I think i might have hypoglycemia

[Lamont D]

That' s the department i saw years ago. They were adamant i didn't have diabetes. In fact they were emphatic about it. But that's about all they could say. The first GP I saw said he had similar symptoms and said I shuld just carry a packet of biscuits around with me to snack on.

Once again, I've encountered many health professionals who didn't have a clue about Hypoglycaemia, even an endocrinologist!
When you have your GPs appointment ask him to refer you to an endocrinologist who has specialty in metabolic conditions, not a diabetic endocrinologist.
The GP should have a reference to who is qualified, even if it isn't in your local hospital or area.
Best wishes, take it easy!

My hypo recovery was a plain biscuit and a cuppa, followed by a small low carb meal with fat about fifteen minutes later.
Keep fighting!

 

[lindisfel]

Have you been checked for an Insulinoma Ghost whistler? D.

 

[ghost_whistler]

Have you been checked for an Insulinoma Ghost whistler? D.

Never heard of it.

I had to wait 70 minutes to be seen, which was fun.

The dr took some blood samples, but I had to ever so slightly twist her arm to do it. Her initial reaction was that this isn't diabetes or whatever, it's just, again, how some people are these days. I said I want to be tested for everything so hopefully that will happen. I mentioned low carb diets and she said that they are really intended for weight loss and that they can affect the kidneys if used long term, i think becuase of the fats involved. She wasn't opposed to such a thing, but that a balanced diet would be better. I don't know. Without a diagnosis I've no idea what to think. Quite honestly this is doing my head in and making me very depressed. I've no idea what Insulinoma is, but I can only hope that, when they do the blood work, any problems will show up.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Never heard of it.

I had to wait 70 minutes to be seen, which was fun.

The dr took some blood samples, but I had to ever so slightly twist her arm to do it. Her initial reaction was that this isn't diabetes or whatever, it's just, again, how some people are these days. I said I want to be tested for everything so hopefully that will happen. I mentioned low carb diets and she said that they are really intended for weight loss and that they can affect the kidneys if used long term, i think becuase of the fats involved. She wasn't opposed to such a thing, but that a balanced diet would be better. I don't know. Without a diagnosis I've no idea what to think. Quite honestly this is doing my head in and making me very depressed. I've no idea what Insulinoma is, but I can only hope that, when they do the blood work, any problems will show up.

Did you tell her about those very low readings and when they occurred? Did you ask for a referral to a consultant?

 

[zand]

When you get the blood test results ask for a copy then if there's anything you are unsure of you can ask for more help here. It's usually low carb high protein diets that damage the kidneys. Some of us here have found that LCHF actually improves our kidney function. You can also get low blood sugar if the kidney function is impaired, but this will show up in your blood tests. Well done for getting the cancellation, at least you have started the ball rolling now

 

[ghost_whistler]

Did you tell her about those very low readings and when they occurred? Did you ask for a referral to a consultant?

Yes, and no.

 

[lindisfel]

Hi GW, I think why the doctor will be worried about low carb is the possible increase in dietary protein. This can hammer the kidneys and some restrict the daily amount to one gram / kg of body weight. Be guided by your blood test and GP on kidney function. regards Derek

 

[lindisfel]

Hi GW, I have a large tumour in my right adrenal and it produces a lot of the hormone adosterone. A tumour in the pancreas can produce unregulated insulin and drive your blood glucose down to very low levels when your not eating overnight. I would recommend you check your levels of b.g. and see if they are low overnight as you found. Let your doctor know without delay if you have not done so. You may have to eat in the night to stop passing out with hypoglyceamia. You may have a serious situation developing and it needs checking as blue tit said. regs D.

 

[Brunneria]

How are you feeling today, @ghost_whistler ?
Any more hypos?

As Lindisfel says, setting the alarm for sometime in the small hours, and testing bg is a really good idea, at least until you have mapped out your usual blood glucose levels and feel that you know what is going on.

 

[ghost_whistler]

How are you feeling today, @ghost_whistler ?
Any more hypos?

As Lindisfel says, setting the alarm for sometime in the small hours, and testing bg is a really good idea, at least until you have mapped out your usual blood glucose levels and feel that you know what is going on.

I don't have any test strips remaining. There wwere only a few in the test pack.

I have no idea what is going on. The dr said to ring the surgery tomorrow and get the test results, but I don't know what the results will tell me.

