Reactive Hypoglycaemia

[yetta2mymom]

If you wish to ask questions or are interested in asking anything pertaining to hypoglycaemia, diabetic or non diabetic. Ask here.

Hi

I live on a low carb diet. Since I have the "hunter" gene I have to control my fats to not get fatter (see gestational diabetes). I got a probable auto-immune reaction in 1957. I ended up with late onset hypoglycemia after eating too much sugar/starch/alcohol. By the time I took my glucose tolerance test in 1964 my body had adjusted and I get mild shaking episodes as my body restarts the hormones I am supposed to restart when I have an insulin release to prevent low blood sugar. This is not as good as it sounds since this lead to other distressing symptoms. People with reactive hypoglycemia stop giving off hormones to prevent low blood sugar. The chemistry involved in creating the problem is what your RH people are detecting. Many people refuse to listen to me but I advertise on google in the U.S. and India and the number of people who go to my site every day averages over 100 and is slowly rising. I provide many ways to communicate but almost no one responds. 3 women have sent me thanks since we are the people who get gestational diabetes and it has nothing to do with diet. Obviously you should control your diet when you are pregnant. People who have the "hunter" gene get late onset reactive hypoglycemia. If you have late onset reactive hypoglycemia you probably have the "hunter" gene. I am looking for women who get gestational diabetes but do not have the "hunter" gene. I am trying to find out what fraction of the people who are diagnosed as prediabetic are actually "hunter" gene people. Our A1c is strongly correlated to the amount of sugar/starch/alcohol we have eaten. We can get diabetes but a high A1c means little or maybe nothing.

 

[michelejane]

If you wish to ask questions or are interested in asking anything pertaining to hypoglycaemia, diabetic or non diabetic. Ask here.

My daughter has reactive hypoglycaemia and is not diabetic (unlike me). Nobody seems to recognise the condition, even most doctors, She has had problems from school life to working life in dealing with hypos, and being allowed to eat or take glucose when she needs to, as people think because she's not 'diabetic' she shouldn't be allowed breaks etc.

 

[lindisfel]

Hi

I live on a low carb diet. Since I have the "hunter" gene I have to control my fats to not get fatter (see gestational diabetes). I got a probable auto-immune reaction in 1957. I ended up with late onset hypoglycemia after eating too much sugar/starch/alcohol. By the time I took my glucose tolerance test in 1964 my body had adjusted and I get mild shaking episodes as my body restarts the hormones I am supposed to restart when I have an insulin release to prevent low blood sugar. This is not as good as it sounds since this lead to other distressing symptoms. People with reactive hypoglycemia stop giving off hormones to prevent low blood sugar. The chemistry involved in creating the problem is what your RH people are detecting. Many people refuse to listen to me but I advertise on google in the U.S. and India and the number of people who go to my site every day averages over 100 and is slowly rising. I provide many ways to communicate but almost no one responds. 3 women have sent me thanks since we are the people who get gestational diabetes and it has nothing to do with diet. Obviously you should control your diet when you are pregnant. People who have the "hunter" gene get late onset reactive hypoglycemia. If you have late onset reactive hypoglycemia you probably have the "hunter" gene. I am looking for women who get gestational diabetes but do not have the "hunter" gene. I am trying to find out what fraction of the people who are diagnosed as prediabetic are actually "hunter" gene people. Our A1c is strongly correlated to the amount of sugar/starch/alcohol we have eaten. We can get diabetes but a high A1c means little or maybe nothing.

Hi yetta,
We Reactive hypoglycemics have a relatively easy solution. It is not difficult, we have a problem dealing with refined carbohydrate. The problem is we produce plenty of insulin but because it comes late we over produce insulin and this causes us to hypo. So simply put.... stop the refined carbs and we stop the hypos.

I would have thought that a high hba1c is far from inconsequential in any circumstances.

We need a coping strategy since it cannot be cured, all of you looking in should listen carefully to what Lamont and Brunneria have to say.

I did and I formerly had two hypos/ day! Now since low carbing I have not had any hypos for two and half years
D.

 

[Lamont D]

My daughter has reactive hypoglycaemia and is not diabetic (unlike me). Nobody seems to recognise the condition, even most doctors, She has had problems from school life to working life in dealing with hypos, and being allowed to eat or take glucose when she needs to, as people think because she's not 'diabetic' she shouldn't be allowed breaks etc.

