Can the standard reactive hypoglycemia be controlled with diet?

[yetta2mymom]

Hi

I probably have the autoimmune problem which leads to reactive hypoglycemia. I have the "hunter" ("thrifty") gene and I therefore have different symptoms. I have figures out that when my blood sugar is getting too high my body turns off the hormones that produce insulin resistance. I then have 2 possible reactions. The first is that my body determines that even if I am still somewhat insulin resistant I should produce some insulin as my blood sugar is going into unhealthy territory. While this is going on I go thru my normal (for me) wait for the hormones to clear (over an hour) and then produce enough insulin to mop up the sugar in my blood. I overshoot and get hypoglycemia. The second reaction is that I do not need insulin. In that case I get the insulin release associated with the standard reactive hypoglycemia. Since I am still strongly insulin resistant this leads to fatigue and possibly high blood pressure. I control my problem by eating a very low sugar/starch diet. Does such a diet work on the standard reactive hypoglycemia?

 

[GrantGam]

I control my problem by eating a very low sugar/starch diet. Does such a diet work on the standard reactive hypoglycemia?

Reducing your carbohydrate intake will (in almost all cases) benefit all types of disbetes and also reactive hypoglycemia:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/reactive-hypoglycemia.html

I've had a look through some of your old posts and they seem to be mainly statements rather than questions. Is there something you want to know that hasn't already been answered in this thread that you also started?

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/thr...oglycemia-are-due-to-the-same-problem.110575/

Tbh, I don't see much of a difference between the two threads - and your "query" was answered clearly by @lindisfel and @Lamont D.

 

[yetta2mymom]

Reducing your carbohydrate intake will (in almost all cases) benefit all types of disbetes and also reactive hypoglycemia:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/reactive-hypoglycemia.html

I've had a look through some of your old posts and they seem to be mainly statements rather than questions. Is there something you want to know that hasn't already been answered in this thread that you also started?

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/thr...oglycemia-are-due-to-the-same-problem.110575/

Tbh, I don't see much of a difference between the two threads - and your "query" was answered clearly by @lindisfel and @Lamont D.

Hi

I guess I didn't understand. I read about the standard treatment for reactive hypoglycemia and it says nothing about stopping it in its tracks if you eat a small enough amount of sugar/starch. Can you completely control reactive hypoglycemia with a very low sugar/starch diet? Dose anyone know? By the way giving me sugar/starch when I have hypoglycemia (and another fellow traveller) leads to worse problems many hours later.

 

[AndBreathe]

Hi

I guess I didn't understand. I read about the standard treatment for reactive hypoglycemia and it says nothing about stopping it in its tracks if you eat a small enough amount of sugar/starch. Can you completely control reactive hypoglycemia with a very low sugar/starch diet? Dose anyone know? By the way giving me sugar/starch when I have hypoglycemia (and another fellow traveller) leads to worse problems many hours later.

As I understand things there are a number of people who use this forum who control their hypoglycemia, purely by dietary management. If I recall accurately, if they manage the amount of primarily carbohydrate they consume, their blood sugar rises less steeply, and therefore their pancreas is not overly stimulated to control the rise. Without that big control surge the reduction in the sugar, as it is digested, is also less extreme.

Again, as I understand it, most consider prevention to be a more favourable state, so routinely eat a carbohydrate managed diet, thus their need to stop their hypos in their tracks is reduced, on a day to day basis.
I have read one person at least commenting if the feel symptoms coming in they treat the symptoms in a very modest way, just to prevent the drop, and to prevent the beginnings of a blood glucose roller-coaster.

Clearly this is a very, very different pf hypo management than would be appropriate for T1s or other people with different physiological responses.

 

[yetta2mymom]

As I understand things there are a number of people who use this forum who control their hypoglycemia, purely by dietary management. If I recall accurately, if they manage the amount of primarily carbohydrate they consume, their blood sugar rises less steeply, and therefore their pancreas is not overly stimulated to control the rise. Without that big control surge the reduction in the sugar, as it is digested, is also less extreme.

