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Reactive Hypoglycemia

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Posted 6/15/2008 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thirteen Years ago I had a 3 hour GTT.The findings were Reactive Hypoglycemia meaning my BG raised and instead of returning to normal,it dropped low.If I recall correctly the lowest it dropped was to 59.

I've been in Hospital since,had quiet a few Labs done and even checked my own with Dad's Monitor and all was well,however I haven't checked it since 2003.

I have a Doctor's appointment soon and am afraid he will tell me I have Diabetes.I really don't have symptoms like frequent Urination during the Night,great thirst or Sores that won't heal,but do feel burning and numbness in my Feet and Toes.

My Father,his Mother my Grandmother and a Brother to my Father had Diabetes.Dad was diagnosed at age 42 (I'm 35),my Grandmother was borderline for Years before starting Oral medication.She and Dad ended taking Insulin,but my Uncle remained on Oral.

Dad's eldest Brother is having BG issues going high and low and his Baby Brother has mild Diabetes.A Great-Aunt on my Mother's side was Diabetic and a Niece to my Grandmother is Diabetic.

There are 2 young Children in the Family (Dad's side) with Type I.Both were diagnosed at very early ages..one was 3 and I'm unsure of the other,but it was when he was very young.

 

Posted 6/15/2008 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sydnee,
I can relate with your worries. I had Hypoglycemia symptoms most of my adult life, and when I was pregnant with my first child, I had that test with similar results. I have a strong family history also, my grandmother and father, and my uncle on my mom's side all had diabetes. Last year, a month after I turned 55, I "flipped" (as I was told) and am now full-blown diabetic. Unlike you, I had all the symptoms... thirst, frequent urination and sudden weight loss. I started on meds and diet, etc. and was very stable for a year. Now I'm having unstable sugar readings and symptoms of neuropathy (mostly numbness in my hands). It's much better to get diagnosed and get treating it before it gets worse IF that's what's going on. Let us know what you find out.
(((hugs))),
bear
Posted 6/15/2008 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
Tangerine,
I'm concerned about being Diabetic and the complications that can arise from the Disease,but also concerned that it will put a "hamper" on me becoming Pregnant.I definitely don't have sudden weight loss!I thought Neuropathy didn't occur until many Years of being Diabetic.Last Year a Step-Cousin's fasting was 157 and she is already experiencing pins/needles and creepy crawlies,but she has a form of Muscular Dystrophy.A Friends BG was on the higher side of norm around 107-109.Her Doctor prescribed a Medication (can't think of the name) to prevent her from becoming Diabetic.Yes,it's much better to get diagnosed,yet am scared!
Posted 6/16/2008 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sydnee,
I would have thought it would take a long time too, but not in my case... all this happened in a year. I'm guessing you're a LOT younger than me if you're trying to get pregnant . I've never heard that being diabetic would interfere with fertility, but you could look online and see.. I'm sure someone else will know more about that. I know all about pre-testing worries and anxiety, as I've been through it many times. One thing I can say about a diabetes diagnoses is that there is a LOT you can do to help keep it under control. I know it's not much comfort to say not to worry, but just know I'm thinking of you and everyone here will be here to help you no matter how the tests turn out.
bear
Posted 6/16/2008 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Tangerine,
I guess each Person is different.My late Father didn't mention numbness,burning or pins/needles and he was Diabetic 24 Years before his death.Grandmother didn't complain of Neuropathy until many Years of being Diabetic.She just occasionally mentioned burning Feet,but don't think it was ever constant.I'm 35,never Married and no Children.In 9 Years my entire immediate Family has died.My Step-Sister in '99,Grandmother in '01,Step-Mother in '03..2 Years apart..Dad died early 2007.My Biological Mother died when I was 1 Week and 4 Day's old.I don't want to miss out on Motherhood,but have several things I must get in order beforehand.I have Anxiety,Panic Disorder,am a housebound Agoraphobic,have weight issues and Spinal problems unrelated to my weight.Women who are overweight or Obese have higher chances of delivering larger Baby's (though I know Obese Women who've had uneventful Pregnancies,normal Vaginal Births),developing Gestational Diabetes,fatty Abdomens pose a risk for Infection if C-sections are performed and I'm quiet certain that a Diabetic Woman has to be monitored more than non-Diabetic Women.If the Doctor diagnoses me with Diabetes,I will make an appointment with an Endocrinologist.

Thank you very much for your kindness and words of comfort.It gives me peace of mind..

Posted 6/16/2008 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sydnee, welcome to the Forum. I know you'll find lots of help here to your questions - I hope so! Since diabetes does seem to run in families, you are right to be concerned for your own health, so that's a good first step. Seeing the doctor is important as he/she can order some tests to see how your health is in general and specifically about diabetes. And the sooner you take charge of your health, the better. As both you and Bear said, this disease may be different in different people. What works for one person may not work for another and you'll find that's true in the type if medication people take as well as how they change their diet. You have some advantage now because you are addressing this head-on at a younger age. If you do need to lose weight, you can start now by changing what you eat and adding more exercise. Many of us here find that cutting out or cutting down on carbs has helped not only with weight loss but also in controlling blood sugar. This is true for people on medication or not. Regular exercise helps with this, too and you can easily do this in the house: dancing to music, exercises to videos, lifting various things around the house for strength training (because having more muscle is good for everything including fighting diabetes!). If you can put yourself into a regular exercise routine at home, you may also see some improvement in other health matters. Please discuss all this with your doctors. One note: many doctors follow the "old" dietary regimes for diabetics which include too many carbs, so be prepared for this. In the meantime, you can do some reading online that will help you understand more about how our bodies metabolize food: South Beach Diet, Insulin Resistance Diet, and Dr. Richard Bernstein's Diabetes books (there are 2). Let us know how everything is going, ok?
Posted 6/16/2008 4:04 PM (GMT 0)

Sydnee10 said...
I have a Doctor's appointment soon and am afraid he will tell me I have Diabetes...


Sndnee,
You don't need to be afraid about a diabetes diagnosis anymore. There is far more knowledge available now about the disease than there was even 15 or so years ago when I was diagnosed. Having diabetes can be more of an inconvenience than a death sentence the way it used to be. Heck! Home testing meters for blood glucose haven't really been around that long. People used to check for high sugar levels in their urine !!! long after the damage had already been done to the body's organs.
Now we can tailor our own food plan to our specific body response to different grains, take meds that stimulate the pancreas, ease insulin movement across cell membranes, prevent the liver from dumping glycogen, and a host of other ways to hold the line on high blood sugars. We now have human cloned insulin which works very well with our bodies. Foods carry nutrition statements that take the guesswork out of eating, there are books and online sites to help you plan shopping and meals.
If anything, this scare will help you get more healthy and organized about your food plan and give you a new way to be kinder to yourself. Honest! It's not so bad at all if you work at it and can get it under control. Don't be afraid. We will help you find your way through this if it's diabetes you are facing.
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