Does hypoglycemia work for you?

March 16, 2012 2:38 PM

Have you been diagnosed with hypoglycemia? Has that diagnosis been helpful?

About 6 years ago I went to an endocrinologist to check out some symptoms that were indicative of diabetes: shakiness, excessive thirst, fatigue, reaccurring yeast infections, etc.

Anyway, the doctor decided that I was not diabetic and actually
"probably hypoglycemic" She said that in order to tell she could possibly hook me up to a machine that would check my blood sugar 24 hrs a day in order to see how high and low it was going. That seemed excessive at the time and I declined although I did get a recommendation to see a nutritionist.

Anyway, in the time since I've been able to keep the shakiness and foggy head away by not drinking as much caffeine and eating less sugar. I know that it what I need to do. However, I'm wondering if any who has been more under a doctor's care has felt that it was worthwhile. Previously, I had been trying to stay under the radar a bit because I was worried about losing insurance and having a predetermined condition, but now that is going away, I'm thinking about revisiting a doctor again*. I'm just not sure if it is worth it since in my experience most doctor's look at my height/weight/blood pressure and determine that nothing could be wrong with me.

So long story short, have you been diagnosed with hypoglycemia? Was that diagnosis and doctor treatment helpful?

I'm not looking for self-diagnosis or personal don't-eat-sugar accounts, as I've been there, done that.

*mostly because as a nursing, exercising mother I am just sick of having to eat/drink ALL THE TIME!

posted by aetg to Health & Fitness (4 answers total)

My mother was diagnosed with hypoglycemia almost 30 years ago. She was diagnosed via a 5 or 6 hour glucose tolerance test.

There isn't anything her doctors have done/are doing for her. She doesn't take medicine. She doesn't test her glucose levels like diabetics do.

She avoids all refined sugar and eats snacks through the day, making sure to be heavier on the protein than on the carbs. When she eats properly, she's fine. But other factors (colds, stress, etc) affect her glucose levels too, and her only recourse is to eat her way out of it.

IANAD but I think you should get the proper diagnosis and get ready to continue eating all the time if it comes back positive.

Good thoughts to you!
posted by ladygypsy at 4:18 PM on March 16, 2012

My thinking is that yes, you're pretty much doing what a doctor is going to tell you to do. I've had those symptoms (minus the yeast infections :-) ) - it's difficult to get a doctor to confirm it, although I've had friends who are medical professionals (as well as my GPs) listen to me talk about it and go - 'yeah, sounds like you might be; here's how you eat to control it.'

I feel *way* better when I keep caffeine to a minimum and eat moderately and frequently. I feel "weak" long before I feel "hungry." I feel like keeling over if I eat too heavy a meal. I'm extremely grouchy if I'm hungry. Therefore, I tend to feel like the informal diagnosis and treatment is adequate.

There's not much they can do for it. If they ever invent an expensive drug for it, maybe everyone will get more enthusiastic. Fortunately, unlike diabetes, as far as I know, it doesn't tear up your body. I've heard people discuss it as a condition that could lead to diabetes, but I think there's a bit of myth associated with that.

I get a fasting blood test done at least once a year that includes glucose levels (it's mainly to check other stuff) and it's always normal.

Not to threadjack, but my own question is - how the heck does one lose weight like this? I need to lose 20-30 pounds, and increasing exercise tends to directly increase appetite. Big time. My latest attack on this is to get way more serious about decaffeinating and not eating simple sugars.
posted by randomkeystrike at 5:25 PM on March 16, 2012

Best answer: I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia in my twenties via an eight hour series of blood draws. Fifteen years later, I'm now paying a lot of attention to my blood sugar levels again-- diabetes runs in my family, and many people who are hypoglycemic when younger become insulin resistant when a bit older.

So my time traveling advice to a younger me (or anybody out there with blood sugar issues), is to pay attention to hypoglycemia. Take it seriously, eat well, exercise, lose ten pounds if applicable, so you can avoid worrying about your blood sugar when you are older.

(Note to self: take your own advice.)
posted by instamatic at 6:00 PM on March 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks for the help. Instamatic, that was exactly what I was looking for. Maybe a doctor wouldn't help right now, but staying on top of the symptoms would probably be the best thing to make sure I don't run into having diabetes later in life.

I guess this all complicated by the fact that I'm adopted and therefore don't know my family history. I actually had one doctor tell me that since I don't have a family history of diabetes he was pretty sure that I didn't have it. Um....because not knowing my family history means I don't have it in my genetic background or something. This has happened to me multiple times.

Anyway, thanks for the advice.
posted by aetg at 4:58 PM on March 17, 2012