Help Cure Reactive Hypoglycemia

Sarabeth23 · Jun 2, 2017

Hello
I have the RH and it's so bad that it's effected my life. I have anxiety and depression because this new person is not me. I stopped driving over a year ago. I have always been a small person but in a year I gained 100 pounds. I can't get a grip on the low blood sugars. I noticed within 5 minutes after eating something good for me my sugar is in the 70s. It's not the healthiest but I manage my sugar with sweet tea and regular meals. I know the sweet tea needs to go. I don't know how to do low carb diets or how long it would take for me to not feel bad. I would like people with experience to help me. My Dr doesn't seem to care about what's going on with me. She sends me to a RN.

I am not a diabetic but they told me on my way to be.

I need help on what foods to eat?
How many protein to carbs and fat?
If sugar drops what do I do to get it up that won't trigger the quick drop.

Please anyone tell me what you did to overcome this.

kokhongw · Jun 2, 2017

Sarabeth23 said:
I noticed within 5 minutes after eating something good for me my sugar is in the 70s.

Welcome to the forum.

A good place to start is to understand what are these good stuff that you are eating.

azure · Jun 2, 2017

A blood sugar in the 70s is normal @Sarabeth23

Have you been diagnosed with Reactive Hypiglycaemia? Have you been given any dietary advice?

Lamont D · Jun 2, 2017

Sarabeth23 said:
Hello
I have the RH and it's so bad that it's effected my life. I have anxiety and depression because this new person is not me. I stopped driving over a year ago. I have always been a small person but in a year I gained 100 pounds. I can't get a grip on the low blood sugars. I noticed within 5 minutes after eating something good for me my sugar is in the 70s. It's not the healthiest but I manage my sugar with sweet tea and regular meals. I know the sweet tea needs to go. I don't know how to do low carb diets or how long it would take for me to not feel bad. I would like people with experience to help me. My Dr doesn't seem to care about what's going on with me. She sends me to a RN.

I am not a diabetic but they told me on my way to be.

I need help on what foods to eat?
How many protein to carbs and fat?
If sugar drops what do I do to get it up that won't trigger the quick drop.

Please anyone tell me what you did to overcome this.

Hi, I have RH!
Have you been diagnosed with RH?
First of all, welcome to our forum and we have all felt and had the symptoms you talk about and it is confusing, we have quite a few posters that have RH and non diabetic like myself and others who have RH with T2.
We learn from each other and the reason for that is that their e are not many doctors dsns or even some specialist endocrinologists who have a clue what is going on, never mind how to treat it.
Most of us are still learning how food affects our bodies and how it affects your blood glucose levels, hence the symptoms and how your health suffers.

If you haven't already read our sticky at the top of our forum page for RH! Do so, as it will give you some inkling to what you are going to have to do to get control.
It is unfortunately about what you eat and drink and diet control is the key to get your health better.

I suffered from real anxiety and I'm aware that reading your post, that the shock and symptoms have got your anxiety working overtime. If you get your low carb diet right, the symptoms will dissipate. Your health will improve and you get your life back.
I did.

Please come back and ask questions, it is about understanding the condition and using that knowledge to control it.

Unfortunately, there is no cure.

Best wishes and welcome to our forum.

Sarabeth23 · Jun 2, 2017

azure said:
A blood sugar in the 70s is normal @Sarabeth23

Have you been diagnosed with Reactive Hypiglycaemia? Have you been given any dietary advice?

I understand 70 is normal. How fast it gets there is not normal. I feel symptoms when it gets to 85 and that's when I freak out needing it to go up. Lowest I seen it go is 63. Which everyone tells me is normal as well. But within a hour of me eating it's there and that's why I drink sweet tea to help keep it up between meals.

Sarabeth23 · Jun 2, 2017

Lamont D said:
Hi, I have RH!
Have you been diagnosed with RH?
First of all, welcome to our forum and we have all felt and had the symptoms you talk about and it is confusing, we have quite a few posters that have RH and non diabetic like myself and others who have RH with T2.
We learn from each other and the reason for that is that their e are not many doctors dsns or even some specialist endocrinologists who have a clue what is going on, never mind how to treat it.
Most of us are still learning how food affects our bodies and how it affects your blood glucose levels, hence the symptoms and how your health suffers.

