• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Reactive Hypoglycaemia

Hi @MrBigglesworth.

Have a read of my blog,' 'A reactionary'.
It tells my story.
RH is about control my friend, the excess insulin creates weight gain and symptoms themselves.
If you haven't already, read Wikipedia, on RH.
It has great scientific info and treatment advice.

I am on a med called sitagliptin, which has really helped my everyday life.
The next time you visit your specialist ask him to have a view to taking it.
There was a you tube article thingy, about the evidence in America, that is helping so many RHers cope with the condition.

It's not just low carbing, it's about plate size and eating regularly through the day. If you avoid spiking you avoid the hypos.
You do need to get your head around this. It's a big lifestyle change.
Once you decide to do this, it's for life!
You will feel so much better in control. You won't feel ill!

Us male RHers are rare, there aren't many of us!
Welcome to a very rare group of people.

Let us know how you are doing.

Best wishes

Nosher.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks for helping guys! A few things...
Why is RH so rare specifically in men?
Are sugar free products ok i.e. coke, gum?
I have never been able to put weight on and I heat and drink alot! My weight is constant. Do you find this odd? It shounds like I should have put weight on with this condition and my current dietary habbits! :/
Cutting out beer is going to be really tough!
Thanks! :)
 
There isn't a genuine answer to that, maybe because women have more women's troubles than men, who knows! (Sorry girls!)
I think it's rarer than it should be because diagnosis is not easy and unless you get a specialist who has seen the condition before or knows what to look for.
There are only 2 diagnosed in my health area!
Diet coke, Pepsi max are ok, but I only have one a day.
Gum im not sure about, haven't looked at the packet.
I don't think weight is a problem, if you are already lean.
You can get low carb beer, but it's horrible, you can have some spirits like Bacardi, but not the grain alcohols.
Keep posting, keep asking questions.
 
MrBigglesworth I'm quite new to the group as I only got a diagnosis last October.. I have not been able to eat anything with sugar in it including fruit, fruit juice since being born my poor mum had a nightmare with me. I've been investigated my whole life as they were looking for diabetes which my mum has., always had low blood sugar levels for 52 years but no one thought to look why it happened when I ate food.. And last October I saw a new specialist and hey presto they've found after all these years.. Guess what...I can't have sugar!! As it makes me I'll.. I've had to be very strict all my life I've always been called a fussy eater.. I find eating every two hours like I have been told makes me worse.. I eat four times a day and stick to the same foods, chicken, eggs, cheese, butter, salads, milk, ham, natural yogurt, oat biscuits and sometimes bread and seem to manage ok.. I've kept to my same weight, but when I look back on all the years I always felt different as I couldn't have Easter eggs, jelly, ice cream, sweets all the things my sister and friends had but I avoided them as they made me really Ill so..this is how I've been made and you just get on with it.. I hope you get to manage it ok., I still get hypos especially when I've been exercising, so I'm still trying to manage that part.. Good luck.
Hozzy
 
Thanks for the message Hozzy. Sorry it took them soo long to figure it out for you! Another thing to mention... I'm fairly certain my Dad also has RH due to the similar ways he reacts when eating food. We seem to be very similar genetically given that we share other genetic conditions. I think he is resistant to getting checked out for it though as he wont want to be told to restrict his diet! If I ever get him to get tested I'll let you know.
 
I've never heard of it being hereditary, but it's so rare, who knows!
There are so many different endocrine problems, the number of other diagnosis is possible.
Do you know, what type of RH you have, now having read about it?
I have late RH!
 
@MrBigglesworth - hi and welcome to the forum

Regarding your right side pain - that could also be gallbladder and/or liver. Have you been tested for gallstones and/or have liver function tests?

One of the recent developments with IBS has been the FODMAPS diet which aims to discover which fermentable fibres cause bloating - it can be very personal for individuals so worthwhile doing some eliminations to test. One of the worst triggers for a lot of people seems to be wheat. Sugar and artificial sweeteners can also be problematic. You can find information and download the app for the FODMAPS diet at:

http://www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/

Many people here seem to have experienced an improvement in liver function tests by following variations of the LCHF diet. Fatty liver is one of the many factors in insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome.
 
