Allergies
- Severe emotional stress that doesn?t go away
Symptoms of Hypoglycemia can be mild, moderate or severe and may consist of any of the following:
- Sweating
- Shaking between meals
- Crankiness
- Weakness
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Inability to concentrate
- Nervousness
- Tingling
- Pounding/racing heart
- Speech difficulties
- Fuzzy head
- Mood swings
- Feeling faint
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Melancholy
- Depression
- Obsessive/compulsive behavior
- Slurred speech
- Poor coordination
- Glassy eyes
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Unresponsiveness
- Highly agitated
- Unconsciousness
- Convulsions
To treat hypoglycemia it?s necessary to avoid eating sugar or any food that easily converts to sugar. Your diet should consist of foods that take a while to digest so there won?t be a rapid rise in blood sugar and then the plummet that causes hypoglycemia symptoms.
Foods that digest slowly consist of meat, eggs, cheese, yogurt, beans, nuts and seeds and complex carbohydrates, which are (whole grains, fresh vegetables, fresh whole fruits (not juice).
Avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine and reduce emotional stress as much as possible. For stress that can?t be eliminated find ways to cope effectively with the use of exercise, meditation, massage, counseling, etc.
There are a number of illnesses that produce similar symptoms as listed above, so it is necessary to consult with a health care professional that is knowledgeable in this area. Perhaps a sound nutritionist or alternative health doctor capable of diagnosing and treating hypoglycemia. The key word here is ?knowledgeable? because the average mainstream medical professional has a very limited education and understanding of the complex issues surrounding hypoglycemia.
*********************************
Cynthia Perkins, M.Ed. is an author and holistic health counselor providing alternative solutions, life management and support for individuals living with chronic illness or chronic pain. She is also author of the inspirational E-Book ?Finding Life Fulfillment when Living with Chronic Illness-A Spiritual Journey?. Subscribe to her FREE monthly Newsletter for inspiration, advice and support. http://www.holistichelp.net/ or send any email to this address to subscribe to the FREE Newsletter Holistichelp-subscribe@topica.com
The symptoms describe the hell that I’ve started going through the past couple of months. Thanks for the post, now I know for sure what I have and can work on fixing the issue. Greatly appreciated, for sure.
I’m wondering has anyone ever had hypoclycenic symptoms increase due to using the birth control pill? I’ve had low blood sugar my entire life and was always kinda heavy. Last year, I started eating right and running and I lost 90lbs.I felt great, I had my hypoclycemia under control and the symptoms were not interrupting my life. About 7 months ago,I started seeing my sypmtoms getting worse. I still ate healthy and worked out but I always felt “sick” like my blood sugar was constantly low and I had no more energy to go to the gym. It was about 8 months ago that I started taking Ortho tri cyclen lo, could that be contributing to my increase in symptoms? Has anyone heard of this before? I really need help because I don’t want to get pregnant, but I really don’t want to constantly feel sick either. Thanks in advance for your help!
I had the exact same problem with Ortho tri cyclen lo, I couldn’t figure out what was wring with me and after going to the doctors I finally visited my Gyno to switch to a birth control with less hormones, I have been on Lutera for 3 cycles and I feel much better, no more nausea or severe fatigue and what not. I can’t tell you that it will work for you, but I don’t think you have to completely stop using birth control, just switch, I would talk to your regular doctor get a note for him or her and take it to your gyno.
hope this helps.
Actually, the first time I tried birth control (the patch) I started to experience symptoms of hypoglycemia, though it was the mood swings that led me to switch. I never felt hungry in the usual sense, I’d just go from feeling normal to faint and sick with hunger. Upon quitting my symptoms disappeared, but a several months ago I decided to try Ortho to the same effect, though without the mood swings. I googled hypoglycemia+birth control, and it seems to be a pretty common problem; it should really be on the package insert.
I was reading this for my husband but I am writing about the birth control. I have been on the same one for about a year and I feel a little crazy, or really off. My hormones or moods I dont know, I feel different. I think I am going to switch because I took the regular (non lo) and i did fine. Friends tell me to try Yasmine, but sorry I cant help about the low sugar.
