hi all, since my teen years (in my 50's now) between meals I have had symptoms on and off over the years of what I assumed was low blood glucose (sudden weakness, jittery/anxious, starving, lightheaded, can get angry, cannot think rationally) and eating relieves symptoms. But since I came down with a gastro virus last year the symptoms are often worse, with the sensation of what I think is adrenaline release, I feel funny all over like something serious has happened in my body and I get very cold and heart starts racing, dizzy, weak. over the past year I have called the ambulance 6 times as I do not know what is happening. I seem to get hungry every couple of hours these day and have put on weight, due to eating more but in the past I have always been underweight. I eat a pretty clean diet, do not consume biscuits, cake sugary drinks,sugary cereals etc. It seems to be the mornings that I get these symptoms rather than afternoons. Been to endocrinologist, and did a 20 hour fast at hospital clinic. Was fine during that, no symptoms other than feeling a bit weak and hungry but could walk around fine and read and do crosswords.BG at start of fast was 4.7, insulin 5.8. end of fast BG was 4.2 insulin 1.5 . Normal fasting BG in New Zealand where I live is 3.5-5.4 mmol/L normal fasting insulin 2.6-24.9 mlU/L.
I also did a mixed meal test over 5 hours where they tested my BG every half hour. I had to bring in my own breakfast that was a combo of fats, protein, carbs (porridge oats, full fat milk, nuts and seeds, blueberries) fasting BG was 4.8, insulin 8. I was OK until about 3 hours after eating then I had one of those adrenaline release episodes, heart rate and BP went high, felt all weak and shaky, dizzy, came on suddenly. The nurses tested my BG and it was 4.3, they said that was normal and therefore its not due to low BG so must be something else causing these symptoms. Looking at my clinic notes, 30 mins after eating my BG went up to 6.4, then 30 mins later it was down to 4.9 then every half hour following it was 4.1, 4.4, 4.4, 4.5, and then to the 4.3 when I had the low BG symptoms. Is it possible that my BG had dropped lower and caused an adrenaline release to increase BG so that when tested it was normal by then?
The endocrinologist said everything is fine and not hypoglycaemia. Told me its probably panic attacks.
I have been to see a cardiologist as since the virus I have been getting heart flutters, which he says are ectopic beats and normal. Also seen a gastroenterologist and neurologist, they say everything normal. All my blood tests have been normal.
HbA1C was 32mmol/mol, there was a comment from the lab saying if diabetic then this number suggests excellent control but risk of hypoglycaemia is increased ( I am not diabetic by the way). Does this mean that my BG have been going low over the past 3 months?
Any advice as to what you may think is happening is much appreciated.
Am I having false hypo's?
I feel like my life is on hold, pretty much house bound and not driving now due to this.
thanks
I also did a mixed meal test over 5 hours where they tested my BG every half hour. I had to bring in my own breakfast that was a combo of fats, protein, carbs (porridge oats, full fat milk, nuts and seeds, blueberries) fasting BG was 4.8, insulin 8. I was OK until about 3 hours after eating then I had one of those adrenaline release episodes, heart rate and BP went high, felt all weak and shaky, dizzy, came on suddenly. The nurses tested my BG and it was 4.3, they said that was normal and therefore its not due to low BG so must be something else causing these symptoms. Looking at my clinic notes, 30 mins after eating my BG went up to 6.4, then 30 mins later it was down to 4.9 then every half hour following it was 4.1, 4.4, 4.4, 4.5, and then to the 4.3 when I had the low BG symptoms. Is it possible that my BG had dropped lower and caused an adrenaline release to increase BG so that when tested it was normal by then?
The endocrinologist said everything is fine and not hypoglycaemia. Told me its probably panic attacks.
I have been to see a cardiologist as since the virus I have been getting heart flutters, which he says are ectopic beats and normal. Also seen a gastroenterologist and neurologist, they say everything normal. All my blood tests have been normal.
HbA1C was 32mmol/mol, there was a comment from the lab saying if diabetic then this number suggests excellent control but risk of hypoglycaemia is increased ( I am not diabetic by the way). Does this mean that my BG have been going low over the past 3 months?
Any advice as to what you may think is happening is much appreciated.
Am I having false hypo's?
I feel like my life is on hold, pretty much house bound and not driving now due to this.
thanks