Low blood sugar

[sesfw]

Saw my heart Dr and he sent me to an endocrinologist because of low blood sugar.

I'm not on insulin, don't have diabetes, eat mostly low sodium, weight normal for my height and age.

What kind of foods will bring my blood sugar into 'normal' range?  All I can find on the internet is for high blood sugar and insulin control.  Where can I look?

Had my third blood test taken since January.  Today was a fasting test so will see what that shows.  Frankly I'm tired of being poked.

[mmhmm]

You need to read up on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). There's plenty available on the internet. Basics are to avoid simple sugars, increase fiber and complex carbs, and eat smaller amounts more often to help  maintain blood glucose at a healthy level.

[cronewitch]

A low carb diet. Omit sugar, flour and white pasta. Low blood sugar means your body is reacting to carbs by producing too much insulin. Try to eat more protein and if you must have sugar only as desert not between meals. Protein like eggs, meat, nuts will help stabilize your sugar. When you eat a simple carb like fruit juice or soda or candy you produce insulin to deal with it then you have too much insulin causing the low blood sugar, the protein gives that insulin something to do. The sugar will make you feel good at first then crash in two hours so then you need more sugar. So say you have doughnuts for breakfast at 8AM by 10AM you need a candybar to make it until lunch, bacon and eggs at 8AM will not cause the same issue even if hungry later you don't need sugar to fix it.

[kittensaver]

My DH has severe hypoglycemia - has had it for years. Severe as in: he had a 5 hour glucose tolerance test (the first hours tell you about how high your blood sugars get; the final hours will tell you how low they can go), and between hours 3 and 4, his blood sugar dropped 65 points!

That's more like a crash, not a drop . . . I sat with him during that test, and he seriously turned sheet white, got dizzy and headachy and almost fainted.

It was an awful thing to experience, but it gave him the information he needed to take care of himself and keep himself on a schedule.

He manages his hypoglycemia by staying away from all forms of sugar; staying away from simple carbs; always eating protein for breakfast (to get his day going right); and always carries with him (or checks to make sure he will be near/have access to) a protein-based snack if he will be out somewhere when it is more than 3 hours since the last time he ate.

mmhmm is right that there are several excellent books out there on the subject of hypoglycemia. DH's favorite was called Low Blood Sugar and You by Carlton Fredericks. However, it was published back in the 1980's, so there may be more recent literature than this book (DH's condition is well-managed, so neither of us has needed to go looking for more updated information).

[mmhmm]

Apr 5, 2016 14:08:00 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

My DH has severe hypoglycemia - has had it for years. Severe as in: he had a 5 hour glucose tolerance test (the first hours tell you about how high your blood sugars get; the final hours will tell you how low they can go), and between hours 3 and 4, his blood sugar dropped 65 points!

That's more like a crash, not a drop . . . I sat with him during that test, and he seriously turned sheet white, got dizzy and headachy and almost fainted.

It was an awful thing to experience, but it gave him the information he needed to take care of himself and keep himself on a schedule.

He manages his hypoglycemia by staying away from all forms of sugar; staying away from simple carbs; always eating protein for breakfast (to get his day going right); and always carries with him (or checks to make sure he will be near/have access to) a protein-based snack if he will be out somewhere when it is more than 3 hours since the last time he ate.

mmhmm is right that there are several excellent books out there on the subject of hypoglycemia. DH's favorite was called Low Blood Sugar and You by Carlton Fredericks. However, it was published back in the 1980's, so there may be more recent literature than this book (DH's condition is well-managed, so neither of us has needed to go looking for more updated information).

Yep. Hypoglycemia can really make one feel sick! Glad your DH got his under control!

It's best to rely on more recent information. Years ago a high protein diet was recommended but that's no longer true. Now, it's been found to be more beneficial to stick with something closer to the diabetic's diet. Proteins should, of course, be included and are always a good start to anyone's day; however, avoiding the simple carbs and sugars and eating more often has proven to be more helpful than the "old ways." I really can't recall when the changes were made, though. Keeping healthy snacks available is also important.

[sesfw]

Thank you for the information, you have given me a place to start. I didn't know what to look for.


I have an appointment on April 14 and all three blood tests will be compared and we'll talk about where to go from there.  I usually keep unsalted nuts with me at work  so the protein is there.


Adventures of getting older .........

[kittensaver]

Apr 5, 2016 14:41:03 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Apr 5, 2016 14:08:00 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

My DH has severe hypoglycemia - has had it for years. Severe as in: he had a 5 hour glucose tolerance test (the first hours tell you about how high your blood sugars get; the final hours will tell you how low they can go), and between hours 3 and 4, his blood sugar dropped 65 points!

That's more like a crash, not a drop . . . I sat with him during that test, and he seriously turned sheet white, got dizzy and headachy and almost fainted.

It was an awful thing to experience, but it gave him the information he needed to take care of himself and keep himself on a schedule.

He manages his hypoglycemia by staying away from all forms of sugar; staying away from simple carbs; always eating protein for breakfast (to get his day going right); and always carries with him (or checks to make sure he will be near/have access to) a protein-based snack if he will be out somewhere when it is more than 3 hours since the last time he ate.

mmhmm is right that there are several excellent books out there on the subject of hypoglycemia. DH's favorite was called Low Blood Sugar and You by Carlton Fredericks. However, it was published back in the 1980's, so there may be more recent literature than this book (DH's condition is well-managed, so neither of us has needed to go looking for more updated information).

Yep. Hypoglycemia can really make one feel sick! Glad your DH got his under control!

It's best to rely on more recent information. Years ago a high protein diet was recommended but that's no longer true. Now, it's been found to be more beneficial to stick with something closer to the diabetic's diet. Proteins should, of course, be included and are always a good start to anyone's day; however, avoiding the simple carbs and sugars and eating more often has proven to be more helpful than the "old ways." I really can't recall when the changes were made, though. Keeping healthy snacks available is also important.

Well he's not on a high-protein diet - he just makes sure that when his blood sugar gets low, he eats protein instead of a fast carb (sugar, etc). Sugar is the quickest pick-me-up, but it also leads to the biggest crash later. Fat and protein keep you fuller long and keep you from crashing. Sugar just keeps you on the roller coaster.

And he also starts each day with some source of protein (not necessarily meat) instead of carbs that will make him crash later. For snacks he likes nuts or nut butters with fruit, hummus with raw veggies, cheese and seed crackers, a slice of deli meat rolled in a lettuce leaf - that kind of thing.

He is definitely NOT following "old ways." You know one of the things "old ways" recommended? Hard candy!!

[mroped]

Eating more often does the trick.
My FIL has hypoglycemia and he is eating like 5-6 times a day. Cheese, nuts, preserved meats(smoked, dried), sometimes fruit, protein bars etc.
Mine is right on the low end of normal and sometimes, if I'm tired or if I'm skipping a meal, it kicks in and I feel nauseous. A drink of water stops it and keeps it at bay for about 15-20 minutes which gives me enough time to get something to eat.

[sesfw]

Well, I had my fasting blood test done and the endo Dr said I was fine. I am released ........ and pleased.


I know my cardio Dr was doing a CYA but I'm thinking that once the medical system gets you in it takes a miracle to get out.  I'm down to 3 Drs now but if I find another primary it will be back to 4.