Being non diabetic doesn't mean there is no imbalance in your blood sugar.
Having RH does mean that too much insulin is the cause, not glucose.
Having carbs, means a hyper, then a hypo.
This condition is caused by diet, it is controlled by diet.

Have your daughter and yourself read our forum and ask questions that will help her understand what is actually happening.

I do agree that most medical practitioners have no idea about RH.
They are only guessing on how to treat the condition.
Depending on how she is at the moment depends on how she can get control.

It is important that she learns about how RH can be serious.

Welcome to the forum.

Best wishes

 

[kokhongw]

My daughter has reactive hypoglycaemia and is not diabetic (unlike me). Nobody seems to recognise the condition, even most doctors, She has had problems from school life to working life in dealing with hypos, and being allowed to eat or take glucose when she needs to, as people think because she's not 'diabetic' she shouldn't be allowed breaks etc.

Yes it is not uncommon. I had it throughout my adult life and it was not until I came to this forum after my T2D diagnosis in my late 40s that I connected the dots and realized what it was and how easily it could have been managed...

 

[Danny95]

Can anyone offer any advice or information?
Everyday is constant struggle, After I eat any carbs i gain all of the below symptoms;
-Lightheadness (almost like a dream state)
-Sinus Pressure
-Lethergy
-Heart palpitations
-Increased Phlegm (Post nasal drip)
-Gritty/itchy eyes
-Shaking
If I keep consuming carbs I will get a sinus infection ive had 3 in the space of 5 months in which ive had antibotics and steroid drops to treat each time but the only difference is it turns my green phlegm back to thick white. I still get the puffy cheeks, sinus pressure, fatigue and so on. However cutting carbs does relieve the sinus problems.
I began the Keto diet to try and cut out sugar but then i get symptoms of hypoglycemia from lack of sugar.
It might be worth mentioning that i also keep getting thrush and have had antheltes foot in the 5 months this has been happening. Ive also had a few instances of random shooting pains down my legs and in my knees and 2 or 3 times an intense stabbing pain under my left rib which lasted a few minutes. (Im not sure if any of that is related)
Im desperate its effecting every aspect of my life relationships, work performance/Attendence and motivation.

Male, 23 years old. No instances of any other illness before September 2017

 

[Lamont D]

Can anyone offer any advice or information?
Everyday is constant struggle, After I eat any carbs i gain all of the below symptoms;
-Lightheadness (almost like a dream state)
-Sinus Pressure
-Lethergy
-Heart palpitations
-Increased Phlegm (Post nasal drip)
-Gritty/itchy eyes
-Shaking
If I keep consuming carbs I will get a sinus infection ive had 3 in the space of 5 months in which ive had antibotics and steroid drops to treat each time but the only difference is it turns my green phlegm back to thick white. I still get the puffy cheeks, sinus pressure, fatigue and so on. However cutting carbs does relieve the sinus problems.
I began the Keto diet to try and cut out sugar but then i get symptoms of hypoglycemia from lack of sugar.
It might be worth mentioning that i also keep getting thrush and have had antheltes foot in the 5 months this has been happening. Ive also had a few instances of random shooting pains down my legs and in my knees and 2 or 3 times an intense stabbing pain under my left rib which lasted a few minutes. (Im not sure if any of that is related)
Im desperate its effecting every aspect of my life relationships, work performance/Attendence and motivation.

Male, 23 years old. No instances of any other illness before September 2017

Hi, hopefully you are feeling better,
Welcome to our forum.
Have you been diagnosed with Hypoglycaemia?
Do you have a specialist?
How do you know you are going hypo?

I recognise most of the symptoms, but other conditions can have a variable degree of symptomatic diagnosis.

I think if you are having problems with carbs, why eat them? I have a condition were certain foods mainly carbs cause hyperglycaemia then Hypoglycaemia.
Avoiding those foods help my treatment of feeling ill. If you have an allergy, would you eat the food you are allergic to?
I have wheat, grains, potatoes, rice, sucrose, dextrose, glucose intolerance.
You need tests to find which type of condition you have.
I would implore you to see a doctor, if not a specialist endocrinologist who specialises in conditions that are similar to mine.

Eating small meals throughout the day would alleviate your symptoms and prevent hypos. But as I found out gaining control of your health is the best way to be healthy.
Do read the threads on our forum, it might help you to understand what is going on.

Best wishes

 

[Danny95]

Hi,
I have not officially been diagnosed with hypoglycaemia, However I'm going to a see specialist tonight. Iv'e come to the conclusion because it happens no matter what carbs i eat, sweet potato, plain rice, banana etc... unless i have a sugar allergy.

