Unsure if it’s hypoglycaemia

Gigi98 said:

Hi everyone,

I wondered if I could get some advice? Over the past 6 months I have been having random episodes (normally in the mornings) of jitters throughout my whole body, extreme hunger and extreme sleepiness. I thought it was linked to a beta blocker that I take but it occurred to me recently it could be signs of low blood sugar. I wasn’t sure if I need to get this checked out, when I’m really sleepy I just go to sleep and I think this may not be the best idea if it is low bg
It doesn’t happen every day, it’s very random. How many episodes were you having before seeing your GP? I’m worried I will go and they will dismiss it as not happening very often and so not important.

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Hi, @Gigi98 and welcome to the forum.
A few questions if I may,, please.
Have you eaten before the episodes?
If you have, how long after food?
Any more symptoms?
On any meds? Other than you posted!

My advice at this stage is contact your GP, tell him about the what I call sugar crashes, and the other symptoms especially feeling weak and falling asleep at odd times.
Get him to get a full blood panel to see if there is reason for the symptoms.
If there is something, see if you can get a glucometer or cgm off your doctor or buy one.
then test before and after meals and keep a food diary if it has something to do with food intolerance or prediabetes.

it would not harm you to reduce your carb intake especially first thing.

best wishes.

Gigi98 said:

Hi @Lamont D!

When it happens in the morning, I have those feelings from the minute I wake up but it also sometimes happens if I have dinner later than normal (so maybe it’s been 5 hours since I last ate lunch).
I have a few other symptoms- sweating, palpitations, and generally feeling not great.
Apart from the beta blocker, I also take an inhaler for Asthma.
Would these episodes have to happen everyday in order to be taken seriously do you think?

Thank you so much for the advice and for replying!

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Not really.
Hypoglycaemia is usually the result of an intolerance to something.
In the extreme it is usually referred as an allergy.
But if it only effects your blood glucose levels then it means that a substance triggers the bodies response by an over the top hormonal response. That is why, some conditions such as thyroid, have similar symptoms, in my case my response to certain food, caused a trigger for excess insulin (a hormone) release, which drives my blood glucose levels down into Hypoglycaemia.
Tests are necessary to find what is happening and of course it is a diagnostic series of tests if your doctors suspect something that is an abnormal response.

After I was going through all the tests, I realised that certain foods would cause certain symptoms and Sen I had stopped eating these foods, the symptoms lapsed, my health improved.
One of the reasons why I had multiple hypos before diagnosis, was, I was told to have porridge for my breakfast, so every day, thinking that this so called healthy food was good for me. Whereas it was the start of a rollercoaster ride of high blood glucose and then low blood glucose levels and all the symptoms.

So for me, if I hadn't had porridge and instead had back and egg, then I would have only had episodes of hypoglycaemia after I had eaten carbs or sugars, and include the hidden sugars and oils, included in manufactured or processed food, the likes of vegetable oils, palm oil, sweeteners and many others over time will impact on your health.
Why do they it hold letters for wheat on baked products? Yes for gluten intolerance but also for the wheat itself!

My history from childhood around food has been difficult. I was dairy (lactose) intolerant from young, my aversion to cooked vegetables, but I could eat the likes of carrot or spinach, salad vegetables all the time. I was very picky, especially with seafood. I have had to adapt to a dietary balance that suited my tastes and hormonal response.

Keep asking.
But get in touch with your GP

If your symptoms are worrying you then I think it’s worth raising with your GP.

Wouldn't it be best to get yourself a bg monitor and when you next get one of these episodes do a test and if it's a low reading you will know that's the reason why !

Gigi98 said:

Yes I will have to look at getting one

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Ask your GP first, you never know, you might get lucky!