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Help please!

Dobbin2015

Dobbin2015

Member
Messages
9
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Other
Hi
I'm really hoping someone can help please. I've been Ill for a few months now, started with feeling totally exhausted, then had a meltdown with the following symptoms; extreme tiredness, hungry then feeling sick, joint pains, numbness in one arm, shakes, heart beating rapidly, felt like I wasn't in my own body, I thought I was going to collapse. I went to my doc who did some blood tests which appeared to be ok other than blood sugar of 2.4. When the test was done I had breakfast two hours earlier. I still get these symptoms and feel shattered most of the time. I was a fit and fairly healthy person. My memory is poor and I have difficulty concentrating. I have a referral so am hoping this will shed some light. I am also not diabetic. Anyone offer some advice? The thing that does help is coffee and lots of liquorice tea. Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi @Dobbin2015 and welcome to the forum.

We do not have the medical expertise to diagnose and therefore can only give opinions.

It could be reactive hypoglycaemia.
We do have some forum members who can tell you their experiences and symptoms.
@nosher8355 and @Brunneria and if you do a search you will find some threads with this title.

It must be very worrying for you but hopefully your referral is not too far away
 
Hi
Thanks for your reply. I looked at the threads and did wonder. I've seen the specialist and had some more blood tests. Currently waiting another appointment and results. it has come out of the blue and literally knocked me off my feet. I have been told it could be a virus. Can a virus do that to your blood sugar and cause hypos? I am alot better than I was but struggling to get any further and effectively back to normal. It is very worrying and quite distressing for me. Just looking for other people thoughts and experiences. I want to get this sorted and back to normal. It's over six months and I'm fed up.
 
Dobbin2015 said:
Hi
I'm really hoping someone can help please. I've been Ill for a few months now, started with feeling totally exhausted, then had a meltdown with the following symptoms; extreme tiredness, hungry then feeling sick, joint pains, numbness in one arm, shakes, heart beating rapidly, felt like I wasn't in my own body, I thought I was going to collapse. I went to my doc who did some blood tests which appeared to be ok other than blood sugar of 2.4. When the test was done I had breakfast two hours earlier. I still get these symptoms and feel shattered most of the time. I was a fit and fairly healthy person. My memory is poor and I have difficulty concentrating. I have a referral so am hoping this will shed some light. I am also not diabetic. Anyone offer some advice? The thing that does help is coffee and lots of liquorice tea. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Hi dobbin,
Use the search function for 'Reactive Hypoglycaemia' you will find it in the Ask a question forum.
Have a read through and see if it similar to your symptoms.

Did they check for hyperthyroidism?

If you ask any questions we will try and answer them.

Welcome to the forum.
 
Hi Nosher and thanks
My thyroids are working normally. Will search the forum. Did read the earlier posts and that got me wondering. My GP thinks its a virus. I've had no symptoms like a cold etc, if you know what I mean.
 
If you read through the thread, you will find that GPs don't have a clue about conditions like mine.
It was an endocrinologist who recognised it. So glad you have been referred.
It could be a virus, but he is guessing and it is a standard answer.
With those symptoms, how long after a meal do you go that low? In diabetic terminology it is called a hypo!
 
Hi
The doc did a number of blood tests and did the blood sugar one which funnily enough I felt ok ish at the time it was done. I'd had breakfast - cereal and the test was done approximately 2 hours later. The doctor thought it was odd and did another on a different day which was 4.0. He referred me and I'm hoping the specialist can get to the bottom of it. Take today for example, I started getting hungry a dinner time and within 15 minutes started feeling irritable and got the shakes. I wolfed my dinner down as quick as I could and then felt better within half an hour. This isn't normal for me.
 
Please do read the thread.
You need to stop eating carbs and sugars to control this.
You spike high with the carbs and then hypo after a couple of hours.
Your blood glucose levels fluctuate, this is why you feel awful.

You may also have to eat smaller portions regularly through the day, to keep your bloods level.

The more you read, the more you will understand.
 
I've just been reading some of the threads.
I'm practical vegan so my diet is possibly a bit high in carbs. Sugar, not too bad I don't think.
I've been snacking more and eating smaller meals which does seem to have helped enough for me to improve. Think I will have to try a few days on low carbs and see how I get on
 
Also if you have time read my blog.

I think you will get some more knowledge of how I was diagnosed.
 
Hi dobbin, and welcome!

Hopefully your consultant will sort you out with a clear diagnosis, but I have to say, it sounds as if RH is likely.

You've already decided that a few days low carb might help :D Certainly worth a try. Though a bit of a challenge I imagine.

You mentioned that coffee helps. Do you take it black? Sweetened?
Have you ever heard of bulletproof coffee? It's amazing stuff, and keeps my blood glucose steady as a rock, for hours. It's usually made with butter, but of course for you that's a no no. Maybe more coconut oil? Or do you use that soya cream?

Please let us know how you get on, and ask anything you like.
 
Hi
No never heard of bulletproof coffee. I get soya milk decaf from a well know chain. I cut the caffeine out and feel worse for doing that but don't have caffeine other than a coffee in the morning. I drink lots of water and liquorice tea, or did as the specialist told me to lay off it!
Will try a few no carb days and see how I get on. I did that right at the start and saw no improvement at all but then to be honest I could barely get out of bed it was that bad.
 
There's a little trick I use every now and again. Especially when you feel rough and don't feel like eating.
I fast for as long as it takes to settle back to normal levels. It helps a lot and it gets you out of the kitchen until you need to. Just have a bottle of water to stop the dehydration. Check your levels every so often to see what's going on.
 
Nosher's right.
It is so easy to get into a swing of over eating carbs to combat a low, then dropping sharply, and eating again.

I tend to eat a high fat/protein meal which is very slow to digest, keeping my BG very steady.

I would imagine you have few, if any, low carb proteins, so maybe see if the fasting works.
 
To be honest, I feel terrible if I'm hungry for more than 10/15 minutes. I get irritable and shaky amongst other things, so me and not eating doesn't go together at the moment. I feel like I'm starving and eat my food really quickly. I've even had nitemares waking me up if I'm hungry.
 
If it is RH, then low carbing would help sort The Hunger/cravings out.
The trick is to reduce the carbs down to a level where you don't trigger the yoyo blood sugar swings.

I completely agree that the feeding frenzy of a hypo is well nigh irristable, and thoroughly unpleasant!
It's why I go for the slow release protein option instead. But most of my standard choices (steak, full English, eggs and bacon) are totally unsuitable for you.

What high protein/fat, low carb options do you have? I'm afraid all I can think of are nuts and tofu. And I don't know the carb content of tofu!
 
Good question, seeds, veg, veggie protein shakes, certain veg is high in protein. Had to get out of bed as I needed to have something to eat :( probably need to look at my diet again
 
I keep a jar of peanut butter (and a spoon) by the bedside nowadays. Works wonders ;)

Have never been able to sleep when hungry. Can't work out whether it is the hunger itself, of the fear of hypo/hunger.
 
There is no quick solution I'm afraid. Low carb is the best option.

I think that your stomach empties really quickly, so you need to keep eating. If you are vegan, you will have to adjust and eat more full fat like butter, cheese and Greek style yoghurt. Do you eat dairy?
How much fruit? Eat a little, often through the day, no bananas.
Stay away from spuds, carrots, turnips etc unless in very small quantities.
I live off salads, no bread, rice, cereals.

Adjustment to a low carb and full fat will slow your metabolism and the hunger pangs or carb cravings will go in a few weeks. The reward is feeling better and fitter. You get your life back.

Keep asking.
 
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