I believe its hypoglycaemia because symptoms seem exactly the same of that of a hypo accept I also get sinus issues.

Iv'e managed to successfully cut these foods out for 5days which does greatly improve my sinus issues. However, when i do cut out all carbs after a few days i find myself going into hypos from lack of glucose, i also have feel as though i have no energy even in the gym.

 

[Brunneria]

Hi,
I have not officially been diagnosed with hypoglycaemia, However I'm going to a see specialist tonight. Iv'e come to the conclusion because it happens no matter what carbs i eat, sweet potato, plain rice, banana etc... unless i have a sugar allergy.

I believe its hypoglycaemia because symptoms seem exactly the same of that of a hypo accept I also get sinus issues.

Iv'e managed to successfully cut these foods out for 5days which does greatly improve my sinus issues. However, when i do cut out all carbs after a few days i find myself going into hypos from lack of glucose, i also have feel as though i have no energy even in the gym.

Good luck with the appointment tonight!

If you hypo after removing carbs from your diet, then I suggest that you consider what foods you are now eating. If you (anyone) is eating a well formulated low carb or ketogenic diet, then there should not be hypos. The trick is to replace the carbs with nutritious protein and fat foods that provide slow release energy.

Of course, I need to qualify that statement since there are a few medical conditions and medications that will cause hypos whatever you eat, but RH isn’t such a condition. This is why you need proper testing by a doc and a home meter.

I suggest that you check your blood glucose immediately you experience any symptoms as well as testing before and after each meal. It is the only way to discover if you are experiencing real or false hypos (the false ones are when our blood glucose drops to normal when we are used to it running higher).

If you have drastically reduced carbs in a short time, you may also be experiencing ‘keto flu’. This is a short term thing. Easy to read up on on the Internet, and there are several ways to reduce the symptoms.

 

[Danny95]

Thankyou!

Dont get me wrong I do get a significant improvement when removing carbs! I do believe i get whats called the 'Keto flu' after a day or two I just need to stick it out long enough to make use of Ketones. If it is reactive Hypoglycemia is it a typically a perminant thing or has anyone managed to fully recover and go back to a normal diet?

 

[Brunneria]

I can only speak from personal experience, which is as follows:

Eating very low carb prevented me having RH hypos.
But adding those carbs back in would bring the RH back.

Then, extensive personal testing allowed me to discover that I can get away with more carbs providing they are gluten free. I seem to have a gluten intolerance which makes blood glucose more erratic => RH.
I have no data on whether this applies to anyone else or whether I am a unique little snowflake.

Nowadays i still eat very low carb because i feel better that way, still have insulin resistance, and after years of RH my glucose tolerance is pretty wrecked. But the RH stays away providing I don’t have too many carbs* and strictly avoid gluten.

* ‘too many carbs’ is for me a single hit of 80+ g carbs, or eating more than 50ish g carbs a day for several days. Since the usual carb intake is in excess of 200g carbs a day, i definitely haven’t gone back to what is called ‘a normal diet’.

 

[Lamont D]

Thankyou!

Dont get me wrong I do get a significant improvement when removing carbs! I do believe i get whats called the 'Keto flu' after a day or two I just need to stick it out long enough to make use of Ketones. If it is reactive Hypoglycemia is it a typically a perminant thing or has anyone managed to fully recover and go back to a normal diet?

As far as I’m aware there is no magic pill to cure the condition, but like me, you can control the condition by eating food that don’t effect being in ketosis.
If you do have the condition, it can more than likely you will eat some foods again. Mine is potato, not touched one in well over five years.
I’ve been dairy intolerant since a kid!
Once you realise that it makes you really ill, you tend to avoid them!
Hope you get some kinda answers real soon
Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes

 

[Sara1992]

Hi guys, I'm new here. I haven't gotten an offcial diagnosis but my end mentioned my symptoms sound like reactive hypoglycemia. My readings are basically as follows:

Fasting = 85 mg/dl

After breakfast: 115 mg/dl

2 hours later: 80 mg/dl

I start feeling all symptoms of low blood sugar (shakiness, jittery and brain fog as well as irritability) at 70 and sometimes 80 mg/dl and I'm trying hard to manage it with a low crab diet but Im still symptomatic.

Can anyone help?