If you haven't already read our sticky at the top of our forum page for RH! Do so, as it will give you some inkling to what you are going to have to do to get control.
It is unfortunately about what you eat and drink and diet control is the key to get your health better.

I suffered from real anxiety and I'm aware that reading your post, that the shock and symptoms have got your anxiety working overtime. If you get your low carb diet right, the symptoms will dissipate. Your health will improve and you get your life back.
I did.

Please come back and ask questions, it is about understanding the condition and using that knowledge to control it.

Unfortunately, there is no cure.

Best wishes and welcome to our forum.

Well I know theres not a cure for it. I guess I meant manage it. I know there a way. I'm just scared and need advice. I'd rather get advice from people going through it then my Dr that doesn't understand me.

azure · Jun 2, 2017

Sarabeth23 said:
I understand 70 is normal. How fast it gets there is not normal. I feel symptoms when it gets to 85 and that's when I freak out needing it to go up. Lowest I seen it go is 63. Which everyone tells me is normal as well. But within a hour of me eating it's there and that's why I drink sweet tea to help keep it up between meals.

People's blood sugar varies after eating. I don't understand what about your blood sugar results are concerning you.

You say your doctor doesn't understand you - what do you mean?

Sarabeth23 · Jun 2, 2017

kokhongw said:
Welcome to the forum.

A good place to start is to understand what are these good stuff that you are eating.

I try to eat protein in every meal.
Chicken
Eggs
Carb master drink/yogurt
Chicken nuggets/strips
Sandwiches with meat and cheese
And more
I know I need to start on what I need to eat. I'm not the best cook so of course I find frozen food with protein. I stopped eating fast food. It made things worse.

Sarabeth23 · Jun 2, 2017

azure said:
People's blood sugar varies after eating. I don't understand what about your blood sugar results are concerning you.

You say your doctor doesn't understand you - what do you mean?

I switched Drs in January thinking new year new start. She brushes it off like it's nothing and has me seeing a RN down the hall from her. I have been diagnosed with RH. I keep a close eye on my sugar levels. So no it hasn't dropped below 65 and I'm not letting it. I'm concerned because this is a problem for me. It's not a regular hypoglycemia where I don't eat for hours and then this happens. It happens a hour after I eat.

Lamont D · Jun 2, 2017

Sarabeth23 said:
Well I know theres not a cure for it. I guess I meant manage it. I know there a way. I'm just scared and need advice. I'd rather get advice from people going through it then my Dr that doesn't understand me.

Yes, there is and I've been through it all and had to battle my way because I was so bad, that I didn't know or awareness of what was happening to me.

First of all, this will take a few weeks to sort out and you do need to have quite a bit of will power.
Your doctors would not recommend this and it is a life changing experience.
All your life, you have been told that healthy food is what you should eat.
Well, healthy food is not good for us!
What is healthy for us, is food that does not raise blood glucose levels.
You do have to find out what foods you can tolerate, in other words, food that doesn't raise blood glucose levels.
For me, any carbs or sugars do that.
I exist on meat, vegetables, mainly salad, eggs, and other combinations of foods that are very low carb and have saturated fats.
I can tolerate small pieces of fruit and eat a piece of low carb bread each day.
I eat approximately 20gms of carbs a day, which really suits me!

I use intermittent fasting and eat very small meals when I wish to eat.
I'm never hungry, I have really good health.

I have tried everything that is in the diet world and nothing works.
Very low carb and higher fat works for me.
I hope it can work for you.

There are forums to read about low carb, fats, blood glucose monitoring, exercise and how and why through the forums.
The success stories forum is really eye opening about how diabetics and those with rare and unique forms of Hypoglycaemia can control their condition.

It works, I have RH and not had a hypo in over three years!

Lamont D · Jun 2, 2017

Sarabeth23 said:
I switched Drs in January thinking new year new start. She brushes it off like it's nothing and has me seeing a RN down the hall from her. I have been diagnosed with RH. I keep a close eye on my sugar levels. So no it hasn't dropped below 65 and I'm not letting it. I'm concerned because this is a problem for me. It's not a regular hypoglycemia where I don't eat for hours and then this happens. It happens a hour after I eat.

