Not diabetic but got a question.

[Rossi_uk]

I last had a fasting blood test last year. Was' normal'. The reason i had this is because i kept getting hungry every hour and would get the shakes if i didn't eat. In the past two days i have had extremely dry mouth. Shakes if i don't eat or have a lucozade. I went to the doctor the other day and they tested my urine for sugar but there was none in it. They didn't think i needed another fasting test. But my mouth is so dry, i get shakes if i don't eat, warm and clammy and feel faint ish. So guess what I'm asking is what's the best course of action? My mum and nan also get this if they don't eat in big gaps but neither diabetic. Thank you x

 

[Daibell]

For peace of mind you might want to get hold of a blood glucose meter? You could then test your sugar and check that for some reason it isn't going too low e.g. below 3-4 mmol. If too low then you get the symptoms of hypoglycaemia which includes shaking etc.

 

[lrw60]

Hi Rossi.
When I used to work on the building sites some years back I wouldn't have anything to eat all day, except a breakfast consisting of a cup of tea and many biscuits. I worked hard at my job and many times I would get symptoms like yours. For me and many others who do the same sort of work it's overstretching your bodys resources. Are you eating enough of the right food at the right time of day?
Lee

 

[SamJB]

If you have undiagnosed diabetes your levels will be high, NEVER low.

What you are experiencing is hypoglycaemia, but this is normal when you are hungry. When I try to explain what a hypo feels like to non-diabetics, I ask them to recall feeling shaky when hungry. All people that I have explained this to recognise this.

If there is no glucose in your urine and you experience hypo symptoms then you definitely do not have diabetes.

 

[Geocacher]

Rossi_uk --

What you are describing is reactive hypoglycaemia and you may need to have a six hour GTT before they find it. I have diabetes and reactive hypoglycaemia and that's a difficult combination... when my body does manage to produce insulin it doesn't always know when it's produced enough and I can go from having a prolonged high to a low in a matter of minutes.

My GP didn't believe me until she asked me to come in for a fasting blood test and I had a hypo in her office. At that point I was given a meter and asked to keep a record of my lows. Everyone is different and I had hypo symptoms at around 4.2 on the meter, technically too high for a hypo but not if your blood glucose drops rapidly. A three hour GTT didn't find anything odd, a six hour test clearly showed a high followed by a low rather than leveling out like it should have for a normal person. Be persistent with your GP and don't be afraid to print off information from reliable sources like the Mayo Clinic website to take to your next appointment.

Diet is usually the best treatment and you should eat the kind of foods that take longer to digest. Whole grains, complex carbohydrates, proteins, limit refined sugar and simple carbohydrates because they'll cause a hypo as easily as not eating. Most people eat six small meals a day rather than three and keep sensible snacks handy at all times. Best to avoid a hypo rather than using sugar to resolve it because with reactive hypoglycaemia you will have a rebound hypo. If you do need to use sugar then make sure you have some sensible food with it.

 

[Morganator]

My 16 year old son has the same problem, in spite of having a good breakfast and lunch he gets home from school at 3:45 starving hungry and shaking. When I test him using my meter he measures 2.5 - 3.5. Our GP has given him a letter for school saying he must be allowed to eat whenever he feels the need and he carries glucose tablets and a sandwich with him.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[Sid Bonkers]

So guess what I'm asking is what's the best course of action?

To stop your blood sugar dropping low you need to eat regular meals containing healthy natural foods (not fast food).