 

[Lamont D]

Hi guys, I'm new here. I haven't gotten an offcial diagnosis but my end mentioned my symptoms sound like reactive hypoglycemia. My readings are basically as follows:

Fasting = 85 mg/dl

After breakfast: 115 mg/dl

2 hours later: 80 mg/dl

I start feeling all symptoms of low blood sugar (shakiness, jittery and brain fog as well as irritability) at 70 and sometimes 80 mg/dl and I'm trying hard to manage it with a low crab diet but Im still symptomatic.

Can anyone help?

Hi @Sara1992 and welcome to our forum.
I could just list what foods affect my health and say avoid them.
But Hypoglycaemia can be so individual, what works for me, May not work for you.
However, the general consensus is food or drink that trigger the constant rollercoaster ride of hypers and hypos.
As your readings suggest you are still eating food that causes the trigger of the excess insulin which is causing the hypos.
Obviously you are non diabetic, but after food you are getting diabetic readings, your first insulin response is weak and after a couple of hours, your secondary response of insulin, is the cause of the hypo. The trick is not to trigger the secondary response by avoiding foods that causes the high blood sugar levels after first insulin response.
These foods are usually carbs, anything over a certain level will trigger the hyper.
I have a type of RH, which means that my body cannot tolerate most carbs.
So I avoid them as much as possible.
Do read our forum about how others have gained control of their blood sugar levels and improved their health due to dietary control.
I have not had a hypo in four years, my health is really good, because of a very low carb diet. It works for me.
You have to find your balance of protein, good healthy fats and how many carbs you can tolerate.
You may also try, to eat small low carb meals, every few hours, to ensure you don't hypo, but it won't get rid of the symptoms of fluctuating blood sugar levels, it will just offset the worst of those symptoms. I have found that intermittent fasting and very low carb is best for my health.
I eat fresh food, plenty of protein, saturated fat, and salad vegetables. No processed foods, no sugar, I have intolerant for wheat, dairy, grains, a total carb intolerance.

The low carb forum has some great ideas and recipes.

Ask questions, if you are not sure what is happening, I will try and answer them.

What tests have you had?
Do you keep a food diary?
Can you give us an idea of what foods you are eating and what dietary advice you have had?
You would be surprised what triggers hyper then a hypo.

Best wishes

 

[kiwi gal]

Lamont D can you please explain the part where you say the person is non diabetic but is getting diabetic levels after eating?
I am trying to work out my own possible RH. From what I have read on Diabetes UK non diabetic fasting BG should be 4.0-5.9 (72-99), and 90 minutes and up to 2 hours after eating non diabetic BG should be under 7.8 (140). The person you replied to had BG after eating of 6.4 (115), so according to Diabetes Uk that is normal for non diabetics. I don't understand.

 

[Lamont D]

Hi, @kiwi gal, There is no such thing as a normal non diabetic with RH!
I am weird! According to my GP, and my endocrinologist didn't disagree with him!
Ok, if I had a fasting level (and I do) in normal range before I ate, soon after eating a carb laden meal, my blood sugar levels would raise very quickly because of the initial weak insulin response. This would drive my BG levels into double figures.
This would trigger the secondary insulin response, this could be any time between 30 minutes and after two hours. So if like me, I would not be in normal range until after the two hours, indeed, that is why I was misdiagnosed with T2. The secondary insulin response is called an overshoot, this overshoot floods the bloodstream with insulin and drives down BG levels into Hypoglycaemia. Hyperinsulinaemia!
This is why eating every couple of hours is recommended, to offset the hypo.
But it does nothing for the up and down BG levels fluctuating all day.
So, I was constantly having high BG levels, low BG levels, so depending on when you used a glucometer the reading could be anywhere, either in normal, hypo or diabetic range. I had hyperinsulinaemia, hyperglycaemia and all kinds of organ function conditions, my body and brain was reactive to all the wrong foods I was eating.

The post you are alluding to, has probably a type of hypoglycaemia that is called dumping syndrome, that is very, very quick absorption of glucose from the meal. So it practical terms, the poster could be non diabetic pre meal and also non diabetic after two hours, but in between, say at an hour, he/she could already be on their way down to hypo levels.
It all depends on the individual. My average peak or spike after a meal is between fifty minutes, to an hour and the latest is around seventy minutes.
I have gone hypo at three hours, up to four and a half hours.
I have read that because of dumping syndrome, some Hypoglycaemic people can hypo before an hour, there is some flat line hypoglycaemic conditions. And others, this condition is so individual.
The other thing to bear in mind, it also depends on what you eat, how many carbs, sugars, protein and fats, also, portion size, again, small meals are recommended.

