- Messages
- 24
- Type of diabetes
- Reactive hypoglycemia
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Last week while hanging out with a new mate, I began to crash. Hard. I didn't pass out, but I really wanted to. My friend suggested my blood sugar was too low and encouraged me to eat as soon as dinner arrived. I made my way home with haste after dinner and crashed out on the bed soon there after.
That night was a particularly bad episode, but for most of my life my energy levels swing relatively severely up and down. Curious after my friends comments, I looked up hypoglycemia and found to my surprise, that I have -and have had for a long time- almost all the listed symptoms.
In response to this surprise, my cravings for snacks and cola came under a new light, and the curious but little thought about fact that cola has for many years seemed far more effective than the several cups of coffee I drink per day, suddenly seemed to make a sort of sense. I have started guzzling down a bit of cola regularly throughout the day and enjoying the sense of relief that always accompanies it.
Subjectively, I suppose it's something like 15-20% of days that I feel in really good energy, and the result is that I can really enjoy life and give much more of myself to the world around me. I'm over 30 now and have learned to manage expectations of myself depending on what state I am in, and savor those quality days as much as I can. Encouraged by the notion of increasing that percentage, I ordered a blood glucose test kit to see what I could glean from it.
It arrived today.
Today was a good day. I teach college in the mornings and kindergarten in the afternoons, and despite my general state of sleep deprivation I was able to enjoy good energy and interaction with all my students. Getting home I parked up my bike and headed upstairs, ripped it all open and, after a brief moment, figured out what to do and let the stick absorb a drop of blood.
3.8mmol/L. From what I gather that is only a little below the normal minimum, but today was a good day. I'm very curious to see what it reads when I'm feeling fatigued, moody, irritable, anxious or any of the other symptoms I have recently learned are associated with hypoglycemia.
It was dinner time, so I scoffed a bowl of rice and meat and guzzled more cola and waited out the hour.
5.9mmol/L. That seems more normal right? And sure enough although I feel a slight weariness from the day, I do feel well, alert and happy.
I wonder what sort of levels I would see on a bad day? Without a doubt far more extensive testing is required. My long winded question is finally here.
Previously I generally avoided snacks and soft drinks (despite constant cravings) because apparently snacks and sugary stuff is unhealthy. Should I return to my normal snack and soft drink free diet as I begin testing my blood levels, or just continue as is?
There seems to be a rather large amount of content to consume on the issue of hypoglycemia/diabetes and it is somewhat overwhelming. Any advice at all will be most welcome and appreciated.
That night was a particularly bad episode, but for most of my life my energy levels swing relatively severely up and down. Curious after my friends comments, I looked up hypoglycemia and found to my surprise, that I have -and have had for a long time- almost all the listed symptoms.
In response to this surprise, my cravings for snacks and cola came under a new light, and the curious but little thought about fact that cola has for many years seemed far more effective than the several cups of coffee I drink per day, suddenly seemed to make a sort of sense. I have started guzzling down a bit of cola regularly throughout the day and enjoying the sense of relief that always accompanies it.
Subjectively, I suppose it's something like 15-20% of days that I feel in really good energy, and the result is that I can really enjoy life and give much more of myself to the world around me. I'm over 30 now and have learned to manage expectations of myself depending on what state I am in, and savor those quality days as much as I can. Encouraged by the notion of increasing that percentage, I ordered a blood glucose test kit to see what I could glean from it.
It arrived today.
Today was a good day. I teach college in the mornings and kindergarten in the afternoons, and despite my general state of sleep deprivation I was able to enjoy good energy and interaction with all my students. Getting home I parked up my bike and headed upstairs, ripped it all open and, after a brief moment, figured out what to do and let the stick absorb a drop of blood.
3.8mmol/L. From what I gather that is only a little below the normal minimum, but today was a good day. I'm very curious to see what it reads when I'm feeling fatigued, moody, irritable, anxious or any of the other symptoms I have recently learned are associated with hypoglycemia.
It was dinner time, so I scoffed a bowl of rice and meat and guzzled more cola and waited out the hour.
5.9mmol/L. That seems more normal right? And sure enough although I feel a slight weariness from the day, I do feel well, alert and happy.
I wonder what sort of levels I would see on a bad day? Without a doubt far more extensive testing is required. My long winded question is finally here.
Previously I generally avoided snacks and soft drinks (despite constant cravings) because apparently snacks and sugary stuff is unhealthy. Should I return to my normal snack and soft drink free diet as I begin testing my blood levels, or just continue as is?
There seems to be a rather large amount of content to consume on the issue of hypoglycemia/diabetes and it is somewhat overwhelming. Any advice at all will be most welcome and appreciated.