non diabetic low bg/hypo

[searley]

HI

Im looking for possible reasons that a non diabetic could have low BG/Hypo

Throughout the day my mum is going as low as 1.2mmol but routinely as low as 2.3mmol. any one else having issues like this.. would like some idea's so that when i persuade her to see the GP she can be armed with some of the right questions.

For a few years now she has suffered unexplained blackouts and im wondering if this could be a symptom of these low BG's, she has MS and the blackouts have always been put down to that, but im not sure now

Im not looking for a diagnosis, just idea's as getting her to agree to a GP visit won't be an easy task, so just want to make sure the most of that visit will be made...

 

[Andydragon]

HI

Im looking for possible reasons that a non diabetic could have low BG/Hypo

Throughout the day my mum is going as low as 1.2mmol but routinely as low as 2.3mmol. any one else having issues like this.. would like some idea's so that when i persuade her to see the GP she can be armed with some of the right questions.

For a few years now she has suffered unexplained blackouts and im wondering if this could be a symptom of these low BG's, she has MS and the blackouts have always been put down to that, but im not sure now

Im not looking for a diagnosis, just idea's as getting her to agree to a GP visit won't be an easy task, so just want to make sure the most of that visit will be made...

It’s not unknown
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/low-blood-sugar-hypoglycaemia/

there are conditions that might be associated, not something I have knowledge on but other posters very well likely do
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/reactive-hypoglycemia.html

 

[Lamont D]

HI

Im looking for possible reasons that a non diabetic could have low BG/Hypo

Throughout the day my mum is going as low as 1.2mmol but routinely as low as 2.3mmol. any one else having issues like this.. would like some idea's so that when i persuade her to see the GP she can be armed with some of the right questions.

For a few years now she has suffered unexplained blackouts and im wondering if this could be a symptom of these low BG's, she has MS and the blackouts have always been put down to that, but im not sure now

Im not looking for a diagnosis, just idea's as getting her to agree to a GP visit won't be an easy task, so just want to make sure the most of that visit will be made...

Hi @searley
I have Reactive Hypoglycaemia.
It is a non diabetic condition.
I won't go into into the science but non diabetic Hypoglycaemia has many reasons for it to happen. It could be food, insulinoma, pancreatitis, cancer. Don't want to scare you, the first step is to find why your mum is going hypo.
What are her fasting levels?
Is it random or after food?
Can she fast?
Any other symptoms?

I have suffered with hypos and have had blackouts before diagnosis.

The logical next step is to have an extended (5 hours) OGTT.
This will tell the doctor a lot about what is going on.
They should do a full blood panel test, including c-peptide and GAD. As well as a fasting insulin and function tests

If your mum and you are not getting anywhere, because it is highly likely that your GP won't have the training to diagnose Hypoglycaemia, insist on a referral to a specialist endocrinologist who has experience of non diabetic Hypoglycaemia.

I would also ask you to look at the RH forum, and see if anything rings a bell.
Your mum needs tests and only specialists can authorise them.
Take care of your mum, see if there is a pattern to when she does go low.

Stay safe.

 

[EllieM]

Hi @Lamont D , just deleted my post which was tagging you.. Glad to know that you are always here to advise on low bgs. Just need to add in @Brunneria .

 

[searley]

Thanks this was first pointed out when she was in hospital, having partial lung removal due to cancer.. they just said that's strange and gave her some biscuits..

now im aware it could just be the stress from surgery that has caused this.. but it just made me think about the black outs over the last few years..

i will give her time to recover from her surgery then we will keep an eye on her bg... at least i now have something to read up on.. an something to discuss with GP if needed

Hi @searley
I have Reactive Hypoglycaemia.
It is a non diabetic condition.
I won't go into into the science but non diabetic Hypoglycaemia has many reasons for it to happen. It could be food, insulinoma, pancreatitis, cancer. Don't want to scare you, the first step is to find why your mum is going hypo.
What are her fasting levels?
Is it random or after food?
Can she fast?
Any other symptoms?

I have suffered with hypos and have had blackouts before diagnosis.

The logical next step is to have an extended (5 hours) OGTT.
This will tell the doctor a lot about what is going on.
They should do a full blood panel test, including c-peptide and GAD. As well as a fasting insulin and function tests

If your mum and you are not getting anywhere, because it is highly likely that your GP won't have the training to diagnose Hypoglycaemia, insist on a referral to a specialist endocrinologist who has experience of non diabetic Hypoglycaemia.