Hi nosher yes I'm good just getting on with it like you do. And no I've just been told that I have RH it's very rare and they've said because I've managed it all my life there is nothing they can do for me. Even though I still do have hypos down to 2.2s The hospital signed me off giving me a prescription for Acarbose that was 3 months ago. They just gave me really bad stomach upset so I stopped taking them.. I don't think the specialist knew anything about RH he was a diabetic doctor..So that's it!!! I have other health problems but again you have to get on with them but as I'm getting older now 52 I'm finding it harder., I work 3 days as this is enough for me now and keep my fingers crossed that one day my 6 numbers come up so I can be a lady of leisure. How are you?
 
Thanks for the info Indy51. I will be seeing a Gastroenterologist in the near future and I will definitely be requesting they do a scan on the area. Hopefully if it is something like gallstones they will find them. My LFT's are done regularly due to having haemochromatosis and are fine. I have tried the FODMAP diet in the past but it didnt solve my issues. I'd say I followed it fairly well for two weeks. Trying the LCHF diet is definitely my next focus although I have a stag do to attend next weekend which is going to make starting that a little difficult just yet!
 
@nosher8355 - No I've not been told what kind of RH I have. My Endo has simply told me "you have RH" but not the type. She also instructs me to follow a low GI diet which made my symptoms worse. It seems like she should be telling me specifically which type I have so I find this a little frustrating / concerning... Well I'm seeing her next month so I'll hopefully be able to clear up a thing or two then! On the other hand, she has found the condition broadly speaking which I am extremely thankful for!
 
hozzy126 said:
Hi nosher yes I'm good just getting on with it like you do. And no I've just been told that I have RH it's very rare and they've said because I've managed it all my life there is nothing they can do for me. Even though I still do have hypos down to 2.2s The hospital signed me off giving me a prescription for Acarbose that was 3 months ago. They just gave me really bad stomach upset so I stopped taking them.. I don't think the specialist knew anything about RH he was a diabetic doctor..So that's it!!! I have other health problems but again you have to get on with them but as I'm getting older now 52 I'm finding it harder., I work 3 days as this is enough for me now and keep my fingers crossed that one day my 6 numbers come up so I can be a lady of leisure. How are you?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the update @hozzy126.
I'm brilliant, having a day off, and a fasting day.
I've been in work 6 days this week.
My energy levels are so good, I stay away from carbs as much as possible.
Next time you see your specialist (?) Ask him to refer you to an endocrinologist that specializes in RH.
Try and persuade them that I'm doing great on sitagliptin. It has really helped me.
I've got nearly a decade on you, but I'm not letting age get in the way of me feeling better.
Don't just get on with it, there are things that you can do and get help for.
I know it's hard with everything else as well.
Hoping things get better for you.

Best wishes

Nosher
 
Thanks for that nosher information nosher I'm back at docs in a couple of weeks so I will mention that..
And yes age is only a number!! Just some days I feel it more than others . Take care
 
MrBigglesworth said:
@nosher8355 - No I've not been told what kind of RH I have. My Endo has simply told me "you have RH" but not the type. She also instructs me to follow a low GI diet which made my symptoms worse. It seems like she should be telling me specifically which type I have so I find this a little frustrating / concerning... Well I'm seeing her next month so I'll hopefully be able to clear up a thing or two then! On the other hand, she has found the condition broadly speaking which I am extremely thankful for!
Click to expand...
Hi, @MrBigglesworth
A low GI diet is still loaded with carbs, this is where they come unstuck with advice.
A low, low carb diet, just meat, salad, homemade soups and curries, above ground veg. Full fat foods such as cream, yoghurt, butter, cheese. Have an English breakfast, such as bacon, egg, sausage, tomatoes, etc.
Don't have processed foods or low or no fat foods, they are full of sugars.
There are plenty of recipes on the low carb forum.

Frustrations are a symptom!:rolleyes: hang on in there.
Get your blood glucose levels in control, you will feel better when you do.
Yes, it feels like no one is helping, but keep asking questions, it helps just knowing that someone who has been through it, like @Brunneria and myself will help with advice.
 
hozzy126 said:
Thanks for that nosher information nosher I'm back at docs in a couple of weeks so I will mention that..
And yes age is only a number!! Just some days I feel it more than others . Take care
Click to expand...
There is a video, that I can't find about RH and sitagliptin, that someone posted.
It's quite good.
Oh don't get me wrong I do ache, and I'm tired at night, but it's a good tired and not symptoms!
And you take care as well.
 
Yeah I'm tired a lot in the evening more so but they've always put it down to something else!! But I will try and find the video thanks..
 
Hi, found it.
On the thread 'According to my consultant update 2015'
Page 4. Post no 44 by @phoenix.
Hope it helps.

Wish I could do the techie link thingy!
 
Back
Top