I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclene for years and suffered with dull headaches most of the time I was on it, but since my doctor switched me over to Yasmine 3 years ago, I haven’t had that problem and it seems to agree with my system much better. I haven’t been diagnosed with hypoglycemia but I’m pretty sure I have it to some degree.
For most of my adult life, I turn into a complete basket case if I go more than 2 or 3 hours without eating … extreme mood swings, irritability, shakiness and a racing pulse. I wonder exactly how the pill may be affecting my body, especially blood sugar levels and as much as I don’t like the idea of messing with hormones and would like to discontinue taking the pill, having children is not an option for me, so I dutifully pop my pill every day … and always have lots of snacks on hand!
i was starting to think that i was going mad. couldn’t understand what was wrong with my speech and then the real serious headach hit. that’s what got me researching this. thanks for the info.
I can’t say whether the birth control pills are the problem, but I was on that one 10 years ago and have suffered dry hair, skin, fatigue, weight gain/can’t lose, shakiness etc. I’ve always been borderline low blood sugar but never had this bad of symptoms until the Ortho birth control pills. Every year it just gets worse. Was treating for thyroid but didn’t help. The doctor is now treating as low blood sugar from tests and adrenal issues. All of this happened one month from taking the Ortho birth control pills. I wouldn’t stay on it. If you need to be on birth control definitely find another one. A friend of mine experienced problems with it as well but went off of it after 2 months. I wasn’t that smart. She has had weight/hair issues but I can’t say if hers was connected. Hope this helps. Good luck!
There are so many diseases left undiagnosed. And so many different sypmtoms.
My daughter, who is in her late 20s now, was so full of anxiety and so depressed several years ago that she felt suicidal. She saw a psychiatrist. She was diagnosed with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder and given very expensive drugs that neither she nor our family could afford, but we found a way to pay for them anyway because they were the only hope. After years of taking them, she became convinced that they were not helping, so she weaned herself off of them all by herself. Just recently she has talked to a specialist who is almost positive that she has hypoglycemia and that this has been the problem all along, never bipolar. She hasn’t done the necessary blood work yet to confirm hypoglycemia, but is following the prescribed diet and is already feeling better. The specialist could not believe that my daughter got off the bipolar drugs by herself without going to a rehab center. I can’t believe what an expensive and frustrating journey my daughter has endured. Since the psychiatrist was an MD, why didn’t she order the simple blood test that would rule out hypoglycemia before sending my daughter down this dangerous and expensive drug path? I’m posting this so that someone might read this and insist on a blood test for hypoglycemia before accepting a diagnosis that requires expensive psychiatric drugs.
Bi-polar d/o can imatate several disorders and illnesses. When severe depression is involved it is easy for a doctor to immediately determine it is psychological, I am going through the symptoms mentioned in the original post, and I too feel depressed, but never suicidal. I would get another opinion from other doctors inregards to your daughters psychological health. I do not mean to impose but the statements you have made are clear cut symptoms of bi-polar disorder, and extreme depression. The medications she was prescribed by the doctor, give most patients, that “auto pilot” feeling and many times they convince them selves that they are well enough to recover on their own. It is dangerous for your daughter to get off the meds on her own, but it is even more dangerous for her to be misdiagnosed. The correlation between a mental disorder and a physiological is a very wide distance, and for the two to be confused is a bit outrageous. The only thing that is true is that neither will show up on a blood test. I hope this helps and your daughter is better.
How is “so full of anxiety and so depressed several years ago that she felt suicidal” classic symptoms of bipolar?
Sorry but that is nonsense to say based on the very limited information given. Her daughter could have been going through a bad relationship, stress at work, be ill or many other things which mean that she is actaully pretty normal and does not need to take a bunch of mind bending pills the total affects of which are not properly understood (and can cause more harm than good).
I was put on pills for depression when I was in fact suffering severe bullying from my boss at work. The pills made me into a (bad tempered, sex-less) zombie and have had a long term affect on my well being, (most likely through the desensitisation of my neurons). I should never have been given them. Instead the root cause should have been determined and either my boss should have been diciplined or I moved.