Again, as I understand it, most consider prevention to be a more favourable state, so routinely eat a carbohydrate managed diet, thus their need to stop their hypos in their tracks is reduced, on a day to day basis.
I have read one person at least commenting if the feel symptoms coming in they treat the symptoms in a very modest way, just to prevent the drop, and to prevent the beginnings of a blood glucose roller-coaster.

Clearly this is a very, very different pf hypo management than would be appropriate for T1s or other people with different physiological responses.

Hi

I am a theoretical scientist by nature. My hobby is understanding macoeconomics. I fell into this problem because no doctor helped me for over 50 years so I figured it out for myself. I am writting an ad (maybe journal article, I am being teased by Science and Scientific American). In my ad I put all the things I have figured out about sugar processing by humans. One of the things I am considering adding is maybe all reactive hypoglycemia can be completely controlled by my diet. What say you about that possibility?

 

[lindisfel]

Well, my self diagnosed RH was stopped dead in its tracks Sept 2015 by eating LCHF. But 100 grams of carb a day would not have done it. I also suspect vigorous exercise immediately after eating carbs will cut insulin demand and stop RH. D.

 

[AndBreathe]

Hi

I am a theoretical scientist by nature. My hobby is understanding macoeconomics. I fell into this problem because no doctor helped me for over 50 years so I figured it out for myself. I am writting an ad (maybe journal article, I am being teased by Science and Scientific American). In my ad I put all the things I have figured out about sugar processing by humans. One of the things I am considering adding is maybe all reactive hypoglycemia can be completely controlled by my diet. What say you about that possibility?

I think that would be an extremely bold statement to make, especially as every person experiencing hypoglycaemia had a different physiological make up, and differently performing physiological functionality. Personally, I would never make that statement, even if I did well research, under extremely strict research protocols, based on a finite number of individuals.

The statement "There are exceptions to every rule", usually holds true. In my experience of life, the only certainty is uncertainty.

 

[GrantGam]

Hi

I guess I didn't understand. I read about the standard treatment for reactive hypoglycemia and it says nothing about stopping it in its tracks if you eat a small enough amount of sugar/starch. Can you completely control reactive hypoglycemia with a very low sugar/starch diet? Dose anyone know? By the way giving me sugar/starch when I have hypoglycemia (and another fellow traveller) leads to worse problems many hours later.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I feel that there's a sort of language barrier issue here?

If you read the RH link that I posted for you, under the "treatment" section - the first recommendation is to reduce carbohydrate intake. So that's probably the best way to stop RH "in it's tracks". How well it can be stopped is dependant on your efforts and the impact that RH has on you.

 

[Lamont D]

I have stopped RH in its tracks, to use that statement because I haven't had a hypo in well over two years! That is controlled by diet! Very low carb!
Try to avoid carbs as much as possible!
I have found my way by experimenting and testing!
With help from my endocrinologist and those on this forum that made me realise that no matter how strange it is, that our body which relies on glucose, is our enemy in amounts that makes our insulin overshoot.
Hypo treatment is different because of the rebound effect of creating too much glucose and of course too much insulin. To be healthy, we have to avoid carbs, especially most sugars or anything ending in 'ose'!
My body works better without a lot of food, being in ketosis is really healthy for us RH ers.
May I add that those with RH and diabetes, you have to adjust your treatment as in diet to what suits the person individually.
No one that has posted, that I'm aware of has the same symptoms, same timing of initial and secondary insulin response. And we all hyper and hypo at different times and severity!
Control is key!
The only drug I've heard helps is sitagliptin, but that reduces the hyper and changes the chemical response in glucogenesis. It is still a condition that has no cure and only a strict diet will keep you healthy!
Many thanks to the other responders, as my time on here is limited!

 

[yetta2mymom]

I think that would be an extremely bold statement to make, especially as every person experiencing hypoglycaemia had a different physiological make up, and differently performing physiological functionality. Personally, I would never make that statement, even if I did well research, under extremely strict research protocols, based on a finite number of individuals.

The statement "There are exceptions to every rule", usually holds true. In my experience of life, the only certainty is uncertainty.

