Rapid drop in BGLs

SarahTee

Active Member
Messages
35
Hello folks, I am back here again with a question.

Is there a name for when a person feels unwell due to a rapid drop in BGLs rather than the actual numbers?

Cheers,
Sarah
 

Antje77

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
19,284
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Do you mean a false hypo?
Where you feel hypo because your body has gotten used to higher numbers?
 

SarahTee

Active Member
Messages
35
Do you mean a false hypo?
Where you feel hypo because your body has gotten used to higher numbers?
Possibly. I am still trying to work out what is going on. I do not have diabetes, and I’m not sure yet whether my body might be used to higher numbers.

I seem to be feeling unwell when I drop below 5, so not officially hypoglycemia. Not sure whether it is how fast the drop is happening, or whether I just feel symptoms sooner than average.
 

Lamont D

Oracle
Messages
15,793
Type of diabetes
Reactive hypoglycemia
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
I think it’s similar, but what if it doesn’t drop low enough to be officially hypoglycemia?
There is a condition that is called idiopathic postprandial syndrome.
This condition has the same symptoms as RH. But with no Hypoglycaemia.

There is a couple of threads on this condition in this sub forum.

Best wishes.

How are you coping?
 

SarahTee

Active Member
Messages
35
There is a condition that is called idiopathic postprandial syndrome.
This condition has the same symptoms as RH. But with no Hypoglycaemia.

There is a couple of threads on this condition in this sub forum.

Best wishes.

How are you coping?

Thanks, Lamont D., I will have a look at those threads. And thank you for asking after me.

Originally I was looking at whether I had RH or orthostatic intolerance (a type of dysautonomia that causes fatigue, blood pooling in abdomen after meals, faintness, exercise intolerance, irritability, lightheadedness).

GPs had nothing to offer, so I decided to pursue the orthostatic intolerance (OI) route. Well, a long time later, I have been referred to a dysautonomia specialist and tried quite a few treatments, but no firm improvement seen.

It’s hard to test for dysautonomia at the best of times, but right now the specialist is only doing telehealth and testing is not possible. I am starting to wonder if it is my blood sugar after all.

Recently I had to have a fasting blood test, and didn’t eat for three hours that morning. My symptoms were much less that day, which reminded me of Brunneria skipping breakfast and feeling better for it.

There seem to be a lot of common symptoms between RH (or postprandial syndrome) and OI/dysautonomia until you get into testing and the nitty gritty of it.

I have a BGM and my after-meal energy slumps and bad symptoms seem to coincide with low 4s. Not low enough for RH, but maybe postprandial syndrome.

So I am trying diet changes again and will see new GP to ask him to look at everything again.

Phew, long story!
 

Lamont D

Oracle
Messages
15,793
Type of diabetes
Reactive hypoglycemia
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
Thanks, Lamont D., I will have a look at those threads. And thank you for asking after me.

Originally I was looking at whether I had RH or orthostatic intolerance (a type of dysautonomia that causes fatigue, blood pooling in abdomen after meals, faintness, exercise intolerance, irritability, lightheadedness).

GPs had nothing to offer, so I decided to pursue the orthostatic intolerance (OI) route. Well, a long time later, I have been referred to a dysautonomia specialist and tried quite a few treatments, but no firm improvement seen.

It’s hard to test for dysautonomia at the best of times, but right now the specialist is only doing telehealth and testing is not possible. I am starting to wonder if it is my blood sugar after all.

Recently I had to have a fasting blood test, and didn’t eat for three hours that morning. My symptoms were much less that day, which reminded me of Brunneria skipping breakfast and feeling better for it.

There seem to be a lot of common symptoms between RH (or postprandial syndrome) and OI/dysautonomia until you get into testing and the nitty gritty of it.

I have a BGM and my after-meal energy slumps and bad symptoms seem to coincide with low 4s. Not low enough for RH, but maybe postprandial syndrome.

So I am trying diet changes again and will see new GP to ask him to look at everything again.

Phew, long story!

I also do long stories.
I have never heard of OI? Or the dinosaur condition? But I can see the resemblance of symptoms in most endocrine conditions or hormonal issues or metabolic syndrome conditions. I believe that blood glucose, hormonal response and what you eat, really does effect a lot of people, the constant spiking and crashing, does create symptoms.

I do intermittent fasting and I only have a small window to feed myself, I am carb intolerant, so that protein and good fats are important with the vegetables you can tolerate.
I have often posted that I feel much better in myself if I don't eat especially when I was travelling. And since I retired, fasting is now a part of my daily routine.
Fasting and low carb with a good dietary balance. Won't do you any harm anyway.

From my experience and reading the posts on here. A GPs knowledge of these rare conditions, will be limited. So a specialist endocrinologist, who has had experience with Hypoglycaemia or post prandial syndrome would be a good choice.

Keep all your cgm results to show your GP and specialist.

Keep safe
 
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SarahTee

Active Member
Messages
35
I also do long stories.
I have never heard of OI? Or the dinosaur condition? But I can see the resemblance of symptoms in most endocrine conditions or hormonal issues or metabolic syndrome conditions. I believe that blood glucose, hormonal response and what you eat, really does effect a lot of people, the constant spiking and crashing, does create symptoms.

I do intermittent fasting and I only have a small window to feed myself, I am carb intolerant, so that protein and good fats are important with the vegetables you can tolerate.
I have often posted that I feel much better in myself if I don't eat especially when I was travelling. And since I retired, fasting is now a part of my daily routine.
Fasting and low carb with a good dietary balance. Won't do you any harm anyway.

From my experience and reading the posts on here. A GPs knowledge of these rare conditions, will be limited. So a specialist endocrinologist, who has had experience with Hypoglycaemia or post prandial syndrome would be a good choice.

Keep all your cgm results to show your GP and specialist.

Keep safe

Will do! I will post in the IPS thread after I have experimented a bit more with my diet.
 

SarahTee

Active Member
Messages
35
Hello folks,

One more question, please, if you can humour me!

Would a drop from 5 to 4 mmol/L in under an hour be considered rapid?

It happened late this afternoon. I had had lunch plus snacks every half hour or so following, all LC. Wasn’t exercising, just pottering about.
 

Lamont D

Oracle
Messages
15,793
Type of diabetes
Reactive hypoglycemia
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
Hi again, if you had not eaten I would definitely say no.
But you have eaten and unless you used a cgm you won't know within that hour.
But I doubt it. You have to take into consideration that the monitor could be slightly out, and a 1mmols difference isn't anything to worry about.
Those readings are within normal levels.
Did you feel as if you were getting symptoms of crashing?

Keep safe, keep asking.
 

SarahTee

Active Member
Messages
35
Hi again, if you had not eaten I would definitely say no.
But you have eaten and unless you used a cgm you won't know within that hour.
But I doubt it. You have to take into consideration that the monitor could be slightly out, and a 1mmols difference isn't anything to worry about.
Those readings are within normal levels.
Did you feel as if you were getting symptoms of crashing?

Keep safe, keep asking.

On two days I did feel a definite loss of energy when I dropped below 5, but yesterday I did not. Today I am going back to my normal diet and meal pattern to see whether the symptoms come back.

I am feeling more and more “idiopathic” every day!