Years later, I suffered bad moved swings. I was again diagnosed as depressed and told to take some pills. Thankfully I ignored this advice and did some research and discovered that what my problem was was in fact dehydration. I was not drinking enough water, simple as that. Had I listened to the Dr’s 10 minutes, I’d have been stuck on the pills again.
Recently my moods have been affected again and I was again given a sheet to record my moods and I was again diagnosed as depressed and again offered pills that would “cure me”. I however noticed I was getting the shakes when I missed a meal and that I was craving sugar and I was feeling wiped after a big meal etc. As a consequence I changed my diet and lo and behold, my “depression” lifted.
There ARE a small percentage of people for whom pills help, but unless you are severly mentally ill I would PERSONALLY not recommend taking mind altering tablets which have considerable side-effects and which can cause long term personality changes and damage.
But that is just me. If a Dr could explain EXACTLY how an AD worked and confirm that there were no long term negative impacts of inhibiting seretonin reuptake and that the chemicals were not doing anything else besides that, then I’d consider them if I was in a bad enough way. But they cant, as even the manufacturers dont know.
A friend of mine’s b/f was involved in car crash that saw his best friend killed. He was put on AD’s and he changed into a very violent and manipulative person who struck out at my friend for the first time in his life. I read up on the pills and discovered that someone had got off a murder rap when they were on the exact same pills as they turned them from placid into homicidal. I told her to leave or get him to quit them. He quit and became his normal – though guilt ridden – self again.
I’ve been there myself and it was the sudden violent mood swings I would have when on ADs for which there was no justification that got me looking beyond the fact sheets distributed by the drug companies. What I read about them was very disturbing.
One final thought… how did we survive before all these miracle pills? Seems we did a lot better than we are now. Suicide rates have increased 60% in the last 50 years, not fallen, despite millions of these pills being dispensed. These days there is so much junk in our food in the form of flavourings and colourings and preservatives that its no surprise our bodies and our minds are struggling. Try eating simply and see if your “depression” goes. If it doesnt, try CBT or exercise or meditation or anything before a pill.
I am going through exactly that. I also have hypothyrodism and my doctor says my thyroid is in the normal range so I don’t need more medication. But one day when my doctor was out and couldn’t see me, the doctor on call said my thyroid was low and if I was able to take more thyroid medication it could help my blood sugar stabilize a little more. Does anybody know if this is true? Who do we listen to? Can someone please help if you know anything about this please help! I have been going through hell also and have been off work for 2 months now because of my hypoglycemia. I try eating beans, they seem to maintain my blood a little longer but all else my sugar goes up and comes right back down. If anybody can help me I would truly appreciate it, this is the worse illness I have ever had!
To Chris, you may also have depression and/or sleep apnea
Addressing the birth controls comments:
My issue is the opposite of the other women. I was on bcp and other contraceptives like the ring for 5 years and went off of them last week. Since then (about 7 days after) I’ve felt horrible. Shaky, moody, light-headed, unable to concentrate, sleepy.. you name it, I felt it. I’m starting to think its due to low blood sugar. I’ve had problems in the past and started eating snacks through the day and them stopped when the problems went away.
I think I have hypoglycemia. I have always had these symptoms and as I was younger my mom treated me the same (giving me sugar and protein to raise the blood sugar). I have never been diagnosed, but this confirms all my symptoms are symptoms of Hypoglycemia.
I have been having some of the symptoms for a lil over a year an when I told my doc she had me tested for it but I came up fine I still have the symptoms my mom who is Diebtic has been having me eat peanut butter yogurt or drink milk for when it happens an she told me that I might of not been Hypoglycemic at the time of when I got the test done I would really like to know if I am im also scared of it turning to Diebetes bc about half the people on both sides of my family have atleast 1 type of Diebetes.
Hi, I was finally diagnosed with Hypoglycemia today, after 20 years of haveing symptoms. I understand the difficulty in getting doctors to listen to you. It wasn’t until I started having seizures that people started to take notice. Please make sure that you aren’t trying to do this alone. Very often hypoglycemia is not an illness in itself; it is a symptom of a greater problem. Some of those problems can kill you if you don’t get them taken care of.