I would also ask you to look at the RH forum, and see if anything rings a bell.
Your mum needs tests and only specialists can authorise them.
Take care of your mum, see if there is a pattern to when she does go low.

Stay safe.

 

[EllieM]

stress from surgery that has caused this

Struggling at stress from surgery causing low bgs rather than high, but the human body is a weird thing.
Honestly I am boggling that she is conscious at 1.2mmol/L, I don't think I would be.

Good luck.

 

[Lamont D]

Thanks this was first pointed out when she was in hospital, having partial lung removal due to cancer.. they just said that's strange and gave her some biscuits..

now im aware it could just be the stress from surgery that has caused this.. but it just made me think about the black outs over the last few years..

i will give her time to recover from her surgery then we will keep an eye on her bg... at least i now have something to read up on.. an something to discuss with GP if needed

I'm trying not to worry or confuse you, but that is typical of how our medical training is lacking in understanding of most Hypoglycaemic conditions and there are a few.
That reminds me of my first eOGTT, when I went hypo, they gave me a buttie and lucozade, which I didn't have, I asked for a cup of tea and something to get my blood levels back up, a couple of biscuits was the answer. But because I had too many, I had rebound effect and went hypo again. A couple of plain biscuits will only raise bloods a little, such as rich tea.
Don't over treat a low, your mum will be on a rollercoaster ride of blood levels all day.
Of course, if it is non diabetic Hypoglycaemia.
Let us know how your mum is doing.

Best wishes

 

[searley]

Struggling at stress from surgery causing low bgs rather than high, but the human body is a weird thing.
Honestly I am boggling that she is conscious at 1.2mmol/L, I don't think I would be.

Good luck.

I know.. surgery stress unlikely but have to rule it out..

The only reason I don’t question the 1.2 is that it was done in the hospital.. and another reason I think it’s gone on for a while before the surgery is she was unaware so the body must be used to these low levels…. They said in the hospital they were surprised she was conscious.. but all they did was provide biscuits

I figure that if we can atleast figure a reason and deal with it

I guess in short term I can suggest smaller meals more frequently

 

[EllieM]

I guess in short term I can suggest smaller meals more frequently

Has she been seen by an endocrinologist?

 

[searley]

Has she been seen by an endocrinologist?

No… she was only released from the hospital yesterday following the partial lung removal… where she wasn’t allowed visitors..

And it was only this morning when I visited her and my pump started beeping and she asked why.. I responded with my BG is high.. that she spilled the beans about hers being low

I know at the moment I’m going to have a fight in my hands as she’s not going to want to see the gp again after what she’s been through the last few days

 

[Lamont D]

Hi @Lamont D , just deleted my post which was tagging you.. Glad to know that you are always here to advise on low bgs. Just need to add in @Brunneria .

Hi @EllieM

This was me many years ago, I didn't have a clue, my doctors at my surgery didn't have a clue, it wasn't until I had an idea and advised by my endocrinologists dietician to look at this site, did someone give me the best advice I couldn't get anywhere else.

I couldn't believe that there was nothing out there, not a lot of research and experience dealing with Hypoglycaemia. And then there's the logic behind the treatment advice. Every aspect of it was just stupid, it's about avoiding the food that causes the hypo, would they ask someone who has a peanut allergy to eat peanuts?

And Brun and I were right to ask for a forum on here as part of the hyperglycaemia/Hypoglycaemia family. The number of posters and threads are a testament to Brunneria, who is so knowledgeable about glyceamic issues.

Stay safe

 

[Lamont D]

No… she was only released from the hospital yesterday following the partial lung removal… where she wasn’t allowed visitors..

And it was only this morning when I visited her and my pump started beeping and she asked why.. I responded with my BG is high.. that she spilled the beans about hers being low

I know at the moment I’m going to have a fight in my hands as she’s not going to want to see the gp again after what she’s been through the last few days

You certainly have!

 

[Brunneria]

@searley

Sorry to hear about your mum. Hope she has a good recovery.

In your mother’s situation it could be a few things, from the stress/trauma of the op, a reaction to medications, or reactive hypoglycaemia. There are probably others that I don’t know about, too.

At this stage you don’t really know if her ‘blackouts’ are connected, or not.

So she REALLY needs to consult with her doc, and please don’t let them fob her off without a proper investigation and a treatment plan. If it is RH then she should be referred to someone who has actually heard of it (few docs even know it exists).

Someone recovering from an op, prone to ‘blackouts’ and low blood glucose episodes could fall or collapse and get injured, quite apart from the risks of repeated low hypos.