There is something called gastric dumping.
Your glucose levels rocket to to the lack of insulin in your first insulin response.
The second insulin response eventually gets rid of the excess glucose but because of the rapid fluctuations your body is telling you through symptoms that you either need glucose or insulin.
Because your are experiencing fluctuating levels. And continually countering the hypo symptoms, and eating or drinking, the cycle of you feeling hypos get worse.

Sarabeth23 · Jun 2, 2017

Lamont D said:
Yes, there is and I've been through it all and had to battle my way because I was so bad, that I didn't know or awareness of what was happening to me.

First of all, this will take a few weeks to sort out and you do need to have quite a bit of will power.
Your doctors would not recommend this and it is a life changing experience.
All your life, you have been told that healthy food is what you should eat.
Well, healthy food is not good for us!
What is healthy for us, is food that does not raise blood glucose levels.
You do have to find out what foods you can tolerate, in other words, food that doesn't raise blood glucose levels.
For me, any carbs or sugars do that.
I exist on meat, vegetables, mainly salad, eggs, and other combinations of foods that are very low carb and have saturated fats.
I can tolerate small pieces of fruit and eat a piece of low carb bread each day.
I eat approximately 20gms of carbs a day, which really suits me!

I use intermittent fasting and eat very small meals when I wish to eat.
I'm never hungry, I have really good health.

I have tried everything that is in the diet world and nothing works.
Very low carb and higher fat works for me.
I hope it can work for you.

There are forums to read about low carb, fats, blood glucose monitoring, exercise and how and why through the forums.
The success stories forum is really eye opening about how diabetics and those with rare and unique forms of Hypoglycaemia can control their condition.

It works, I have RH and not had a hypo in over three years!

Thank you! I need to find these threads then.

Lamont D · Jun 2, 2017

Sarabeth23 said:
I try to eat protein in every meal.
Chicken
Eggs
Carb master drink/yogurt
Chicken nuggets/strips
Sandwiches with meat and cheese
And more
I know I need to start on what I need to eat. I'm not the best cook so of course I find frozen food with protein. I stopped eating fast food. It made things worse.

Not criticizing, but the more natural fresh food you eat the better.

For someone diagnosed with RH, there is too many carbs in that list!

But you have to slow down and take on board the knowledge and how we deal with the symptoms and conditions.

This will take time to get your head around it!

Best wishes

Lamont D · Jun 2, 2017

Sarabeth23 said:
Thank you! I need to find these threads then.

No probs, take it easy, hope you can find them, if not we can help.

By the way, I'm having roast chicken for tea, that's it!

Best wishes.

kokhongw · Jun 2, 2017

Once we understand that the symptoms are due to excessive insulin response, we can tweak it in a number of ways.

1) Carbs generally trigger the highest insulin response, followed by proteins, and minimal response from fats.
2) A sudden surge in insulin will drive down the glucose level, hence the brain goes into a fuel shortage crisis mode. But our brain can function on glucose AND ketones. Sources of dietary ketones includes MCT Oil and Coconut oil. MCT works fast and disappears fast. Coconut oil works slower but last longer. These alternative brain fuel should calm things down. If necessary you may even consider a full ketogenic diet. Do some research on brain impaired glucose uptake and ketones. It will help you understand your situation better.

But usually a lower carb diet is sufficient. Not too much proteins.

Unless the Dr orders an extended 4-5 hrs OGTT, you are unlikely to get a diagnosis. Most simply dismiss such hunger by asking you to take some fast carbs and get it over with. But if you do that, as many of us did, we eventually developed T2D....

Sarabeth23 · Jun 2, 2017

Lamont D said:
No probs, take it easy, hope you can find them, if not we can help.

By the way, I'm having roast chicken for tea, that's it!

Best wishes.

That is why I'm here. What I am doing is not working for me. I needed guidance and to figure out where to start from here. I want my life back and know I'm on a long road to recover.