A very concise food diary is really important, to help with diagnosis. You would be surprised the data and information you can glean from it. And of course your specialist endocrinologist.

Finally, my specialist endocrinologist told me, that hypo levels are under 3.5, for RH, and anything above 6 is above. But of course that is his opinion, and individually some won't feel the symptoms till they go lower and feel symptoms above the threshold, I would not argue as it is dependent on many factors.
I have always believed since diagnosis and I got really good control, that maintaining stable BG, is the best treatment for RH. Dietary control is so important for a healthy lifestyle.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes

Great question!!

Lamont D can you please explain the part where you say the person is non diabetic but is getting diabetic levels after eating?
I am trying to work out my own possible RH. From what I have read on Diabetes UK non diabetic fasting BG should be 4.0-5.9 (72-99), and 90 minutes and up to 2 hours after eating non diabetic BG should be under 7.8 (140). The person you replied to had BG after eating of 6.4 (115), so according to Diabetes Uk that is normal for non diabetics. I don't understand.

 

[Joanne155]

If you wish to ask questions or are interested in asking anything pertaining to hypoglycaemia, diabetic or non diabetic. Ask here.

I am interested to find this thread.
DiagnosedT2 in 2016, I was put on metformin.
I was overweight and lost 4.5st which puts me in normal weight range.
Anyhow, I have come off meds and my last hba1c was 29.
No more hypers for me now, but started feeling lows shortly after eating carb foods and on checking my BM it is dropping to around 3. Porridge is a culprit!
Not been back to GP as they were not very interested when I was diagnosed, I am managing this ok myself after online research.
I do not know if this is connected to being diabetic, or even if I am still classed as diabetic??
I come from a long line on diabetics, all ages from 20s, different weights, sizes, T2 and MODY.
Will watch this thread with interest. Merry Xmas
Joanne

 

[Lamont D]

Hi and welcome to our forum and of course merry Christmas.

I am interested to find this thread.
DiagnosedT2 in 2016, I was put on metformin.
I was overweight and lost 4.5st which puts me in normal weight range.
Anyhow, I have come off meds and my last hba1c was 29.
No more hypers for me now, but started feeling lows shortly after eating carb foods and on checking my BM it is dropping to around 3. Porridge is a culprit!
Not been back to GP as they were not very interested when I was diagnosed, I am managing this ok myself after online research.
I do not know if this is connected to being diabetic, or even if I am still classed as diabetic??
I come from a long line on diabetics, all ages from 20s, different weights, sizes, T2 and MODY.
Will watch this thread with interest. Merry Xmas
Joanne

Have you had a true diagnosis of Hypoglycaemia?
You can have T2 and RH, but you can have RH as a non diabetic like myself, as I was misdiagnosed as T2.
What tests have you had other than hba1c tests.
Well done on getting your Hba1c down and your weight loss.
Porridge is one of those foods that I was advised to eat as a healthy breakfast, but was made aware and after testing, found out that it was starting the roller coaster ride of fluctuating blood glucose levels that caused all the symptoms.
It is the carbs! No doubt about it!
Even my endocrinologist has acknowledged the relevance of abstinence from those foods that you find are intolerant to.

As I have posted many times, if you have questions, please ask, the people on here are very knowledgeable and experienced, and apart from some doctors, don't have the necessary training and experience in successfully treating Hypoglycaemia or T2.
Through my own research, Hypoglycaemia advice follows standard NHS guidelines, which doesn't advocate a very low carb diet.
If you eat food that you are intolerant to, and make you ill, why should you have to eat them. If it was an allergy, would they recommend eating them?

Best wishes and again welcome to our forum.

 

[wiselaw]

Hi As my Daughter was experiencing effects of what we later learned must have been dodgy Novo Flexpens, I was wondering if anyone else has heard, has links to documents, experienced or cared for someone who experienced serious and non-serious hypoglycemic events or photographed any flexpens with faults?

 

[Brunneria]

Hi As my Daughter was experiencing effects of what we later learned must have been dodgy Novo Flexpens, I was wondering if anyone else has heard, has links to documents, experienced or cared for someone who experienced serious and non-serious hypoglycemic events or photographed any flexpens with faults?

Hi @wiselaw

I think your post would get more responses if I move it to a thread of its own.
Let me know if you would like that.
Just reply to this post, if you do.