Hi

If my theory of why reactive hypoglycemia happens then my statement would be true (except in exceptional cases where there is (also?) another problem). I guess that all humans have the plumbing to have my insulin reaction. The reason for my problem is obvious (to me). When my blood sugar goes above an unknown (maybe even variable) amount I stop the hormones which produce insulin resistance (again all humans have the hormones but most only use them occationally) I then put out enough insulin to keep my blood sugar from going too high even though I remain somewhat insulin resistant. I had an autoimmune reaction in 1957. I destroyed one type cell in my adrenal glands. This compromised the (complicated?) chemistry that allowed me to always wait for the hormones to clear so I was not insulin resistant (takes over 1 hour). If I do not need to produce insulin after stopping the hormones. I no longer wait the necessary time and take my blood sugar down even though I am still mostly insulin resistant (I get the symoptoms that lead evolution to wait for the hormones to clear). The other humans have dug up my response from their plumbing and have problems without insulin resistance since one of the problems associated with this autoimmune situation is turning off your normal response to put out the hormones to prevent hypoglycemia. I therefore guess that you need to go above an unknown blood sugar reading to have your problems.

 

[AndBreathe]

Hi

If my theory of why reactive hypoglycemia happens then my statement would be true (except in exceptional cases where there is (also?) another problem). I guess that all humans have the plumbing to have my insulin reaction. The reason for my problem is obvious (to me). When my blood sugar goes above an unknown (maybe even variable) amount I stop the hormones which produce insulin resistance (again all humans have the hormones but most only use them occationally) I then put out enough insulin to keep my blood sugar from going too high even though I remain somewhat insulin resistant. I had an autoimmune reaction in 1957. I destroyed one type cell in my adrenal glands. This compromised the (complicated?) chemistry that allowed me to always wait for the hormones to clear so I was not insulin resistant (takes over 1 hour). If I do not need to produce insulin after stopping the hormones. I no longer wait the necessary time and take my blood sugar down even though I am still mostly insulin resistant (I get the symoptoms that lead evolution to wait for the hormones to clear). The other humans have dug up my response from their plumbing and have problems without insulin resistance since one of the problems associated with this autoimmune situation is turning off your normal response to put out the hormones to prevent hypoglycemia. I therefore guess that you need to go above an unknown blood sugar reading to have your problems.

I don't suffer with hypoglycaemia. In fact, I have never knowingly had a hypo, even though my blood scores have indeed been very low.

 

[yetta2mymom]

Hi

Interesting, I knew that we can adjust to low blood sugar. I feel bad or not with a blood sugar reading of 60. I did not know that the blood sugar can be very low and some people can still adjust.

 

[yetta2mymom]

Reducing your carbohydrate intake will (in almost all cases) benefit all types of disbetes and also reactive hypoglycemia:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/reactive-hypoglycemia.html

I've had a look through some of your old posts and they seem to be mainly statements rather than questions. Is there something you want to know that hasn't already been answered in this thread that you also started?

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/thr...oglycemia-are-due-to-the-same-problem.110575/

Tbh, I don't see much of a difference between the two threads - and your "query" was answered clearly by @lindisfel and @Lamont D.

Hi
I am writing an ad or Journal Article (Science and Scientific American are teasing me). I keep expanding my article. My latest expansion may be a statement indicating that all reactive hypoglycemia can be controlled by eating a very restricted sugar/starch diet and my theory of what causes reactive hypoglycemia. I am trying to get feedback to see if my idea is true. In the U.S. I get rich every first of the year as I have to take a minimum distribution from retirement accounts. So if nothing happens with Science and/or Scientific American (they tease me by implying they will publish my ad but what century). If you have any other suggestion about a Journal which might publish an article which is mostly theory tell me about it. If nothing happens I probably will pay a small fortune (think a small car) to the N.Y. Times to publish my ad. Sorry I finally figured out why I could not post this reply.

 

[Lamont D]

Hi

Interesting, I knew that we can adjust to low blood sugar. I feel bad or not with a blood sugar reading of 60. I did not know that the blood sugar can be very low and some people can still adjust.