There are two kinds of hypoglycemia, reactive and organic. Reactive hypoglycemial occurs within an hour or two FOLLOWING a meal. If this is the kind you have, you’re likely okay, but should get it checked anyway. If your symptoms come BEFORE eating, it is likely organic in nature, and a symptom of a greater problem. One of the possible causes is insilinoma, a tumor of the pancrease. PLEASE talk to a doctor. DON’T treat an attack with sugar; treat it with protien. Eat a peanutbutter and jelly sandwich. The fructose in the jelly will bring up your blood sugar, and the peanutbutter will help keep it there. Limit processed sugars, and eat lots of protien and veggies. But most importantly, find a GOOD endocrinologist, and MAKE them listen to you. It’s your body, and your life, be your own advocate.
Hi Tonx, interesting, I’ve been showing symptoms of hypoglycemia, had 1 seizure, and not officially been diagnosed, even though my blood sugar can go below 60 at times, and I feel sleepy – very sleepy in the morning about 2 hours after breakfast. How did you finally get diagnosed ? Do you take medication, or control it by eating frequently ?
Thanks for posting !
wow it makes sence now. So long have i had those symtoms and now all i have to do is stay on a diet and keep my blood sugar up.
This is crazy. I have been week and passing out for as long as I can remember. Have seen every kind of Dr from an Nuerologist to an Cardiologist to a Rheumetologist. I have horrible headaches, loss of concentration, the shakes, mood swings and extreme blurred vision. I also have Thyroids disease. Just this week I was sent in for blood work and my non fasting blood sugar was 47. I am so tired of Drs looking at me like I have three heads when I tell them how badly I feel. It’s almost like they dont believe me. I am seeing a endo tomorrow and will hopefully get some answers and treatment regarding this on going problem.
Went to the doctor because I haven’t been in forever. No specific reason but I did mention general fatigue, headaches, fogginess, loss of memory, and vision problems. Fasting blood sugar level came back at. 50. I was told to eat several small meals a day and come back in a month. Does this sound right or should I be more concerned?
does any one know why the docs change the fasting times? Like sometimes they want 8 hours, then they want 12? What is the difference? If your tests show up negative or positive at 8 hours, won’t they be the same at 12? or longer?
I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia which has many of the above symptoms but some symptoms I really don’t have when tested (tender points), so I am still searching for a diagnoses. Perhaps Heather should ask about fibromyalgia because all of her symptoms also relate to this. I am not sure that hypglacemia is simply diagnosed with a blood test either. I am sure I have read differently as the test needs to be done at an exact timing – and that’s very difficult. Does anyone know if there is a definite easy diagnoses? I have chronic fatigue at times and some other aches and pains, dizziness, shaking at times…..not sure.
Alison please get tested for Lyme disease! And read up on Lyme because false negatives are common.
I think I have hypoglycemia. For years now I have eaten very unhealthy because of my youth, but in the last couple of years I have been having this attacks. The attacks consist of me either feel like i’m freezing to the point that I am shaking uncontrollably (teeth chattering any everything) and then i’ll cover up with a blanket and then I feel like i’m on fire. Vice versa. Anyone have an ideas? I really want to get this under control. I am in soooooo much pain when I have these attacks and I am so irritable, I don’t want to speak with anyone or even leave my bed.
Bryan, you need to check for candida albicans. Note what you eat, certain things will set it off, like spagetti sauce and milkshakes for me. It was horrid, and I think set off panic attacks too. And to save you lots of trouble, your setting your own good diet and reading on this is far more beneficial than going to doctors in my experience. Good luck.
