Low blood sugar

haypor · Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:15 am

Hi,

I suffer from occcasional bouts of low blood sugar (I'm not diabetic), and usually, upon symptoms making it known, grab the easiest, fastest carbohydrates available to raise my blood sugar FAST!

Now that I'm back on SBD (was on in '04/'05), phasae 2, I have a problem.

Today, I suffered two Low blood sugar attacks. One in the am, and one in the pm. If this keeps up, I will def. be consulting my dr. But in the meantime, when/if this happens, how can I quickly raise my blood sugar without undoing everything I've done?

Tonight, it was BAD and I made a quick Peanut butter sandwich (at least it was natural pb, and whole wheat bread! :P ), but I felt like I had just binged away my day of good eating! While I realize it was necessary, I can't help but feel guilty. I also ate a 1/2 cup of sugar-free pudding to....I don't know....have a dessert?!?!

Should I eat more than one snack in the AM and one in the PM to try to stave off further low sugar attacks, or eat more during the snack, or what?

Dragonrose · Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:42 am

If you have problems with low blood sugar you should make sure you are having more good carbs during the day. I don't know where in phase 2 you are right now. I would suggest making sure you are at the highest servings of fruit and whole grains you can have and still lose weight. If having to do something fast to raise blood sugar I would not worry about if it is SB appropriate or not, low bs is not something to mess with.

I am diabetic, just recently started on insulin once a day and I was firmly instructed that if I experience low blood sugar I am to immediately have 15g of fast carbs like OJ, regular soda, glucose tablets, regular jelly, candy, even plain old white sugar if necessary then once my bs has risen to safe levels to have a good snack with protein or a full meal if it is close to a meal time. Thankfully I have not experienced this, yet. I was at the other end of the spetrum, trying to lower my blood sugar. Now that it is at normal levels throught the day I need to be more watchful of going to low now.

If you do increase your fruit/whole grain servings each day and still have trouble definitely see your doctor right away. BTW how do you determine you are having low blood sugar attacks? Just curious. I have had a couple instances where I think I am having an issue but a quick test with my glucose meter has shown that is not the case.

haypor · Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:02 pm

Dragonrose:

It usually starts with sweating. Profusely. All over. At first, I won't recognize it as being anything unsually and think I'm just hot and will stand in front of a fan or open a window or shoot the a/c vent on me. AFter I realize the sweating isn't stopping (it's more of a clammy, cold sweat), by then, the shakes will have started. My knees feel weak, my hands shake terribly.

If nothing can or is done soon, I start getting dizzy and "weird" feeling.

By then I do realize what's going on and I'll eat something fast. Within 5-10 minutes, I'm fine! I don't have a meter (prob. something I should have), but it was determined that this is what it is by the symptoms and the relief of such, from eating something fast.

I've told my dr. about it, but she didn't seem too worried (I have a new one now), so I didn't push it.

I used to get these more often when pregnant, but now I get them un-pregnant (it's been 4 1/2 years since last child).

Thanks for your advice and suggestions. I'll try it today and see how it goes.

Kimboroni · Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:16 pm

haypor wrote: But in the meantime, when/if this happens, how can I quickly raise my blood sugar without undoing everything I've done?

You can't really-- having bad low blood sugar attacks like that means you're not eating often or well enough. Once your blood sugar goes low like that, we usually end up overshooting with the foods we eat, and then it ends up too high. That leads to another crash (reactive hypoglycemia), and then we overshoot again, and the cycle goes on. The trick is to completely avoid the low blood sugar to begin with, like you talk about here:

haypor wrote: Should I eat more than one snack in the AM and one in the PM to try to stave off further low sugar attacks, or eat more during the snack, or what?

Try to keep your meals/snacks really balanced, and always include some kind of carb-bearing food (including veggies, legumes, and dairy, plus the p2 foods). Eating often enough of the right foods should prevent those kinds of problems.

Due East · Fri Apr 20, 2007 3:56 pm

I have been dealing with low sugar for almost 20 years now,
I have the same exact symptoms as you,
The cold chill followed by cold sweat,
spot in my eyes,
weak knees,
can't concentrate,
get shaky,
That God awful "weird" feeling,
etc.

My advice differs some from others here.
I have found the best way to avoid low sugar is to
eat mostly protein for breakfast, and then
to eat small portions of protein or complex carb
frequently through out the day.