I feel hungry about an hour after every meal. Low carb is just a non starter. I cannot afford that amount of meat. Without anything to replace foods like bread (cheese wrapped in cooked meat isn't any good) Im' going to really struggle, particularly on 3 meals a day.

this has really gotten me down and id on't know how to cope with it at all.

 

[ghost_whistler]

Hi GW, I have a large tumour in my right adrenal and it produces a lot of the hormone adosterone. A tumour in the pancreas can produce unregulated insulin and drive your blood glucose down to very low levels when your not eating overnight. I would recommend you check your levels of b.g. and see if they are low overnight as you found. Let your doctor know without delay if you have not done so. You may have to eat in the night to stop passing out with hypoglyceamia. You may have a serious situation developing and it needs checking as blue tit said. regs D.

Let me doctor know what? I've had this condition for years, but I'm struggling at the moment.

 

[catapillar]

Yes, and no.

So did you tell your GP that you had taken readings of less than two in the night? How does that get a yes and no answer? Either you told her or you didn't.

Just to give you some perspective, when my diabetic nurse sees readings less than two on my metre she basically has a panic attack, but it easy to tell what's causing mine, I'm taking insulin. If your GP sees those readings they will want to ensure you are thoroughly investigated and referred to a specialist.

 

[Brunneria]

That feeling of hopeless misery you are experiencing? That is a hypo hangover. It is a grey cloud of depressed gloom, emotional and physical, like an all-over bruise. I promise it will pass. You will start to feel better soon, probably tomorrow morning.

I get it every time after a bad hypo. Dreadful. But it does pass.

When it does, and you are feeling more able to face some changes, you can have a think about how to reduce the carbs and increase veg, as a trial. Add cheese, whatever it takes to feel full. But don't worry about it now. Just curl up, keep warm, drink lots of tea, coffee, bovril, whatever comforts you, and take it easy.

 

[Chook]

I think if your doctor hasn't sent you to hospital after you telling him that your BG went down to 1.6 overnight then you ought to be thinking about seeing another doctor. 1.6 is dangerous. If mine went down to 1.6 I'd definitely be calling 999.

 

[Chook]

Just a thought - what did you eat during the evening before you had the 1.6 hypo?

 

[ghost_whistler]

So did you tell your GP that you had taken readings of less than two in the night? How does that get a yes and no answer? Either you told her or you didn't.

Just to give you some perspective, when my diabetic nurse sees readings less than two on my metre she basically has a panic attack, but it easy to tell what's causing mine, I'm taking insulin. If your GP sees those readings they will want to ensure you are thoroughly investigated and referred to a specialist.

I told her that i'd had a low reading. I didn't say what the number was. I haven't been referred to a specialist. All that she did was take some blood for testing. I said that I want everything to be tested, hopefully they will know what to do.

 

[ghost_whistler]

Just a thought - what did you eat during the evening before you had the 1.6 hypo?

I had an evening meal of cooked chicken leg portion and vegetables, no carbs. I get hungry around 8-9pm so I had a sandwich of wholeweat bread cheese and a couple of slices of cooked sausage. I'm going to have the same right now.

It may be possible that reading was wrong. I don't know.

 

[ghost_whistler]

That feeling of hopeless misery you are experiencing? That is a hypo hangover. It is a grey cloud of depressed gloom, emotional and physical, like an all-over bruise. I promise it will pass. You will start to feel better soon, probably tomorrow morning.

I get it every time after a bad hypo. Dreadful. But it does pass.

When it does, and you are feeling more able to face some changes, you can have a think about how to reduce the carbs and increase veg, as a trial. Add cheese, whatever it takes to feel full. But don't worry about it now. Just curl up, keep warm, drink lots of tea, coffee, bovril, whatever comforts you, and take it easy.

I'm afraid i've had this since before wednesday.

I sufer from stress and anxiety anyway, there may be a connection.

 

[Bluetit1802]

I told her that i'd had a low reading. I didn't say what the number was. I haven't been referred to a specialist. All that she did was take some blood for testing. I said that I want everything to be tested, hopefully they will know what to do.

Well you NEED to tell her. The bloods she took the other day won't tell the whole story I'm afraid.

 

[ghost_whistler]

Well you NEED to tell her. The bloods she took the other day won't tell the whole story I'm afraid.

I did tell her, i just didn't say the number.