hi my daughter had a fit just over 2 years ago when she was 10 she was rushed to hospital she took along time to come out of it they just put it down to a one of and sent her home a year to the date she had another one and turnned blue why we where away in france she had an ecg done and they said she is epileptic and then another year and 3 weeks went by and she had another one she said she had felt ill and then started shaking but was aware that she was doing it then bang she went into a full fit so we had to call 999 then a day or two after we asked her some questions and she had had no dinner at school that day or juice and had been doing dance in her dinner hour then 2 weeks later she had skipped dinner again and i was phoned by the school to come and collect her as they said she has turnned white and her eyes r clossey and that she looks realy ill when i picked her up the teatcher said she had scared her and she said she felt dizzy this happens alot also her school work has suffered as she would look up at the celing at times just for seconds she also has like these ticks now where her eyes flicker at times realy bad where she cannot control it this happens mainly at night and first thing in the mornin i was wondering could this be hypoglycemia fits rather then epileptic fits as her dad has the same but he goes dizzy and cannot c till he has a drink and something to eat why we r out but he was diagnosed as having epileptic fits when he was 18 can any one help and how would i find out if they r thanks x
To frustrated mother. are you sure you arent my mother writting about my story?? thats exactly what happened to me and i too pulled myself off of the drugs after years of taking them. 20 damn years i went to doctors and specialist and they all said nothing wrong you are just depressed. i have been institutionalized and medicated and lead so many wrong directions…..then, once again, ON MY OWN, i began to check my own blood sugar and went to the doctor and told him what i wanted. Finally he told me reactive hypoglycemia. i still am struggling very much and called for more advice on how to feel better…he just said follow a good diet and maybe try some chromium. thanks doctor…thats very helpful.:( sarcasm…so, once again, ON MY OWN
hi there for the last 2 years, just after my daughter was born i have being having these attacks, what are being treated for panic attacks. i have being put on citalopram an antidepressant, and propanalol a beta blocker, i feel they are not working, i now think i have hypoglycemia as thinking about it, they only happen when i haven’t eaten, but then happen when i go out so are they panic attacks or do i have hypoglycemia i am so confused and are at my dr’s in the morning, i hope they find out whats wrong as i don’t wanna be on antidepressants and don’t want to be scared so i don’t go out i.e thinking i have panic attacks because the symptoms are alike. anyone else have this problem jennie x
Hi,
I was on citalopram and they made me impotent, forgetful and at times gave me very rapid and violent mood swings. It was after a “flare up”, that I looked into them and googled a little deeper. Following what I learnt, I quit and vowed never to go on them again. My Dr was pissed, but I was free of them and myself again.
I was able to resove my issues by eating better and all the time, exercise and hydrating myself. Also cutting back on alcohol, junk food and caffiene all helped.
However, in your case (as we are all different), I would hesitate to say what the cause is as I dont know you. Keep a diary of what you eat and what you do and how you feel. Maybe you can find the link. Possibly its hormonal if it only happened since your child was born. Possibly its the stress of bringing a living human being up! Good luck and hope you get off the pills.
I am on citalopram and have had no sexual side effects or other problems. I have to say citalopram has really worked well for me! I told my Doc I want it forever! He also rx’d provigil which has also helped. I was basically heading for a nervous breakdown, I lost it at work, bad. Was very withdrawn and depressed, anxious… anyway, it has worked for me. I was very hesitant at first due to possible side-effects, I even refused it a year before I decided to try it. This was also during a time when I was physically active, excercising and eating very well.
I say this in this topic because over the past month or so I have had ‘attacks’ I feel are hypoglycemic. My mom is insulin dependant and my father is hypoglycemic. I just had one two days ago and again today, which was really bad. I am going to see my doctor next week. Being curious I found on-line that though it is rare, citalopram can cause hypoglycemic reactions. Maybe? I have been on it for about a year. I wonder if it is also the heat and working outside?
Have you have your hormone levels checked? I had this issue after having my 4th child and my gyno put me on progesterone and it helped a ton!
Hi Guys,
I am now 35 years old. During my school years I suffered from
3 fits. However, I was never diagnosed with Epilepsy.
In the last 5 years I have been suffering from Panic Attacks too aafter experiencing a few spaced out symptoms when I have been out. I did my own research and have come to the conclusion that I have reactive hypoglycemia!!! And I think I have suffered with it for quite a few years without knowing it.