Hi, again!
Yes, I am continually in between 72 & 90!
I in my opinion have to be in those figures to feel good!
My body has adapted and adopted a low glucose level.
The effect of not have high insulin in my blood because of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia seems to offset the need for glucose for what I eat!
My body seems to work better during a fast or eating very small, very low carb fresh food. I seem to have the benefit of what my body tells me is wrong for me.
My body tells me if I even attempt to go out of my comfort zone in other words, I live in normal blood sugar range, it's where I'm happy and so is my endocrine system.
And yes! People can survive and live very happy in the 50-60 zone! And feel no symptoms!

 

[yetta2mymom]

Hi, again!
Yes, I am continually in between 72 & 90!
I in my opinion have to be in those figures to feel good!
My body has adapted and adopted a low glucose level.
The effect of not have high insulin in my blood because of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia seems to offset the need for glucose for what I eat!
My body seems to work better during a fast or eating very small, very low carb fresh food. I seem to have the benefit of what my body tells me is wrong for me.
My body tells me if I even attempt to go out of my comfort zone in other words, I live in normal blood sugar range, it's where I'm happy and so is my endocrine system.
And yes! People can survive and live very happy in the 50-60 zone! And feel no symptoms!

HI

You have not specified if you have reactive hypoglycemia when you eat too much sugar/starch. This may sound strange but you have the normal reaction to a very low sugar/starch diet for people with the "normal" sugar processing. I am waiting for my expert to tell me if there is something wrong with my theories and/or reactive hypoglycemia can almost always be stopped by diet. Guess what, if I control my sugar/starch my fasting blood sugar rises. I am always in insulin resistance and so I never sop up the sugar in my blood. My latest fasting blood sugar was 98. Yet my (A1C U.S.) was 5.5 considered too good to be true. I may be forced to buy an ad in the N.Y. Times as no one else will take my money.

 

[lindisfel]

HI

You have not specified if you have reactive hypoglycemia when you eat too much sugar/starch. This may sound strange but you have the normal reaction to a very low sugar/starch diet for people with the "normal" sugar processing. I am waiting for my expert to tell me if there is something wrong with my theories and/or reactive hypoglycemia can almost always be stopped by diet. Guess what, if I control my sugar/starch my fasting blood sugar rises. I am always in insulin resistance and so I never sop up the sugar in my blood. My latest fasting blood sugar was 98. Yet my (A1C U.S.) was 5.5 considered too good to be true. I may be forced to buy an ad in the N.Y. Times as no one else will take my money.

Yes Yetta, you could have problems with your blood cell life being short?

 

[Lamont D]

HI

You have not specified if you have reactive hypoglycemia when you eat too much sugar/starch. This may sound strange but you have the normal reaction to a very low sugar/starch diet for people with the "normal" sugar processing. I am waiting for my expert to tell me if there is something wrong with my theories and/or reactive hypoglycemia can almost always be stopped by diet. Guess what, if I control my sugar/starch my fasting blood sugar rises. I am always in insulin resistance and so I never sop up the sugar in my blood. My latest fasting blood sugar was 98. Yet my (A1C U.S.) was 5.5 considered too good to be true. I may be forced to buy an ad in the N.Y. Times as no one else will take my money.

Yes, I do have RH in both circumstances. I do have normal blood sugar levels. But that's because, not being in normal range, my reaction is severe. If I can stop RH in its tracks so can you by avoiding the carbs and sugars that gives the symptoms of RH!
It seems me that you are not strict enough in your food intake of these unnecessary foods! You have to stop the rise (hyper) to prevent the lows (hypos).
If didn't eat very low carb, my insulin resistance would increase, as would my glucose and insulin levels. And I would be back in my hypo hell! Rebounding, bouncing fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
My Hba1c was in the 4s!
Also my fasting vary between 4-5!

And I agree that it does seem you have a short cell life!

Non of us is exactly the same, but I am certain through experience that very low carb works to stop RH in its tracks!