The protein for breakfast gives my body a steady slow burning fuel
that's starts they day right.
Even complex carbohydrates for breakfast can cause me to have low sugar. I do better to skip breakfast altogether than eat carbs in the morning.

For example, this morning I ate
a pork chop, two eggs, a little cottage cheese, and a slice of tomato.

Then will snack on cheese, meat or vegetables every 1 1/2 to 2 hours
through out the day.

Coffee will aggravate my symptoms also.
I switched to drinking green tea, and even though it has caffeine,
it doesn't seem to bother me.

Good luck, let us know what works for you.

Runner_Girl · Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:17 pm

Thank you for posting this question and for all the replies. I'm having blood sugar issues also and don't want to give up on SBD but must get them under control because it makes it hard to function.

I avoided P1 for this reason (and because I exercise a lot) but will apply the suggestions given and hopefully it will help.

Due East · Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:46 pm

I can only speak for my self, but so far the SBD with some modifications,
has been ideal for me.

Are you having the same symptoms Runner Girl?
If so, what sets them off, and what time of day
do you usually have them?

scoers · Thu May 03, 2007 11:25 am

OK I have a question. I have hypoglycemia. Sounds like alot of us do. And Yes I have had my bouts of low blood sugar on the SBD. But My question Hasn't got to do with snack. I just wondered if anyone knows why or has had the same experience as me. I made the mock danish today for the first time. after eating it I got very shaky and very sick in my stomach. I had 2 pieces of bacon and a glass of milk with this. I shouldn't have gotten like that. PLUS its made with splenda.... Any ideas?

AleciaBneedstobefreed · Tue May 15, 2007 3:07 pm

I get this way when I don't eat enough or carbs without enough protein.

maltby_gardner · Wed May 16, 2007 3:48 am

I only have problems with low blood sugar (all the nasty symptons, for me, I especially can't concentrate) when I eat foods I'm allergic to (or when I stupidly go all day without eating). So, what's in the mock danish?

Carrye · Tue May 29, 2007 11:08 pm

I always found that milk was my friend in preventing those symptoms, but I think it's different for everyone.

haymas · Wed Jun 06, 2007 1:49 pm

Hello everyone!

I too have been having some problems with my blood sugar daily..

I usually eat eggs for breakfast then I will snack on a banana a few hours later.. for lunch I will have either soup and an apple or a salad and an apple. I seem to always be starving.. then before I leave work I will eat a mozzz stick and some triscuits and on the way home the symptoms start and by the time I get home I have to eat anything.. I usually pick crackers that are not necc SB and after I eat the crackers I feel fine the rest of the night... my question is.. what can I eat to get this under control so I do not binge on the crackers or chips~~

Do I need to eat more carbs before I leave? More protein in the day?

And why in the world do I always feel so hungry when I clearly eat a lot during the day!!

Dragonrose · Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:50 pm

Denise it looks like you need to add some more veggies in. Scramble some into your eggs or have a little V-8 or some sliced tomatoes, have salad with your soup or add some frozen green beans or carrots to the soup, snack on some celery and peanut butter or dip cucumber slices in hummus in the afternoon. If what you mentioned is all you eat during the day then it is definitely a sign you need to eat more food during the day.

Typically I have been eating:

B: cottage cheese, sliced strawberries & v-8
L: turkey & swiss sandwich & 2c homemade coleslaw (made from a mix of cabbage, shredded broccoli and carrots with some mayo, rice vinegar and splenda as dressing)
S: yogurt & nuts or string cheese and nuts
D: meat, veggies & grain or fruit

haymas · Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:57 pm

Thank you so much for the response.. I would have never thought to add more veggies to help... I kept thinking protein or grains.. I will definetly try this..

I bought cottage cheese this weekend .. I will add this and a veggie for snack!

Thanks again!!

leancheri · Fri Jun 22, 2007 4:14 pm

I am new to this site, but have the same questions. I was diagnosed with Hypoglycemia, tested with high amounts of insulin production in a fasting blood test, I have the same symptoms, so I am sure you have the same thing. Now, I have hypothyroid as well, which when it is not in check, I gain weight, in the past 1 1/2 years, I went from being 135 lbs to 180 lbs from my thyroid not being in the right range, although my doctor is trying, I have been on synthroid for 15 years now, I know what is going on. Anyway, will the SB diet work for me even with these conditions? I can't find information anywhere.


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