Lamont D · Jun 2, 2017

Sarabeth23 said:
That is why I'm here. What I am doing is not working for me. I needed guidance and to figure out where to start from here. I want my life back and know I'm on a long road to recover.

This a great forum, with great advice from knowledgeable diabetics and those like me, non diabetic that needed the help and guidance that you and I need and wanted!
It is a marathon not a sprint.
I was diagnosed (wrongly!) with prediabetes in 2001, T2 (wrongly!) in 2009, Diagnosed (correctly!) 2013.
My endocrinologist and this forum, with its great people and advice saved my life.
I'm fit and healthy, I've got my life back!

Best wishes

Kaz261 · Jun 2, 2017

Hi Sarabeth23 and welcome to the forum.

I too have RH and have been through what you're going through right now. With the help and encouragement from the lovely people on this forum, I now also have my life back.

Have a look around the forum. There's loads of low carb recipes and meal ideas. I can tolerate a few carefully selected carbs as long as I combine them with some protein and healthy fats. It took a lot of experimenting and testing (and feeling pretty rubbish in the meantime) to work that out though.

My advice is to take things one step at a time and make changes slowly. Experiment with combinations of food and different quantities.

As @Lamont D said, this is a marathon not a sprint. It will take time, but if you stick with it and are determined, you can and will begin to feel better.

Good luck

Kaz

Sarabeth23 · Jun 3, 2017

kokhongw said:
Once we understand that the symptoms are due to excessive insulin response, we can tweak it in a number of ways.

1) Carbs generally trigger the highest insulin response, followed by proteins, and minimal response from fats.
2) A sudden surge in insulin will drive down the glucose level, hence the brain goes into a fuel shortage crisis mode. But our brain can function on glucose AND ketones. Sources of dietary ketones includes MCT Oil and Coconut oil. MCT works fast and disappears fast. Coconut oil works slower but last longer. These alternative brain fuel should calm things down. If necessary you may even consider a full ketogenic diet. Do some research on brain impaired glucose uptake and ketones. It will help you understand your situation better.

But usually a lower carb diet is sufficient. Not too much proteins.

Unless the Dr orders an extended 4-5 hrs OGTT, you are unlikely to get a diagnosis. Most simply dismiss such hunger by asking you to take some fast carbs and get it over with. But if you do that, as many of us did, we eventually developed T2D....

Lamont D said:
This a great forum, with great advice from knowledgeable diabetics and those like me, non diabetic that needed the help and guidance that you and I need and wanted!
It is a marathon not a sprint.
I was diagnosed (wrongly!) with prediabetes in 2001, T2 (wrongly!) in 2009, Diagnosed (correctly!) 2013.
My endocrinologist and this forum, with its great people and advice saved my life.
I'm fit and healthy, I've got my life back!

Best wishes

I am so happy to read that! I pray that I can get there one day. Hopefully I transition better then I think. I'm just scared. I'm 26 years old and I can't imagine being scared of this the rest of my life. That's all I want is to be healthy.

Sarabeth23 · Jun 3, 2017

Kaz261 said:
Hi Sarabeth23 and welcome to the forum.

I too have RH and have been through what you're going through right now. With the help and encouragement from the lovely people on this forum, I now also have my life back.

Have a look around the forum. There's loads of low carb recipes and meal ideas. I can tolerate a few carefully selected carbs as long as I combine them with some protein and healthy fats. It took a lot of experimenting and testing (and feeling pretty rubbish in the meantime) to work that out though.

My advice is to take things one step at a time and make changes slowly. Experiment with combinations of food and different quantities.

As @Lamont D said, this is a marathon not a sprint. It will take time, but if you stick with it and are determined, you can and will begin to feel better.

Good luck

Kaz

I'm so happy I found this forum. I talked to a nutritionist that wanted $1,495 to help me. I didn't have that type of money so I googled and hoped to find people like me.

Help Cure Reactive Hypoglycemia

Member

Well-Known Member

Expert

Oracle

Member

Member

Expert

Member

Member

Oracle

Oracle

Member

Oracle

Oracle

Well-Known Member

Member

Oracle

Well-Known Member

Member

Member

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency