Possible undiagnosed diabetes, regular hypos, advice appreciated

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Hi everyone, my name is Natasha and I’m 26. I’ve been considering joining this website for the past few weeks and finally decided to today. I have been having symptoms of both low and high blood sugar for just over 2 years now.

My symptoms include:

· Dizziness/lightheadedness when hungry. The longer I leave it until I eat, the worse I feel. I urgently need to eat when I get like this

· Shaky hands when hungry

· Blurred vision (I woke up one morning with vision so blurred that I couldn’t even read a book, it was that bad. After having my breakfast it went away) if I remember correctly, that was March 2016 but I could be wrong.

· Thrush (I had about 3 instances of thrush within a year, although this was when my symptoms first started. I haven’t had it since for at least a year)

· A numb sensation in my feet after eating high carb/sugar food, although I haven’t had this for a few months

· Extreme tiredness an hour or two after eating.

I originally saw a doctor about this in December 2015 when my symptoms first started. I told him that when I’m hungry, I get very light headed and need to urgently eat. He just told me its ‘normal’ to feel light headed when hungry. I don’t think he understood just how bad I felt.

I decided to buy my own meter a year or so ago, so I could actually see if my sugar was low/high or not. I decided to create a spreadsheet with my different readings to show to the doctor. I am very squeamish and used to have a phobia of blood tests (still not that good with them), so I put off seeing a doctor again until last year, as I had gotten so fed up of feeling like this.

My readings when I get dizzy/shaky hands are below 4, which I have read online is a hypo (anything below 4) The highest ever readings I’ve had are 10.4, 10.7, 11.5, 11.7 and 12.5 (I washed my hands after the 12.5 reading, took another reading straight away which was 10.9). These readings scared me as I have read online any reading over 11 is a diabetic reading.

The second doctor I saw told me that she ‘isn’t convinced’ I’m diabetic (even though I showed her my spreadsheet with readings) because of my age and because nobody in my family has it. I really didn’t agree with that, as children can be diabetic, and you can be diagnosed even if nobody in your family has it. I then decided to see a third doctor, she actually seemed to take me seriously.

The third doctor seemed concerned that my sugar levels go low, and she referred me to Endocrinology. I have my first appointment next month which I really can’t wait for, as I am beyond fed up of feeling like this. I can have 2/3 hypos in a week and it is making me feel miserable. Every day I am scared I am going to have another hypo and I just want to have a normal life. I do carry snacks and glucose tablets everywhere I go which definitely helps, but I just don’t want to have hypos in the first place.

I am really scared if I get diagnosed as type 1 as I am very squeamish, and I know type 1’s inject themselves. The first time I pricked my finger, the blood made me feel dizzy so I had to put my meter away, and lay down for 10/15 minutes. I am now able to prick my finger and look at the blood, but it can take me a couple of minutes to work up the courage to *click*. I don’t think I would be able to inject myself though.

I don’t understand why my sugar goes low a lot, from what I have read online, insulin can cause hypos, but I don’t take insulin so why do I have so many hypos?? I’m not sure if its diabetes or something else, or do I just need to eat more food? (I only have 2 meals a day) I know nobody on here can diagnose me, but I am really interested in some advice on how to prevent hypos, what food should I eat, what foods shouldn’t I eat, any other advice.

Nearly forgot to mention I had a hba1c test a few months ago, the result was 34 which is good. My fasting levels in the morning are always in the non diabetic range. I often have 2 hour post prandial readings in the prediabetic, or diabetic ranges which obviously isn't good.

Thank you : )
 
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EllieM

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Possible undiagnosed reactive hypoglycaemia?

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/information-for-newbies-and-basic-stuff.87932/

The above is the link to the relevant subforum on here and the post with basic info for newbies... Does this sound like you?

If it does, the good news is that you won't need to go on insulin, the bad news is that you'll probably have to control it by diet...
Good luck

Edited to add, just taken in that you have only two meals per day. Changing your situation may just be as simple as eating a little more often.
 

kokhongw

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I reversed my Type 2
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You may find it helpful to check out the Reactive Hypoglycemia thread in this forum that has many good discussion on similar experience
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/reactive-hypoglycemia.70

Too often it is being dismissed as a non-event with no medical attention required. It is a precursor to diabetes that starts with an excessive insulin response to high carbs meals Moderating carbs may be sufficient to address the issue.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/reactive-hypoglycemia.1801
 
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himtoo

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why can't everyone get on........
Hi there @starry-night-sky
welcome to the forum ! :)

none of us can diagnose but............... if you are testing ..... are you seeing big drops in BG within 2 hours after eating carbs ? ( that is a good indicator of RH ( Reactive hypoglycaemia )

everything you wrote in your first post was very brave and so thank you for trusting us xx

for now i am just sending a big hug and hopefully you will get some answers at your appointment.

himtoo
x

edit to add -- have you tried eating a very low carb -- protein rich diet -- this can help offset the low BG symptoms
 
Messages
15
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Other
Hello everyone, thank you very much for your replies.

I often get low mid morning/around lunch time as I try to hold off until 12pm before eating, would this be fasting, rather than reactive, Hypoglycemia? Usually I can handle holding off until 12pm, but the past few days I haven’t been able to.

I am trying to eat less carbs and more protein, I’m just a fussy eater, there’s lots of things I don’t like, but I will check to see if there’s any recipes on here I can try, as I really want to see if eating low carb stops my hypos.

I’m reluctant to eat more than 3 meals a day as I have a customer facing job, and it doesn’t really look professional if I’m sat at the desk eating a lot. I do eat my lunch there away from the desk, I’m just not sure what snacks I can take to work as well, as I don’t want to be leaving the desk every couple of hours if I can help it. I just need to make sure my lunches are filling enough. What I usually take to work is a couple of sandwiches/thins with sandwich meat, and 1 or 2 graze boxes. It doesn’t fill me up but can keep me going for a few hours. I’m going food shopping at the weekend and will try to find foods that would be more filling but are less carbs, I would appreciate suggestions.

Also I am trying to take more readings when I eat. Usually I just take a 2 hour post meal reading, but I have started to take a reading before I eat, as well as the 2 hour, so I can get more of an idea how that food affects me. I need to start a diary with this information so I can see what I should be cutting out.
 
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himtoo

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why can't everyone get on........
keeping the diary is a very good idea -- this will certainly assist the endicrinologist when you see him / her next month.
 

kokhongw

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I reversed my Type 2
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Cashew nuts, almonds, walnuts works pretty well as snacks. 72% dark chocolates also helps. I also find virgin coconut oil to be helpful.

A reactive hypo event is exactly that. It is excessive insulin response to a high carbs meal that rapidly drives down the glucose level. This cause our brain to panic.

Here is what my Libre chart shows.
upload_2018-1-20_0-25-19.png
 

Lamont D

Oracle
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15,793
Type of diabetes
Reactive hypoglycemia
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I do not have diabetes
Hello everyone, thank you very much for your replies.

I often get low mid morning/around lunch time as I try to hold off until 12pm before eating, would this be fasting, rather than reactive, Hypoglycemia? Usually I can handle holding off until 12pm, but the past few days I haven’t been able to.

I am trying to eat less carbs and more protein, I’m just a fussy eater, there’s lots of things I don’t like, but I will check to see if there’s any recipes on here I can try, as I really want to see if eating low carb stops my hypos.

I’m reluctant to eat more than 3 meals a day as I have a customer facing job, and it doesn’t really look professional if I’m sat at the desk eating a lot. I do eat my lunch there away from the desk, I’m just not sure what snacks I can take to work as well, as I don’t want to be leaving the desk every couple of hours if I can help it. I just need to make sure my lunches are filling enough. What I usually take to work is a couple of sandwiches/thins with sandwich meat, and 1 or 2 graze boxes. It doesn’t fill me up but can keep me going for a few hours. I’m going food shopping at the weekend and will try to find foods that would be more filling but are less carbs, I would appreciate suggestions.

Also I am trying to take more readings when I eat. Usually I just take a 2 hour post meal reading, but I have started to take a reading before I eat, as well as the 2 hour, so I can get more of an idea how that food affects me. I need to start a diary with this information so I can see what I should be cutting out.


Hi,
I have Reactive Hypoglycaemia.

Your post is as usual in these circumstances, a bit muddled and your symptoms are individual to you. Using your monitor to record is a really good idea, the spreadsheet would interest your specialist.
For information purposes, hypos for someone who has a type of hypoglycaemia is 3.5mmols. But that doesn't mean to say you don't have a type of hypoglycaemia, because clearly something is going on, to rocket your blood glucose levels high, then drop within a couple of hours.
Finding what is causing this needs tests, performed under supervision in hospital.
The need for continuous testing will test your resolve, but it is necessary.
Once these tests are done, then maybe you will get a definitive diagnosis.
Until then, eat low carb foods every couple of hours, small bites, nothing that will trigger the high. Stay away from sugary foods, starchy carbs.
You need to find your balance of protein, fats and very low carb.
Keep asking questions, let us know how you get on.
Hypoglycaemia can be controlled.

Oh yeah, please do read our forum, see if anything reminds you of your symptoms.
Best wishes