I think the symptoms of hypoglycemia are very similar to panic attacks, and I think at the time my seizures were down to low blood sugar and not epilepsy. At the moment I am having a very difficult time trying to get myself diagnosed!! I have been sent for a GTT, and although at the end of the test I experienced hypo symptoms, the hosp lost my bloods and report, and the endo made a diagnosis based on the glucose monitor results instead. She said I had Diabetes Type 2!!! This is absolutely crazy as my blood sugar is never high it’s always the opposite. The doc sent me for another test and the results have come back normal. I know for sure that I have reactive hypo but I just can’t get the diagnosis!!! Is anyone else having similar problems? I have adapted my diet in the last 4 months and have noticed a big difference, it’s just a pain having to eat every 2/3 hours to keep my blood sugar levels up.
I’ve been going through hell for the pass 3 years trying to figure out what’s wrong with me….i think i might have hypoglycemia. but i’m not sure. please help!
i sweat all the time, especially in my hands, feet and armpits. but i feel so cold all the time. even when i’m in an airconditioned room, i sweat so much then start shivering cos i can’t stand the cold.
the only time i am ever dry is when i eat. the minute i start eating, i feel like a normal person. i know no one who has these symptoms. then of course there’s the palpitations, agitations, anxiety, irritability, mood swings etc.
i just wanna know…does anyone have excessive sweating, and gets dry when eating?
I have the sweats …hands and feet. This tends to be worse in the morning and as I go about my day it gets better. I am wondering if it is just anxiety, thyroid, or what (maybe hypoglycemic) . this is such a pain as I have never had any of these symptoms before. I have lost 25-30 lbs over the last 10 months though.
I have the same thing. Hypoglycemia….I am trying to find the root cause of it which is definitely NOT anxiety. Can be Candida as I was alcoholic and am abstinent from last 1 year. I also have back aches….My suggestion is to stop asking the American doctors and travel eastwards to Singapore, China or India. Doctors are better and they give a keen ear to their patients and their approach is to cure the ailment and not the symptoms….Best of luck
I was diagnosed back in my 20s with hypoglycemia. with a high protein diet and watching my intake of foods. I have it under control.
Lots of willpower and discipline to prepare and measure all foods. Well worth it today though
Lori C – I’d love to hear what your daily menu looks like. What do you eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks? How often do you eat? I haven’t been diagnosed with hypoglycemia, but my symptoms align with what I’ve read. Thanks in advance!
last year i was diagnosed with hypoglycemia and i have found ways to prevent my little episodes that i have when my blood sugar is low…between breakfast,lunch and diner i usually eat fruit..natural sugars help me the best
i’m really worried. I have been suffering with shakes and weakness since i was young. The only way i can sort it out is to eat something. Yesterday though my cousins came up so I didn’t realise i was hungry until i got up. When i was half-way up the hall i felt really dizzy and my legs turned to jelly. I dragged myself to the kitchen and made a sandwich and tea. By now the shakes had set in. I spilled the tea because my shakes were so bad. I didn’t tell my mam because i didn’t want to worry her. The shakes and dizziness have only just stopped 1 hour ago. I’m scared that the symptoms might get worse and more frequent.
Josephine, please go to the doctor. Tell your mother about your symptoms. It will only get worse if you don’t keep yourself on a good diet. It might go away for a little while but it will come back, trust me, I know. Please don’t put it off.
I have struggled with this for many years. I have been diagnosed with it but still having problems. I recently found this site with some great information and vitamin and diet recommendations. http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/hypoglycemia.htm
Hi, I have been having most of the symptoms listed above for years, recently it has become extremely worse so much that I am now struggling to work. I can no longer exercise or do to much activity. One day I am ok then the next I am not able to function. I have been to my g.p, cardiologist and a endocronoligist all to tell me they don’t know what is wrong with me. My G.P said it is possible that I will never know what is wrong.
Any suggestions as to what I should do now? Most of my symptoms are simliar to diabetes and hypoglycemia. What should I do now?