And if I were you, I would save up my money and have a nice holiday instead!

 

[yetta2mymom]

Yes, I do have RH in both circumstances. I do have normal blood sugar levels. But that's because, not being in normal range, my reaction is severe. If I can stop RH in its tracks so can you by avoiding the carbs and sugars that gives the symptoms of RH!
It seems me that you are not strict enough in your food intake of these unnecessary foods! You have to stop the rise (hyper) to prevent the lows (hypos).
If didn't eat very low carb, my insulin resistance would increase, as would my glucose and insulin levels. And I would be back in my hypo hell! Rebounding, bouncing fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
My Hba1c was in the 4s!
Also my fasting vary between 4-5!

And I agree that it does seem you have a short cell life!

Non of us is exactly the same, but I am certain through experience that very low carb works to stop RH in its tracks!

And if I were you, I would save up my money and have a nice holiday instead!

Hi

Good luck. You may have a form of reactive hypoglycemia but I do not know enough. If you are like me you have trouble getting food on trips.

I have lost track but in 1964 I figured out (for myself from my glucose tolerance test and my knowledge of what low blood sugar brings, thanks to the doctor who (I assume) thought my wife was describing low blood sugar) that my worst episodes were low blood sugar and they occurred over 3 hours after eating too much sugar/starch/alcohol. About 10 years ago I decided people saying that a very low sugar/starch diet was unhealthy were talking without data. I had noticed when I didn't eat I felt better so I went on my present diet. Just in case I take vitamin pills (not sure if necessary) and as my ad indicates I had related symptoms which dissipated in about 2 years. I assume I got some collateral damage when I destroyed the cells in my adrenal glands these remain. They are an overreaction to epinephrine and the symptoms usually associated with an enlarged prostate. Probably from my reaction to more than a little sugar/starch I ended up with high blood pressure. I guessed that I had overcome it with my diet and I slowly removed the high blood pressure medication against the advice of my cover my ass doctors. Without the medication my blood pressure is fine and the meds had made me into a zombie. I told my doctor that unless my blood pressure became extreme I would rather take my chances than go back on the meds.

 

[Lamont D]

Hi

Good luck. You may have a form of reactive hypoglycemia but I do not know enough. If you are like me you have trouble getting food on trips.

I have lost track but in 1964 I figured out (for myself from my glucose tolerance test and my knowledge of what low blood sugar brings, thanks to the doctor who (I assume) thought my wife was describing low blood sugar) that my worst episodes were low blood sugar and they occurred over 3 hours after eating too much sugar/starch/alcohol. About 10 years ago I decided people saying that a very low sugar/starch diet was unhealthy were talking without data. I had noticed when I didn't eat I felt better so I went on my present diet. Just in case I take vitamin pills (not sure if necessary) and as my ad indicates I had related symptoms which dissipated in about 2 years. I assume I got some collateral damage when I destroyed the cells in my adrenal glands these remain. They are an overreaction to epinephrine and the symptoms usually associated with an enlarged prostate. Probably from my reaction to more than a little sugar/starch I ended up with high blood pressure. I guessed that I had overcome it with my diet and I slowly removed the high blood pressure medication against the advice of my cover my ass doctors. Without the medication my blood pressure is fine and the meds had made me into a zombie. I told my doctor that unless my blood pressure became extreme I would rather take my chances than go back on the meds.

Just a quick reply and I will get back to some of your points later!
I know I have a type of reactive hypoglycaemia. I have been diagnosed thoroughly!
And because of my diagnosis and suggestions from this forum from others who have a type of RH, and there are many, testing, experience and experimenting has led me to the conclusion that diet is key, and eating fresh non carby, non-sugary foods has improved my health and my daily life so much, that as in your words, I was a zombie.
Best wishes

 

[yetta2mymom]

Hi
Just thought you might find this interesting. My experience with my body getting my blood sugar down before the hormones had cleared (can't prove this but the informal timing of when it happened indicates this) lead to brain fog as well as very tired. My meds just cut my energy and made everything into an effort. They are subtly different.

Neil