Hey, Im 16 and I have alot of symptoms of Hypoglycemia. I suffer from headaches, feeling faint, shaking, paleness and blurred eyesight as well as feeling tired. I was told by the doctors that it is caused by dehydration and i knew it was not this because i drink lots of it.. any ideas of whether it is Hypoglycemia or anything else? i’d appreciate it
I have had tingling in my face for years and spells that leave me shaking ,sweating ,and dizzy.I have been to the ER a few times for these symptoms.They were no help.I was told there is nothing wrong with me.In the last year my symptoms have become more severe and have been happening more often,so i decided to get a glucose meter and check my own sugsr levels when i am feeling symptoms.And now i know my sugar drops,sometimes as low as 49.I am making an appointment with a doctor so i can show them my own records.Now i know i am not nuts,and there is something going on.
@Tim – it seems you are truly neive about the amount of people on anti-depressant, anti-psychotic, anti-convulsion type medications…. There are thousands of cases of people, including young children who promontory reside in foster care/social services, particularly in the united states who are given MULTIPLE of the drugs I have described above. It’s a well known fact that there are doctors with mal-practices and they do not ever intend on ethically healing their patients. People who SADLY have chemical imbalances that they were born with in their brain need to have medications to regulate their functions of their body. In some cases this is simply for the sake of happiness or purely carrying out the most basic of functions… I would highly recommend meeting, coaching, conversing, interacting or living with people who suffer from these issues… Not only can other diseases or conditions be masked by Hypoglecemia, Bi-Polarism (with its varying degrees) but there can be multiple existing health factors to promote the detirioration of already wreaking systems… I have multiple family members with mental disorders.. But they are manageable to some extent, similar to those of whom who live with diabetes, anemia, pain, digestive problems, cancer… Everything can come in capsule sizes so in a lot of ways I am an advocate of medication… But that also means the right healthcare professional for guidance and understanding. If the medication isn’t right and you need a second opinion, do it without regrets. With having spent months on the wrong medications, I feel others pain.
Be understanding and empathetic to those who in some ways seem different to you… Not all of us are blessed with ‘normal amounts’ of dopamine or serotonine.
Ever since my son was born 7 months ago I have the sudden sickness….I will sweat, shake, and panic…I have had panic attacks in the past and these feel different. So I thought it was low blood sugar…..I went to the doc and told her and she checked my thyroid…the TSH came back in the normal range but very low….I went back after still not feeling well and she basically told me it was in my head…..I asked her to do more in depth testing and she said it wasn’t necessary. Not that I don’t believe her but could my thyroid be out of wack from the birth of my son and then set my blood sugars out of wack? I’m sick of dealing with this!! I do feel better when I have protein snacks throughout the day but I just have never felt this horrible before!! All after I had my son…and I want to enjoy him! Not worry! Comments or suggestions please????
I am having similar symptoms right now, for a few years now actually. Falling asleep in class even when I’m interested. I sweat a lot. Get extremely cold and sweat a lot even then. I have been to the doctor, who looks at me in a funny way as if i’m wasting his time. He did diabetes, thyroid, iron and b12 test. Only my b12 was really low. So they gave me a shot of it in my butt, i fainted. (Still waiting for intrinsic factor results to tell me whether or not my body absorbs b12 at all)A week later I don’t feel any better. In fact right now i feel extremely tired and a bit nauseous. I slept 8 hours last night. I have an assignment i really need to be doing now, and have been napping for the last 4 hours and waking even more tired! I guess I am under a lot of stress (being in my 4th year of an intensive degree) but I just don’t care about uni any more and procrastinate to the point of self destruction. I used to be very diligent and passionate about my subject but now I just feel lost.
Am I just imagining these symptoms and have a psychological problem or am I sick???
There is an illness called chronic fatique syndrome which is an epidemic . Most drs don’t even understand the illness. Symptoms are all very similar. They are just starting to research this. Extreme fatique, blurry vision, light headed, chills, sweats, shakes, panic attacks. There are drs out there that are treating it. Most are researchers. Look up cfids, me, cfs
I was diagosed of type 2 diabetes mellitus just a week ago. My doctor prescribed me the Galvus Met and started drinking it last Saturday, since then I recognized that my body temperature rise to 38degrees giving me a slight fever. Is it a sign of hypoglycemia?
I am 13 and I am hypoglycemic but I have never been formally diegnosed. I am super skinny and tall and have never weighed more than 120. Is it even posibal for me to have hypoglycemia?